Launch & Grow Your Tech & Food Venture: Ecosystem Overview Session

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP 3 of 3

Launch & Grow Your Tech Venture series presented by YSpace, York University & Vaughan Business & Entrepreneurship Centre:

Description: This session will provide an overview to the ecosystem partners that are available to you as an entrepreneur. Topics will include various resources and support in areas such as education, mentorship, funding, community, as well as other topics. You will leave the session with a good knowledge of how to continue with your business idea.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Nafis Ahmed, YSpace

Nafis joined York University in 2020 after spending 5 years with the Legal Innovation Zone at Ryerson University - the world's first incubator dedicated to legal tech. Nafis is a driven leader with a strong background in developing entrepreneurial ecosystems, fueling startup growth, and building communities and has supported startups in various stages of their development across the GTA tech community.

Previous to the Legal Innovation Zone, Nafis was part of the operations team at The DMZ, and was also a Co-Founder of NuLens Innovation, using entrepreneurial frameworks to facilitate innovation projects and initiatives. He is deeply involved in startup and social innovation initiatives through his volunteer activities, and is passionate about supporting individuals pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Judy Wong, Program Advisor, Co-founder of Food Accelerator @ YSpace

Judy has over 25 years of experience in the food industry leading multiple Fortune 500 teams at Kraft, Mondelez and The Nielsen Company. She is passionate about motivating and coaching startup leaders to accelerate through developing a winning mindset, elevating knowledge, and enhancing a high performing team to lead the change.

She is an intra-preneur and an entrepreneur. She has experience growing startup divisions through aggressive double-digit growth in revenue and fast-growing teams to support. Judy is also the Founder of Pivot Perspectives, a leadership coaching organization for food startups.

Most recently, she co-founded the YSpace Food Accelerator at York University, the first regional Food Accelerator in Ontario, which helps startups in the food industry to build effective business plans, validate with consumers, and connect with industry leaders. She also teaches Entrepreneurship and Leadership at Seneca College of Arts and Technology.

This workshop is brought to you in partnership with YSpace's Venture Catalyst program, and Food Accelerator program.

Vaughan-based entrepreneurs participating in each series have the opportunity to apply for a provincial grant of up to $5,000 through the Vaughan Starter Company Plus program, designed to help implement and execute on the plans created through this training series. Learn more at: https://vaughanbusiness.ca/starter-company-plus/.

Workshop dates for the Launch & Grow Your Food Venture series and Launch & Grow Your Tech Venture series:

Tech: May 8, 2024, 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – How to Build a Tech Startup

F&B: May 10, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.– How to Start F&B business

Tech: May 22, 2024, 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – AMA Fireside Chat

F&B: May 24, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. – AMA Fireside Chat

Combined – Ecosystem Overview: June 7, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. – AMA with Judy & Nafis