MaRS Fall Intensive: Launch your startup before 2018 ends

The Entrepreneur's Toolkit Workshops are a collection ofexperiential, hands-onworkshops facilitated byexperienced entrepreneurs. Workshops are designed for a maximum of 30 participants and allow time forexercisesandpeer-to-peer feedbackon their own ventures.Please see the below links for the schedule of workshops at a regional innovation centre near you:CentralHalTech -http://haltech.eventbrite.caRIC Centre -http://riccentre.eventbrite.caNorthiion -http://iion.eventbrite.caNORCAT -http://eventbrite.ca/o/norcat-5906867649Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre -http://nwoinnovation.eventbrite.caEastInvest Ottawa -http://investottawa.eventbrite.caLaunch Lab -http://launchlab.eventbrite.caSpark Centre -http://sparkcentre-one.eventbrite.comWestCommunitech -http://communitech.eventbrite.caInnovation Guelph -http://innovationguelphbap.eventbrite.caTechAlliance -http://techalliance-workshops.eventbrite.caWEtech -http://wetech.eventbrite.caSouthInnovate Niagara -http://innovate-niagara.eventbrite.caInnovation Factory -http://innovationfactory-workshops.eventbrite.ca

Entrepreneur's Toolkit Workshops at MaRS

<H2 CLASS="MsoNormal">Launch your business in only nine weeks!</H2>
Just imagine: you could be running your own startup before the new year.
This September, MaRS invites you to its Fall Intensive where participants learn to solve challenges facing early-stage startups. The Intensive covers four fundamental themes: 
<UL>
<LI>Value proposition (3 sessions)</LI>
<LI>Business model canvas (2 sessions)</LI>
<LI>Finance fundamentals (3 sessions)</LI>
<LI>Leadership (1 session)</LI>
</UL>
This your chance to strengthen your leadership abilities, evaluate your unique selling point, improve your financial management and much more.
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<H2>The Details </H2>
When: Sessions held once per week; workshops begin Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018. 
Time: 9a.m.–1p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before for complimentary coffee and networking. 
Location: MaRS Discovery District, Collaboration Centre, 101 College St., Toronto, ON 
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Application deadline: EXTENDED to 11:59p.m., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018
Workshops begin: Tuesday, Sept 4, 2018
Attendance and refunds: See bottom of event for details regarding refunds and attendance.
*Please note: All participants must sign a non-disclosure agreement.
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<H2>How to Apply  </H2>
Check your eligibility (see below). Click the "Tickets" button above and fill out the questions in the registration form. You can select only the workshops you wish to attend, or you can apply for all nine sessions for $500 (a $175 discount). The workshop series has been valued at $3,720, so this is an unmissable price.
Applicants not selected for the course will have their fees fully refunded.
If you are a client or member of a Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) and have not spoken to your contact there, please reach out to <A HREF="mailto:workshops@marsdd.com" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">workshops@marsdd.com</A> and copy your contact at your RIC before you register. 
 
<H3>Who is eligible?</H3>
Your venture must be a technology-based, innovative company that fits one of MaRS's four focus sectors:
<UL>
<LI><A HREF="https://www.marsdd.com/our-sectors/finance-commerce-fintech/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Fintech</A> (finance, ecommerce, etc.)</LI>
<LI><A HREF="https://www.marsdd.com/our-sectors/health/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Health</A> (medical devices, life sciences, wellness, etc.)</LI>
<LI><A HREF="https://www.marsdd.com/our-sectors/cleantech/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cleantech</A> (energy, agritech, etc.)</LI>
<LI><A HREF="https://www.marsdd.com/our-sectors/work-learning/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Enterprise</A> (work, education, business performance, human resources, etc.)</LI>
</UL>
To see how we define “innovative,” <A HREF="https://www.marsdd.com/clients-and-tenants/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</A> are some examples of ventures we work with. 
Our selection criteria is also determined by:
<OL>
<LI>Stage of venture</LI>
<LI>Commitment of entrepreneurs</LI>
<LI>Fit with MaRS mission</LI>
</OL>
As this intensive program is customized for entrepreneurs, we do not accept applications from consultants, teachers, advisors, coaches, CROs or SR&ED agents. 
 
