Bridges to Better Business is an annual event that targets entrepreneurs in the Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma Region and is hosted by the Millworks - Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Each year during BDC's Small Business Week, this event brings together businesses in various stages of development for an open exchange of ideas, advice and feedback lead by dynamic speakers and mentors. This year's theme is Seizing the opportunity to build the way forward: Let's join together to discuss solutions and opportunities that lie ahead for Canadian entrepreneurs.

The Top 2 businesses for this year’s Pitch Competition are Findlay's Fungus and UrbanFix Technologies Inc. They will have the opportunity to share their business idea with the audience and the judging panel. The audience will then get to vote for their favourite business idea and the winner will receive a Grand Prize valued at $15,000!

We're proud to introduce Graham Sherman as our Keynote Speaker this year!

Graham Sherman and his business partner, Jeff Orr, are two “high level geeks” who met in Afghanistan in 2007. At that time they were working on contracts for the Canadian and US government and military, installing encrypted, tactical communication networks.

By day, they rolled around the war zone in armoured vehicles, geeking out in the world of satellite communications. By night, they aimed their obsessive, high level geekery at mastering coffee, competitive BBQ, controlling their respective homes back in Calgary with their iPhones….and finally, with mastering the craft of brewing artisan beer.

Now, only four years after the very first batched brewed in Graham’s backyard, Tool Shed Brewing Company has a new 15,000 square foot home in Calgary with beers being sold in over 1000 locations across Western Canada, and has been nominated as Canadian Entrepreneur of the year. The team were also named as co-winners of the “40 Under 40” recognition from Avenue magazine.

Graham and Jeff’s meteoric rise in the beer industry is due to a level of authentic, infectious passion rarely witnessed in any industry combined with an incredibly unique approach to the social media world we live in.

The moment you hear their story you understand that simply drinking a Tool Shed beer represents an appreciation of the grassroots struggle of quitting your job and going after your dreams AT ALL COSTS!

11:00 - 11:30 - Welcome & Introductions

11:30 - 12:15 - Top 2 Pitch-Off & Audience Voting

12:15 - 1:00 - Keynote Speaker, Graham Sherman

1:00 - Winner Announcement!

Tickets are free.

If you have any questions, please contact: Harleen Puaar Shukla at h.puaar@cityssm.on.ca OR Jessica Maione at j.maione@cityssm.on.ca