Ricoh is putting digital transformation within reach for Canada ’ s small businesses

Every day, small and mid-sized businesses face productivity challenges that impact their operations such as:

Inability to access information quickly and effortlessly Delivering services with paper-based processes Losing (or finding) physical documents Maintaining data security Dealing with IT distractions Meeting the needs of remote employees

It’ s a long list of challenges to overcome, and with the workplace no longer needing to be a central location, many business owners and small teams are finding it harder than ever to keep doing their work the way they always have without the right technology.

By Rob McDonald Marketing Manager, Business Processes Management at Ricoh Canada Inc.

By Rob McDonald Marketing Manager, Business Processes Management at Ricoh Canada Inc.

That’ s why the topic of digital resiliency is so important these days, particularly for SMEs. Because, despite all the focus and attention, Canadian small businesses are still lagging other countries when it comes to ‘digital maturity ’ and technology adoption. But it’ s not for lack of desire to change. While small businesses understand the importance of digitization, many haven ’t yet taken the important steps they need to actually do so because:

Solutions are often designed for large or enterprise organizations – not SMEs It can be overwhelming: both in cost and in effort They lack technical expertise, understanding and support

When these obstacles are removed, Canadian SMEs are well-positioned to get the most out of their technology investments. And while not all solutions are right for every business, it is generally the case that all small and mid-sized businesses can benefit from at least one strategic digital solution.

However, the challenge, until now, has been for providers to find a way of delivering a solution that didn ’t just solve for one small business process or need (think: just accounting or just marketing). That’ s why Ricoh is excited to announce that, in collaboration with DocuWare (a Ricoh-owned company), we have designed a solution specifically for small and mid-sized businesses, like yours.

THE SOLUTION

Ricoh’ s Document Management Foundations package is an all-in-one document management solution that turns paper-based processes into digital ones while allowing for the automation of repeatable tasks and workflows.

It combines everything business owners need to feel confident and secure about adopting a technology solution for their organization (or even an entire team).

Software

Professional Services

Training

Support IN AS LITTLE AS 1-WEEK YOU CAN:

Access digital versions of your paper documents anywhere, anytime and from any device Spend less time searching for files by storing documents in a centralized repository Simplify & accelerate the processing of incoming documents using Intelligent Indexing to automatically capture, sort, digitize & store your data securely in the cloud Secure business critical information with multiple layers of redundancy Provide better data accuracy and controlled document access to relevant staff, stakeholders, departments and even business partners. HOW IT’S USED

1.

2.

3. Set up virtual filing cabinets according to business process Digitize paper documents into electronic forms to be stored accordingly (accounting, HR, sales, service, or even operations) Leverage pre-configured forms and templates to automate workflows like invoice processing, contracts or sales proposals, time off requests, and importantly: secure document archiving.

Foundations is a turn-key solution that can be deployed in 5 just days. Ricoh’ s Professional Services team will work with your team to get you up and running without any hassle or headache.

If your business is still relying on paper-based processes in areas like accounting, HR, sales or even operations, then it’ s time for a change to something easier, faster and better.

Contact us to learn more about Ricoh’ s Document Management Foundations package.

PROVIDING THE RIGHT ‘ANSWERS’ TO BUSINESSES!

Shawn Ostheimer

Founder and President, The Answer Company

Starting in 1994, Shawn directed the growth of The Answer Company to become the largest provider of Sage solutions in Western Canada. He is also a guest speaker and leader for the business software industry. His lectures are focused on accounting, business processes, and the role of software solutions in gaining organizational objectives. He has a degree in Masters in Business Administration from the University of Calgary, and more than 30 years of experience in implementing financial and management software systems for businesses. He has been an ardent contributor to every single facet of his clients ’ business improvement. His vast experience includes system design/analysis, business analysis, training, data conversion, implementation, software installation, customer support and project management.

Shawn Ostheimer is the Founder and President of The Answer Company. Beginning in 1994, Shawn has spearheaded the company ’ s growth to become the largest Sage provider in Western Canada. With a Masters in Business Administration and over thirty years of implementing financial and management software systems, Shawn has contributed to every facet of improving clients ’ businesses. His experience includes business analysis, system design/analysis, training, implementation, data conversion, software installation, customer support, and project management.

Taking an active role in the company

’ s operations, Shawn helps improve businesses by determining software solution fit that generates a substantial return on investment for clients. His emphasis on integrity in customer service has been instrumental in the company ’ s success and has become a pillar in The Answer Company ’ s culture. Shawn ’ s hard work and commitment to seeing projects completed properly and on time, translate into long-term relationships with clients that return to fulfill the needs of their organizations as they grow and change. Shawn is a leader and guest speaker for the enterprise software industry, focusing lectures on business processes, accounting, and the role software solutions play in attaining organizational objectives. Contact The Answer Company for more information or to have Shawn as a guest speaker at your event.