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<H2>Workshop Schedule</H2>
<H3>Starting Lean: Value Proposition</H3>
<H4>Session 1: Preparing to leave the building (Tuesday, Sept. 4, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Establish a process to clarify and test key assumptions about your business' unique selling point and lower your venture’s overall risk.
Deliverable: Overview of the "lean startup" approach and a tested customer interview guide based on your venture’s most important assumptions.
<H4>Session 2: Refining your customer development (Tuesday, Sept. 11, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Learn to record, organize and analyze your customer interview results, and validate key customer assumptions from your interview results. 
Deliverable: A solid customer interview technique that can be used during new business development. 
<H4>Session 3: Determining your value proposition (Tuesday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Use data obtained from interviews to synthesize customer feedback into a value proposition.
Deliverable: A framework and template for determining your value proposition.
 
<H3>Starting Lean: Business Model Canvas</H3>
<H4>Session 1: Designing your business model (Tuesday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Use your value proposition to test your business model for sustainability and growth.
Deliverable: A business model designed around your value proposition.
<H4>Session 2: Validating your business model (Tuesday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Analyze external factors to test your business model for sustainability and growth.
Deliverable: A framework for validating your business model that analyzes external forces and key business model metrics.
 
<H3>Finance Fundamentals</H3>
<H4>Session 1: Preparing your business forecast (Tuesday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Understand the basics of financial statements, management reporting and how to build a detailed cash flow forecast to be used in making day-to-day business decisions that lead to growth.
Deliverable: Expense budget template for your business.
<H4>Session 2: Understanding revenue forecasting, funding and business valuation (Tuesday, Oct. 16, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Use your cash flow forecast and add revenue estimates by looking at inputs such as pricing, sales funnel and revenue types, resulting in a complete cash flow forecasting model you can use in your business. You’ll also learn the basic concepts surrounding different types of business valuations and the inputs and factors that impact valuation from an investor perspective. 
Deliverable: Revenue cash-flow template for your business.
<H4>Session 3: Business valuation and tutorial session (Tuesday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
First half: Outline basic concepts surrounding different types of business valuations, and the inputs and factors that impact valuation from an investor perspective.
Second half: Working session and finance lab. 
Deliverable: Complete 12-month cash flow forecast for your business.
 
<H3>Leadership</H3>
<H4>Session 1: Leadership (Tuesday, Oct. 30, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.)</H4>
Become more conscious of your natural leadership style and how you employ it. The session will help you be more mindful and deliberate in your interactions with your team and help you deal with a variety of entrepreneurial challenges more effectively. 
Deliverable: A framework to create interview questions for prospective partners as you build your leadership team. 
 
<HR>
<H2>Attendance expectations and refunds for RIC clients</H2>
You are expected to attend all sessions of every workshop series for which you apply. If you purchased the full workshop bundle, you are permitted to miss a maximum three of the nine workshops, out of respect for the experience of other participants and the facilitator. 
If you are a client of a RIC, when prompted on the registration page, please list the organization of which you are a member and your current advisor’s name. For your refund, you must meet the attendance requirements above and complete all post-workshop surveys within 5 business days of the last workshop session. You will be refunded your full ticket price within two weeks of submitting the survey for the final session.
Please note the survey should be completed for each workshop that you attended. Thus, if you are registered for the full 4 workshops in the intensive, you will need to complete the survey four times—one for each of the workshops. If you are only registered for 1 workshop, you will only need to complete the survey once.
Please note: If you are NOT a member of a RIC, your ticket is not eligible for a refund.
 
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<H2>Questions?</H2>
Please contact <A HREF="mailto:workshops@marsdd.com" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">workshops@marsdd.com</A>. 
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and events by joining our <A HREF="https://www.marsdd.com/newsletter-register/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">mailing list.</A>

MaRS Discovery District

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