Startup Opportunities for Newcomers to Canada!

May was a busy month for the Canada Startup Association. We focused on advocating for improvements in the Canadian startup ecosystem. Here are the highlights from this month's newsletter:

1. Discussion with Ontario’s Associate Minister Nina Tangri

2. Mentoring program with The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)

3. Collaboration with Toronto Tech Fest 2024

4. Non Profit Driven, a panel discussion at the Ontario Nonprofit Network

5. Building a Prosperous Future for Toronto's Tech Sector with Toronto Inc powered by Council for Canadian Innovators.

At the Canada Startup Association, we are determined to continue our support and advocacy efforts.

Discussion with Assistant Minister for Small Industries (Ontario):

It is important to keep highlighting the challenges faced by small businesses and new entrepreneurs. CSA President Tehmina Chaudhary participated in the roundtable discussion. Other business and economic associations also echoed the need for improving the business environment. CSA has raised concerns about the challenges that immigrant entrepreneurs face, especially those coming to Canada on the Startup Visa. From financial services to finding the right networks, these entrepreneurs often encounter significant obstacles that hinder their ability to succeed.

Toronto Tech Fest:

With 85 events, 10,000+ RSVPs, 255+ community co-hosts and partners, and some of the best founder memories to date, CSA proudly collaborated with Toronto Tech Fest and organized the only event in the west of Toronto. It was an amazing gathering of business professionals and startups.

No one denies the fact that generative AI is transformational; however, most of us still struggle to use it effectively in our businesses. This was the reason we selected this topic for our event. Attended by 28 amazing startups and small businesses, including two non-profits, the highlight of this discussion was a business case for creating a generative AI-based application to help teachers reduce burnout and save several hours every day.

MUHAMMAD MUNAWWAR KHAN Khan, the founder of TeachBuddy.ai, shared how his application works and has helped thousands of teachers in 40+ countries create lesson plans.

Hammad Siddiqui shared his insights about prompt engineering for social media marketing and project management.

Generative AI is here to stay, so let’s learn it for our and others' advantage!

ICTC (The Information and Communications Technology Council):

We are thrilled to continue our mentoring project with ICTC. This month, we organized mentoring sessions on the following topics:

- Personal Branding Essentials and Leadership Development

- Financial Modeling for Pitching

- Building and Managing a Startup Team

- Network Building and Strategic Partnerships

- Mastering Negotiation Techniques with Clients and Investors

- AI-Powered Business Solutions

- Effective Pitching: Crafting a Compelling Narrative for Fundraising and Grants

- Product Market Fit

- Building Business Using LinkedIn B2B Strategy

Under this program, the Canada Startup Association is mentoring 160 Ontario-based entrepreneurs. The aim of this project is to enhance participants' capacity to become sustainable and growth-oriented businesses. Since we specialize in mentoring startups and small businesses, we are extending our services to other organizations in Canada and beyond.

Council for Canadian Innovators (Building a Prosperous Future for Toronto’s Tech Sector):

Tehmina Chaudhry was a panelist at the inaugural networking event and panel discussion hosted by Toronto Inc., part of the Innovator Network of Canada (Inc.).

Tehmina focused on four key points that impact startups in Canada:

Understanding Challenges and Goals: She emphasized the importance of recognizing the current challenges facing Canada’s economy and identifying where the country wants to go. This understanding is crucial for developing effective strategies.

Proposing Solutions: She highlighted the need for actionable solutions to improve the situation and stressed the significance of constructive efforts aimed at making positive changes rather than merely criticizing existing conditions.

Role of Individuals and Collectives: She pointed out that individual and collective efforts are essential in addressing economic challenges. It's important for everyone to contribute towards making Canada a better place.

Global Contribution: She underscored that the world needs Canada's contributions and questioned what kind of Canada the nation wants to present globally. She encouraged a proactive approach in shaping the country’s future.

Other panelists included:

- Allen Lau, Co-Founder & Operating Partner of Two Small Fish Ventures

- Susy Martins, CEO of Advise2Rise

- Benjamin Bergen, President of the Council of Canadian Innovators

- Bianca Bharti, Journalist at BetaKit

Inc. is a platform dedicated to fostering innovation, economic growth, and community development in Canada, powered by the Council of Canadian Innovators with regional chapters led by local business leaders and economic organizations.

CSA is delighted to be part of this advocacy effort.

Non Profit Driven (Ontario Nonprofit Network):

Nonprofits are a strong arm of the Canadian ecosystem. The Ontario Nonprofit Network is an amazing organization that brings Ontario-based non-profits together for networking and continued learning. Thanks to the Syrian Canadian Foundation’s Women in Civic Engagement program for inviting the Canada Startup Association to join the conference.

Over two days, we engaged in intense discussions and workshops on innovative management strategies, collaborative processes, and dismantling systemic barriers through effective community engagement. Meeting passionate professionals and exchanging ideas was truly inspiring and reinforced the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change. We are excited to implement these insights moving forward.

Are you coming to Collision 2024?

Many of Our Startups will be exhibiting at Collision and we will be signing a MoU with our First Founding Member? Shamim Rajani COO & Partner of Genetech Solutions at Booth E108 on 19th June at 3PM,join us.