Every month our team compiles a list of startup and small business events in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario that we’re interested in attending and think will be useful to the startup and small business community.
Some of these events may fill up fast, so if you’re interested in attending please register quickly. Business events are generally free of charge, unless a price is listed. If you’re hosting an event or come across one that you think should be included here, feel free to contact us with your suggestion.
Toronto Events
Genesys is the global multi-channel customer experience and contact center solution leader. Our customer experience platform and solutions help companies engage effortlessly with their customers, across all touchpoints, channels and interactions to deliver differentiated customer journeys, while maximizing revenue and loyalty.
Event: Genesys Toronto Tech Summit
When: April 2, 2015, 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Where: 87 Elm Street, Toronto
Price: $25.00
MaRS is where entrepreneurs get the help they need, where all kinds of people meet to spark new ideas, and where a global reputation for innovation is being earned, one success story at a time.The often-free events at MaRS are ideal for start-ups, science, technology and social entrepreneurs looking to make connections and learn more about a particular aspect of business.
Event: Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Workshops – Finance Fundamentals
Session 1 – Preparing your business forecast, April 6, 2015, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Session 2 – Understanding revenue forecasting and funding, April 13, 2015, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Session 3 – Business valuation and tutorial session, April 20, 2015, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Where: Room CR2 – MaRS Centre, 101 College Street, Toronto
Price: $100.00
A three-day professional celebration of the best the world has to offer in design, web development, media and innovation in creative technologies. It’s a conference that both unites and transforms the industry – assembling its major leaders and players from across North America and the world. FITC Toronto transforms the Hilton Toronto into an international mecca for the digitally creative, abuzz with Creative Directors from multinational ad agencies, studio heads from Canada’s most sought-after digital production companies, the world’s most surprising digital artists, and freelancers, cultural influencers and tech lovers from all walks.
When: April 12 – 14, 2015, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Where: Hilton Toronto, 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto
Price: $769.00
Enterprise Toronto
Enterprise Toronto is a one-stop source to start and grow your small business. Their team of small business advisors can help you make the right decisions during your business start-up and help develop your management capabilities as your business venture grows.
Event:Business Plan Boot Camp
When: April 14, 2015, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 2nd Floor, Committee Room 4, Toronto
Price: $15.00
The Toronto Board of Trade facilitates opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, business development, and city building. It is the authoritative voice of Canada’s most prominent business community.
Event: Boost your Business’s Bottom Line: Tools for Optimizing Cash Management
When: April 15, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Where: Toronto Region Board of Trade Downtown Centre, 77 Adelaide Street West Entrance, Toronto
Price: Free for members
Camp Tech is a tech skills training hub. We provide half- and full-day in-person workshops for adults who want to learn web and digital skills. We create a welcoming environment for those who are hesitant around technology, and we emphasize skills that can be put into practice right away. Camp Tech was founded in August 2012. We offer approximately 75 workshops a year in Toronto, and have recently expanded into Ottawa, Hamilton, and Kitchener/Waterloo.
Event: Social Media Basics
When: April 9, 2015, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Price: $85.00
PwC – Vision to Reality Conference
Our Vision to Reality Conference brings together over 500 entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, VCs and influencers to share perspectives and collaborate on how innovation can — and is — reshaping the Canadian market in new and unexpected ways. The conference unites a community of forward-thinkers, who challenge the norm and contribute to building an innovative ecosystem that pushes Canadian businesses of all sizes to be leaders on the global stage.
Event: PwC – Vision to Reality Conference
When: April 16, 2015, 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Where: Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street Toronto
Price: Free
Toronto Business Development Centre
TBDC is an independent non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to nurturing the growth of new and emerging businesses. The Centre has been recognized at home and internationally for achievements in the field of business incubation. Over the past twenty plus years, TBDC has helped more than 4500 businesses through our various programs.
Event: Business Workshops to Help New Entrepreneurs Get Started
When: April 20 – June 15, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Where: North York Central Branch
Price: $150+HST per participant ($169.50)
This great informal social event in Toronto is perfect for anyone interested in web development. People in the industry, as well as interested recruits are able to gather in Toronto’s exciting web development and start up community.
