ENTERPRISE TORONTO SMALL BUSINESS FORUM 2009

ENTERPRISE TORONTO
SMALL BUSINESS FORUM 2009
METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE
255 Front Street West, North Building, 100 Level
October 19, 2009 — 9am to 4:30pm

Small Business Forum 2009 brings together entrepreneurs and business development experts, all levels of government, and business product and service providers.

ADMISSION IS FREE BUT YOU MUST REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE

Free Microsoft software for startups

The Linked .Net Users Group (LIDNUG) is now a BizSpark Network Partner.

BizSpark program run by Microsoft gives you access to all kinds of Microsoft software for development, test and production. There is no cost to enroll and you pay just USD$100 when you exit the program.

LIDNUG is now a BizSpark Network Partner. To get access to BizSpark, send an email, and LIDNUG will respond to you with a code you can use to register.

For more details about what you get through the program, please visit “What Do I Get”.

Startup Eligibility Requirements

An eligible startup must have the following characteristics at the time of joining:

* Actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of its current or intended business
* Privately held
* In business for less than 3 years, and
* Less than US $1 million in annual revenue

My post for Blogging Idol contest – Your IT budget on a shoestring

You have recently started a business, but don’t have a huge budget for all things IT?

Here are 17 free or inexpensive tools that will help you to establish your online presence and spread the word.

Your IT budget on a shoestring

OCE Elevator Pitch contest at Discovery 09

The Ontario Centres for Excellence is hosting an Elevator Pitch contest on May 12, 2009 at Discovery 09 event.

Do you have a great idea for a technology based business? Test your marketing skills with leading Angel and VC gurus. Entrants will be assessed on their ability to pitch their business idea in a manner that is plausible and compelling in five minutes or less.
1st Place – $5000
2nd Place – $2000

Please submit a summary (700 words max), which covers the following:
 Describe the product or service and its underlying technology.
 What is the market need – what is the value proposition to your intended customers?
 What is the sustainable competitive advantage of your product or service?
 Describe the market and market size.
 What is your market entry strategy?

To enter, visit www.ocediscovery.com/elevatorpitch2009.aspx.

Getting into Self-Employment Benefit (SEB) program: Q & A

Tom:: Hi.

Is this the program you were talking about?

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/employees/selfEmployment.html

Tania: Looks like it

Tom:: Who is it for?

Tania: For people who are currently on EI or were eligible for EI within the last 3 years (5 years if you were eligible for maternal or parental benefits) and want to start their own business. They also need to have a viable business idea.

You don’t get SEB automatically, unlike EI. You have to apply for it first, and then undergo an admission process with presenting and defending your business idea. The entire process may take about 6 to 8 weeks. (You don’t have to wait until your EI runs out to apply for SEB.)

Tom:: Have you applied yourself, or do you know anyone that has?

Free seminars for small businesses that want to become suppliers for the federal government

OSME – Ontario Region offers the following supplier seminars to individuals and groups. Seminars include the fundamentals of selling goods and services to the Government of Canada.

• How to do business with the federal government:
  This seminar provides information on how to market to the federal government, how the government does its buying, and how to keep track of opportunities to bid on Canadian government purchases.
• Understanding the procurement process and responding to bids:
  This seminar provides advice and guidance in preparing a proposal. Gain a better knowledge and understanding of what is in a Request for Proposal (RFP), how bids are evaluated and how you should respond to a RFP.

Register for a Supplier Seminar

A grant designed to help SMB take advantage of opportunities in foreign markets

Export Market Access (EMA) is a cost-sharing grant designed to help small to medium sized organizations take advantage of opportunities in foreign markets beyond the US.

If your company has 5 or more employees and annual sales of $500,000 or more, you may qualify for a grant covering up to 50% of eligible costs incurred to develop export sales.

SR&ED – for accountants and business management consultants

SR&ED is a government program that refunds companies their expenditures on research and development. (Some information on SR&ED)

How can you benefit from SR&ED if you are not involved in R&D?

If you are an accountant, a business management consultant, or do something else that brings you in touch with many businesses

SR&ED Q&A

What is SR&ED?

SR&ED (Scientific Research & Experimental Development) program is a government incentive program. It refunds Canadian companies involved in Research and Development (R&D).

PWC SR&ED Breakfast Seminar – Thursday, Jan 29

There were some recent changes in SR&ED procedure. If you are interested in SR&ED or involved in SR&ED claims in any way, you should attend.
Seminar description and link for registration

SR&ED is a federal tax incentive program that refunds Canadian businesses their research and development (R&D) expenditures. Learn more about SR&ED