Free Entrepreneurship 101 Lecture Series starts at MaRS again

Interested in learning more about entrepreneurship? Looking to start a new venture? Wondering what can be done for your career during this recessionary climate? Look no further!  Sponsored by CIBC, MaRS offers a free, non-credit introductory course on entrepreneurship that introduces you to the nuts and bolts of building a business.

http://marsdd.com/mars/Events/Event-Calendar/Ent101

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

Grants in digital media

If you are planning to develop an application in Flash and make it available for some mobile devices (e.g. cellphones, Blackberry), you might try and apply for this grant sponsored by Adobe:
http://www.openscreenproject.org/developers/get_started.html

There is also C3 Ontario program for postsecondary graduates in digital media (DATA members, OCAD and UOIT students):
http://c3ontario.com/documents/StartaBusiness_Program_Guidelines.pdf

Free entrepreneurship lecture series at MaRS

MaRS is hosting a series of FREE entrepreneurship lectures on Wednesdays, 5.30pm to 6.30pm, from October 1 to April 29 by CIBC.

http://marsdd.com/mars/Events/Event-Calendar/Ent101.html

The series targets researchers in biological and physical sciences and engineering. It assumes no prior knowledge of business and offers lectures on a diverse range of topics including finding financing, defining markets, hiring teams and protecting intellectual property. You can view the course outline below.
DESIGNED FOR

* Graduate Students
* Post-Doctorate Candidates
* Faculty
* Technicians
* Other scientific or engineering researchers who have an interest in creating a company to exploit the results of their research

(I’d go but it clashes with my technical writing class. May try during winter break though. It should be a great networking event, if nothing else.)