Event: Toronto Rails Pub Night
When: April 20, 2015, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Rhino, 1249 Queen Street West (Queen & Dufferin), Toronto
Price: Free
Discovery, Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE)
Discovery brings together over 2,600 of the best and brightest minds in industry, academia, the investment community and government to showcase leading-edge technologies, best practices and research in Ontario.
When: April 27 – April 28, 2015
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto
Price: Price: $525.00
Unbounce was developed after experiencing first hand the frustration of trying to get effective landing pages launched for our own online marketing campaigns. It’s important to get things done quickly in marketing, a task made more difficult when you have to rely upon I.T. resources who have their own priorities and processes. We also realized that I.T. doesn’t relish the idea of having to drop everything to develop a landing page. By giving marketers control over their landing pages, everybody wins.
Event: Unbounce Conversion Road Trip – Toronto
When: June 3, 2015, 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West, Toronto
Price: Price: $149.00
Waterloo Region events
Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre encourages and contributes to the enterprising spirit and economic vitality of our commmunity by assisting entrepreneurs with the development of new or existing businesses.
Event: Marketing Fundamentals
When: April 7, 2015, 2:00 p.m.
Where: 200 King Street West, Kitchener
Price: $20.00
If you are looking to get your feet wet when it comes to programming, then this is the workshop for you. HTML and CSS are the backbone of all websites, and knowledge of them is a necessity if you are interested in things like web development, creating marketing emails, or even blogging!
Event: CSS for Beginners: Learn to Style Your Website Using CSS
When: April 18, 2015, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Accelerator Centre, 295 Hagey Boulevard, Waterloo
Price: $55.00
Founded by a group of dedicated entrepreneurs in 1997, Communitech is Waterloo Region’s hub for the commercialization of innovative technologies. Over the years, they have supported and helped build a tech cluster of nearly 1,000 companies that now generates more than $30 billion in revenue.
Event: Communitech breakfast – Hiring for cultural fit
When: April 28, 2015, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo, 105 King Street East, Grand Ballroom, Kitchener
Price: $40.00
Halton Events
Silicon Halton organizes a number of events throughout the year in the region Halton which including Burlington, Oakville, and Milton. Their monthly meetups and Peer2Peer has three main components; a key notes presentation, a get to know a member presentation, and time set out for networking. These events are catered to anyone at a startup – especially in the tech industry – that want to learn more about business best practices.
Event: IOS Developers Peer-2-Peer
When: April 7, 2015
Where: Fortino’s Community Room, Applyby Line & Dundas, Burlington
HalTech is the leading source of support and personal service for tech and advanced manufacturing entrepreneurs in Halton. They assist Halton’s entrepreneurs and technology companies with developing their ideas, commercializing their products/services and establishing and expanding their businesses.
Event: Start Ups: Write Your Own Provisional Patent Application
When: April 22, 2015, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: Milton Education Village Innovation Centre, 555 Industrial Drive, Milton
Price: Free
Hamilton Events
Innovation Factory helps advance Hamilton's innovation community and serves as an inspiring, expert resource for entrepreneurs that fosters connections across the community and accelerates growth.
Event: Sales Peer2Peer – Closing the Sale
When: April 1, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: 175 Longwood Rd S, Hamilton
Price: Free
Software Hamilton covers the Hamilton, Ontario technology and startup community.
Event: DemoCampHamilton20
When: April 8, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Art Gallery of Hamilton – Joey and Toby Tanebaum Pavilion, 123 King Street West, Hamilton
Price: Free
AppsForHealth is quickly becoming Ontario’s premier information-sharing, networking and recruiting event for the digital health industries. This interactive, one-day event provides a valuable opportunity for professionals from healthcare, technology, medical education, and entrepreneurship to come together to discuss current and emerging trends.
When: April 30, 2015
Where: Mohawk College, 135 Fennell Avenue West, Hamilton
Price: S75.00
Niagara Events
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Businesses in Niagara are looking for leadership to address the real issues that are facing businesses and communities in Niagara. After extensive discussion and research the decision was made by a group of business people to create the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. The goal is that this organization can bring together business leaders who are ready to help position Niagara’s economy for the 21st Century.
Event: 20th Annual Small Business Trade Show
When: April 14, 2015, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Club Roma, 125 Vansickle Road, St. Catharines
Price: Free
Startup Drinks
Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.
When: April 29, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Mahtay Cafe, 241 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines
Price: Free
Are we missing any startup or small business events? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.
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