Nova Scotia Innovation Tour

ONSIDE is thrilled to present a bi-weekly lunch and learn series exploring three pillars of Nova Scotia's startup ecosystem: data, investment and placemaking. Sessions will be presented every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from May to July.

Data

Wednesday May 5, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Peter Moreira, Entrevestor

An ecosystem by the numbers

A sneak-peek into Nova Scotia-focussed startup ecosystem data ahead of the launch of Entrevestor's 2021 Atlantic Ecosystem Startup Data Report.

About Peter:

Peter Moreira has spent more than 40 years in journalism in Asia, Europe and North America. His postings include London Bureau Chief for The Deal, European banking correspondent for Bloomberg, banking reporter for the South China Morning Post, and a stint at the Canadian Press's parliamentary bureau in Ottawa. His writing has appeared in USA Today, the Columbia Journalism Review (online), the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, National Post, and the Independent on Sunday (London). He is the author of five books, and the third book in his Haight Mystery Series of crime novels will be published in the autumn.

Wednesday, May 19, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship

Nova Scotia's Inclusive Innovation Monitor

After the release of their insightful Canada inclusive innovation monitor, ONSIDE partnered with the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship to develop a monitor tracking indicators for innovation, equity and inclusion in Nova Scotia. Be the first to learn about the areas where we are doing well and where we need to do more.

About the Brookfield Institute:

The Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship tests assumptions with credible research to ensure Canadian governments and businesses are focusing on the most relevant issues and opportunities for Canada. Their multi-disciplinary teams focus on forward-looking work streams critical to Canada’s future economic success. They build collaborative relationships with partners to generate rigorous research, propose unconventional approaches and pilot ideas to explore how Canada’s innovation economy can include people of different ages, incomes and backgrounds.

Placemaking

Wednesday, June 2, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Sandra McKenzie

MAKE: Growing Community-Based Innovation in Nova Scotia

In this session, Sandra will be sharing her findings from the soon-to-be-launched report, MAKE: Growing Community-Based Innovation in Nova Scotia. She developed the report through local, national and international interviews and research. She found that grass-roots innovation is key to growing resilient people and communities. Makerspaces support grass-roots innovation by providing places for people to gather, learn, create, and share which makes them an important part of Placemaking in Nova Scotia and foundational to an inclusive innovation ecosystem.

About Sandra:

Sandra is a champion for Nova Scotia ingenuity. After concluding a rewarding career with the public service, she launched two companies: McKenzie Consulting, a Management and Strategy focused business; and The Forge Institute, a partnership dedicated to thought leadership for positive change. She is a Credit Union Board Member, Chair of Alderney Landing and a volunteer with GEO, a Digital Inclusion Partnership.

Wednesday, June 16, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Jennifer Angel, Develop Nova Scotia

The role of large-scale infrastructure and placemaking in facilitating innovation

Jen Angel, CEO of Develop Nova Scotia is joining us to talk about the role that infrastructure and placemaking serve to support innovation. Through involvement in projects like COVE, the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, and through the revitalization of key public spaces and social infrastructure, Jen and her team are contributing to the magnetism of Nova Scotia to attract talent and creating the conditions to bring people together to learn from each other, to build community, and to thrive.

About Jen:

Jen is a builder of people, community, and places that people love.

She builds momentum and resilience by building places that balance Nova Scotia's economic growth agenda with the imperative of inclusive, livable, regenerative communities. She leads an inspiring team who plan, develop and manage property in Nova Scotia to contribute to its magnetism and sustainability. Together with people in the community, they develop places that attract and inspire people and investment.

Investment

Wednesday, June 30, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Investor panel hosted by Marlon Thompson, founder, Future Capital

About Marlon:

Marlon Thompson is an angel investor and startup founder who has spent the past five years creating pathways to success for underrepresented leaders in the startup ecosystem. He founded Future Capital to support ambitious, driven and diverse leaders who are ready to play a bigger role in their industries. He believes now to be a crucial time to create lasting change by enabling and equipping a new cohort of investors: minorities, women, and LGBTQ with the necessary tools to bolster economic empowerment.

Panelists:

Malcolm Fraser: President & CEO, Innovacorp

Mary Long-Irwin: Executive director, Northern Ontario Angels

Joanne Hames: Angel investor and senior manager at Crombie REIT

Rhiannon Davies: Founder and managing partner, Sandpiper Ventures.

Wednesday, July 14, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Entrepreneur panel hosted by Rhiannon Davies, co-founder and managing partner, Sandpiper Ventures

About Rhiannon:

A native of New Brunswick, Rhiannon’s business leadership spans Europe, Asia, South and North America. She was on the Board of Directors that took GrandVision N.V., a CAD$ 5.5 Billion revenue retailer with businesses in 45 countries, through a successful IPO on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Rhiannon has driven the target identification, due diligence, acquisition, integration and move to profitability of many companies. She thrives in fast moving, fast growth environments, and works in executive and board roles in private, public and non-profit organizations.  Rhiannon believes in the need to support entrepreneurship and innovation to deliver meaningful change in business, community, and social development. She actively supports this belief by serving as a mentor and angel investor.

Panelists

Julie MacDonell, co-founder & CEO, Heirlume

Gabrielle Masone founder & CEO Coloursmith Labs

Marlon Thompson, founder, Future Capital