Startup and Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss in January 2015

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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 would 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. 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

The National Franchise & Business Opportunities Show Toronto

The National Franchise and Business Opportunities Show invites you to attend an exciting, two-day event! Buying a Franchise means you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. This event is perfect for exploring the option of self-employment. Meet face to face with representatives from top franchise concepts and business opportunities who want to expand or develop in your area.

When: January 10 – 11, 2015, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: North Building – Hall C 255 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario
Price: $10.00

Toronto Board of Trade

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: Retail Innovation: Lessons from 2014, Essentials for 2015
When: January 22, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Toronto Region Board of Trade, Downtown Centre. 77 Adelaide Street West Entrance, Toronto
Price: Free

The Art Of

The Art Of is a leading media and events company focused on providing business professionals with the tools, techniques and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s changing marketplace. Their national conferences, magazine and online content are expertly curated to bring together insights from the world’s most prominent business leaders.

Event: The Art of Sales
When: January 26, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building, John Bassett Theatre, 255 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario
Price: General Pass – $399

Camp Tech

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: Business Blogging & Content Marketing
When: January 27, 2015, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
Price: Free

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: Marketing & Sales Boot Camp
When: January 27, 2015, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: 2nd Floor, Committee Room 4, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario
Price: $15.00

MaRS Discovery District

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: Sales (B2B) – Entrepreneurship 101

Our very own Mark Elliott will be speaking. He will discuss topics like, how are you going to sell your product? You will also learn the principles of “selling value” to your customers, with a special emphasis on the challenges of sales for technology startups.

When: January 28, 2015, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: MaRS Centre, Auditorium, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario
Price: Free

Toronto Women’s Expo 2015 – Business Conference & Trade Show

Have you ever wondered why it is so difficult to locate the right people to help you with your current issues? Be it, emotional stress, financial ails, physical pains, weight loss, business issues, other personal issues and so many more, the solutions will be found at the TWE Presents the Toronto Women’s Expo!

When: January 29, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Paradise Banquet Hall 7601 Jane Street, Vaughan, just North of Hwy 407, South of Hwy 7
Price: $20.00

Hamilton Events

Innovation Factory

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 – Growing your sales team

Mark Elliott of Venture Accelerator Partners will lead this interactive session and discuss recruiting, interview, creating a sales plan, onboarding, and managing new sales hires. Mark has 20 years in sales, marketing, and leadership experience. Over the last eight years at VA Partners, Mark and his team have helped organizations drive millions of web pages views, hundreds of meetings, and millions of dollars in revenue.

When: January 7, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: Innovation Factory, 175 Longwood Rd S, Hamilton, Ontario
Price: Free

StartupDrinks – Management

StartupDrinks Hamilton is a monthly networking event for Hamilton’s tech and startup community. The event involves talks by subject matter experts on topics relevant to startups – UX, funding, management, sales & more will be covered, with a focus on one topic each month.

When: January 17, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta Street, Hamilton, Ontario
Price: Free

Software Hamilton

Software Hamilton was founded in January 2011 with the goal of connecting and growing the Greater Hamilton software community.

Event: Ladies Learning Code: WordPress for Beginners
When: January 21, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Mills Hardware, 95 King Street East Hamilton, Ontario
Price: $3.00

Waterloo Region Events

Leadership Waterloo Region

Introduced in 2000, Leadership Waterloo Region is a social-profit organization that delivers educational leadership experiences to a diverse range of individuals in the community through collaborations with like-minded organizations in Waterloo Region. The organization provides community leaders with the opportunity to acquire and practice leadership skills.

Event: Leadership Waterloo Region Core Program Information Session
When: January 13, 2015, 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Where:230-B Gage Ave Lower Level, Kitchener, Ontario
Price: Free

Waterloo Region Small Business Centre

The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre encourages and contributes to the enterprising spirit and economic vitality of our community by assisting entrepreneurs with the development of new or existing businesses.

Event:Startup Business Basics – Waterloo
When: January 15, 2015, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Where:100 Regina Street, Waterloo, Ontario
Price: Free

Halton Events

HalTech

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: SEO Made Easy – Three Key Secrets of Search
When:  January 13, 2015, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Burlington Golf and Country Club, 422 North Shore Boulevard East, Burlington, Ontario

Silicon Halton

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: Meet-Up #63 – Selling into the US – IP & Taxes
When: January 13, 2015, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Milton Education Village, 555 Industrial Drive, Milton, Ontario
Price: Free

Halton Small Business Centre

Halton Region Economic Development offers one-window access to government programs and services, information on Halton’s business environment and services to help you establish, expand or consolidate a business within Halton’s borders.

Event: Starting a Small Business
When: January 14, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Burlington Central Library, 2331 New St, Burlington, Ontario
Price: $25 (Advance registration required)

Burlington Chamber of Commerce

Since 1947, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce has been the voice of business in Burlington, giving companies valuable resources and connections to help them grow and succeed.

Event: Top Marketing Trends for Small Business in 2015
When: January 30, 2015 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Chamber Boardroom, 414 Locust Street, Burlington, Ontario
Price: $23.00 + HST

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. 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: Business After 5 (First networking event of 2015)
When: January 6, 2015, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Hunters Pointe Golf Club, 289 Daimler Parkway, Welland, Ontario
Price: Free

Startup Niagara

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.

Event:Startup Drinks Niagara
When: January 28, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Mahtay Cafe, 241 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, Ontario

Are we missing any startup or small business events? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.

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Startup and Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss in January 2015