Presently through The Answer Company Shawn provides financial support to social initiatives like Downs Syndrome Research Foundation, Canucks Autism Network, World Vision and SPARC BC. Shawn and his wife Rachel are proud parents of a son and a daughter and work together at The Answer Company where Rachel is an assistant bookkeeper.

What was the inspiration and motivation behind the launch of The Answer Company? What have you accomplished from it so far and how have you spearheaded the company ’ s growth to become the largest Sage provider in Western Canada?

I started the organization 27 years ago with a clear vision that still rings true today: to help solve business technology problems with a People First approach. Since then, the People First mindset has been embedded into all aspects of The Answer Company and has been the main catalyst for our success today – from building a team, acquiring customers, working with clients, partners & suppliers, and the organization ’ s significant contribution and involvement to the greater community.

What initially started as a small team of two has grown into a team of over 120 experts, with 5 offices across Canada and 1 in the US, and a portfolio of more than 2,000 clients. We ’ re proud to say that we ’ ve seen tremendous growth across the business, including financial performance, geographic & industry expansion, our strategic partnerships and has become a trusted advisor to many businesses here in Canada.

Where do you draw your motivation and inspiration to continue to move forward? What maintains your focus towards your targets and goals?

There are two main areas where I draw inspiration, that always keep me grounded, focused and serve as daily reminders of why I do what I do.

The first is remembering the people behind the businesses we support. It’ s such a rewarding experience to see the real impact of what we do and how it helps small businesses in the short and long term as they navigate their digital transformation journey and continue to scale. Seeing an ROI come to life, seeing the real difference it makes, and continuing that long-term relationship with our clients brings a greater sense of joy. Business wins also mean we can contribute and play an even greater role in serving the communities we do business in –so it’ s a win-win all around.

The second is much more personal. My son, Sam, navigates life very differently from many of his peers. Growing up as a child with Down Syndrome and Autism, simple things were tough for him and nothing ever comes easy. And yet, he ’ s always happy. When I come home from a trying day, his smile makes it all worthwhile.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business? What are some best practices when starting a business after a pandemic?

A key thing to remember is the importance of perseverance. Starting a business isn ’t easy. There are always going to be periods that are challenging and will make you reevaluate and question your entire approach. So be prepared, be ready to adapt, be open to change, embrace new opportunities and push through them. Just like a lot of our customers, we ’ re

also a small business. In our many years of ERP and technology consulting, the pandemic isn ’t the first crisis we ’ ve had to manage, but it definitely has been a different kind of challenge. While our past experiences serve as a guide, we know today ’ s circumstances present a unique opportunity for us to help companies like never before. And that’ s exactly what we did during this pandemic: help businesses increase efficiency, optimize workflows, and increase productivity so they can make timely and better-informed decisions.

Another great thing to have in your tool belt is simply surrounding yourself with great people, building a strong team. Find people that are willing to support you throughout those tough periods. I’ m not referring to financial support but rather those that share your vision and values, and who will supply you with the right tools and resources as your business continues to grow.

There are many members of the team who have been with The Answer Company for over 15 years. In fact, our first ever employee, dating back to 1994, is still with us today! I’ m always grateful for the support I’ ve had all these years and continue to have as we grow. The Answer Company wouldn ’t be the success it is today without the amazing team behind it.

What are the fundamental principles you adapt to keep you relevant in ever-changing times?

Like I mentioned earlier, embracing change and innovation is a big one. Being flexible and willing to explore new opportunities, alter your product line, or change your go-tomarket strategy are all just the tip of the iceberg. Embracing innovation means being open to new ideas and welcoming the new challenges that change brings. Build a team you trust and take their expertise under advisement to find new ways to move.

Another fundamental principle is to keep learning. The best way to deal with ever-changing times is to stay up-to-date with trends and what’ s going on in the greater community. This might take form in different ways, whether it’ s subscribing to top industry magazines or/and online blogs, following industry experts on LinkedIn, networking or finding relevant courses that complement or expand your existing skill set.

As a technology company ourselves, we experience and see change daily and it’ s part of what we do. We find that early recognition and adoption of new technologies often gives companies the competitive edge they need to stand out from their peers.

What is your key advice to small business owners to run their business smoothly during these challenging times?

