2023 ACBN Legacy Symposium sponsored by Alterna Savings

2023 ACBN Legacy Symposium sponsored by Alterna Savings

Venue: Sheridan College Mississauga (in-person)Virtual: World Event Centre PlatformDate: February 24th and 25th, 2023 (Friday and Saturday)Time: 9:00am to 3:30pmTheme: "Becoming Investment Ready"

Join us for the Fourth annual Legacy Symposium brings together Black community leaders and entrepreneurs. The discovery sessions — led by the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN), Sheridan’s Pilon School of Business (PSB) and EDGE Entrepreneurship Hub — have been designed to foster dialogue within the key areas of business: obtaining finance, attracting the right customers, bringing key people onto your team and optimizing business processes.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, access exclusive networking opportunities, learn strategies for building a sustainable business and enhance their influential growth, during both virtual and in-person conference sessions. Keynote speakers include Dr. George C. Fraser, CEO and Founder of FraserNet, Inc. and President of FraserNation, LLC, and Bryan Duarte, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at BlackTech Capital and Founder and CEO of Enliten.

Agenda:

Day 1: February 24th (Friday)

9:00 am - Opening Remarks - MC Charles Matthews

9:05 am - Welcome Message from Pilon School of Business and Sheridan College - Brian Chama, Associate Dean - Government official Remarks- Sponsor Alterna Savings Remarks

9:15 am - Keynote: Dr. George Fraser

Dr. Fraser has insisted for 40 years there be no “Sizzle Reel” of his life’s work and purpose until there was something to “quantify” and “sizzle” about…

He was born in 1945 in Brooklyn, NY to a troubled family of 11 children. After serious mental health issues with his Mom, at 2 years old he and 6 of his siblings were orphaned, then put into toxic foster homes for a total of 16 years. He was not considered to be college material, so he was sent to a vocational high school and got a diploma in carpentry…the rest is history.

Dr. Fraser has ALWAYS believed: “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, that God has great plans for each of us, we must simply listen for his voice, follow directions, overcome the obstacles, and stay course.

Dr. Fraser’s favorite line from Super Rapper DRAKE; “Started from the bottom now we’re here!”

Here is 75 years of life in 120 second video ...

10am - 12pm Workshop 1 - Tim FrayBusiness Model (PROCESS/PLAN)

What systems do I need in place to get things done? Can it be automated?

What activities are important, and in what order?

Who are the right partners?

Goal Setting for expansion (beginning with the end in mind)

Creating operational OKR’s & Kpi’s

12pm Lunch Break

12:30pm - Alterna Savings Presentation: Jean Barrett

Funding opportunities available from Alterna

1pm - 3pm Workshop 2 - Chris Beth Cowie

Target Market (CUSTOMER)

Confident in my target customer - Product/service offerings and value proposition, sales

Is your Value proposition compelling

How specific can you describe your ideal customer? And do you have more than one type of customer?

Do you know where or how to find and attract new customers?

What is your relationship with your customer (one and done?)

How does your customer want you to deliver to them your product or servicer?

3pm - 3:30

Closing Conversation

3:30 - 4:30 open networking

Day 2 - February 25th (Saturday)

9am Opening Remarks - MC Charles

9:05am Government Address

Minister of FedDev address

9:15am Keynote: Bryan Duarte

Bryan is a Social Venturist, Entrepreneur, a licensed Professional Engineer and has over 30 years of experience in the Energy Industry. He is the Co-Founder and the Managing Partner at BlackTech Capital (“BTC”) and the Founder & CEO of Enliten. He has experience in creating, developing, and growing companies in the Energy, CleanTech and Sustainability Sectors with a focus on Black and other Underrepresented founders.

Given the challenges that Bryan faced as a black entrepreneur, especially around getting financing for his businesses, he is committed to helping to remove those obstacles for other black entrepreneurs. In addition to his work through BTC, he is a CleanTech Entrepreneur in Residence (”EIR”), Mentor or Advisor for the University of Toronto’s Black Founders Network, the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, Toronto Metropolitan University’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation and EIR for numerous other accelerators and innovation centres. He also sits on the Boards of the Black Business and Professional Association and the Centre for Learning and Development in Regent Park.

Helping to develop and grow early-stage companies and their founders is a passion for Bryan; it is all about helping others to make their dreams come true. His core values are Love, Integrity and Transparency with a focus on developing companies that are Good for People and Good for Planet.

Learn more at website: https://blacktechcapital.vclab.fund/

10am - 12pm - Andre Smith: Flip and FlossConfident in knowing my numbers - Revenue model / cost structure / measurements and targets (kpis)Do you have a good understanding of your cost to serve each customer?Do you have a good understanding of your cash flowDo you have various revenue streams?Can you forecast future sales

12pm Lunch Break

1230pm - "Brand Blitz: A High-Speed Networking Lunch for Businesses and Creators"

This lunch-in event is similar to speed dating, but instead of seeking romantic partners, the focus is on connecting Black-Owned businesses with various Black digital content creators, including bloggers, podcasters, social influencers, YouTubers, and digital community builders/founders, with the goal of forming mutually beneficial partnerships.

Sponsored by Meridian Credit Union

2pm - Entrepreneur Investor Pitch

ACBN members will have the opportunity to pitch to our panel of judges to win a prize and obtain potential investment.

3pm - Closing Remarks Ryan Knight