This was and continues to be a common question we answer for our clients. Here are a few pieces that stand out:

Utilize digital tools to remain competitive

Remote working is new for many organizations. The swiftness of the pandemic left many scrambling to adjust. Lucky for us, there are now a lot of digital tools available in the cloud that give organizations anytime, anywhere access. Having that as part of your technology stack and workforce strategy will increase your ability to adapt during changing times.

Use data insights to manage cash flow

The pandemic served as a great reminder that we

’ re all in this together and the importance of considering the greater impact of our business decisions. For us, in addition to our Corporate Social Responsibility program, Answering The Call, we ’ ve started on our Bcorp certification journey this past year and hope to join a community of leaders driving a global movement of change. We encourage you to join us.

Consider the greater impact

The pandemic served as a great reminder that we

’ re all in this together and the importance of considering the greater impact of our business decisions. For us, in addition to our Corporate Social Responsibility program, Answering The Call, we ’ ve started on our Bcorp certification journey this past year and hope to join a community of leaders driving a global movement of change. We encourage you to join us.

We

’ ve also taken a similar approach with our own team. We dug deep, looked beyond day-to-day tasks, and focused on making informed decisions to ensure business continuity and health. Reflecting back on the past year and a half, we ’ re grateful and proud to say that our team has handled the pandemic with a sense of resilience. We too are optimistic that normalcy will return shortly and will continue to do what we do best with the support of our clients, partners and greater community –Propel Businesses Forward. TAC Company Description

Since 1994, as an award-winning ERP consulting firm, we have been helping organizations answer questions about investments in technology and information systems. As Sage and Acumatica ERP experts our goal is to make companies more successful at what they do and gain the confidence to make profitable moves in their respective industries. From our offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Portland, our Sage and Acumatica ERP software solutions support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking and merchant services. Our ERP consultants are dedicated to addressing the unique challenges you face in your industry and we provide specialized business management solutions to industries such as manufacturing, construction, distribution, healthcare, nonprofit, and real estate.

H e l p i n g S m a l l B u s i n e s s e s

G r o w & S u c c e e d i n t h e M a r k e t p l a c e

Don Ludlow

Vice President, Small Business, Strategy & Partnerships at RBC

As the Vice President of Small Business, Strategy & Partnerships at RBC, Don provides strategic oversight and leads a team that is responsible for delivering marketingleading solutions, partnerships, and client experiences that go beyond traditional banking to help Canadian entrepreneurs successfully start, manage and grow their business. Don also manages the development of RBC’ s strategy for the broader Business Financial Services portfolio, including the group ’ s client experience, CRM (client relationship management), and data analytics strategies.

Don joined RBC in 2001 and has 20 years of experience within the financial services and banking sector. He was most recently the Regional Vice President of the South Western Ontario Region, leading a team of RBC Advisors to support the growth of small and commercial business clients in the community. Prior to joining RBC, Don served as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Army where he led soldiers on a number of domestic and international operations and worked in both staff and training roles. Beyond his small business clients, Don is passionate about contributing to the growth of communities and supporting military veterans. He helped co-found the Treble Victor Group (3V) – a network of ex-military leaders who work to support one another in their post-service careers. He is also on the Board of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Goodwill Industries (Ontario Great Lakes).

The pandemic has created a lot of new trends and changes for Canadian small businesses over the last 18 months. From your perspective, which changes are here to stay in the post-COVID-19 economy?

The pandemic has been a catalyst for a lot of new business practices and priorities, and in many ways, it also accelerated the need for many small business owners to adapt to other trends that were steadily on the rise over the last several years. A recent RBC poll revealed three important trends or changes that are likely here to stay over the next year – or possibly even longer.

First, there ’ s a growing demand for e-commerce and digital payments. These were already on the rise pre-pandemic but they became business staples with social distancing and health and safety measures. Today, four in five Canadians polled say that they would like to continue to shop online at small businesses, even after the economy is fully reopened, and 64% of Canadians surveyed said that partnering with digital platforms to make products and services more accessible will be important post-pandemic, especially among millennials (72%).

Secondly, a focus on employee wellness and overall health and safety remain a top priority for Canadians. Eighty-seven percent of Canadian respondents said providing more wellness and mental health benefits and resources to employees will be important going forward.

Nine in ten (88%) Canadian respondents also said they expect heightened hygiene standards to continue post-pandemic and 78% would like to continue using curbside pickup and delivery services as part of their shopping experience. Implementing employee benefits, resources, and safety protocols to meet these new consumer expectations will be critical differentiators for small businesses that are looking to attract and retain talent and customers.

Finally, supporting small, local, and diverselyowned and operated businesses is here to stay post-pandemic. The majority of Canadians (77%) polled said they plan to spend more at small, local retail stores, restaurants, and businesses to support their recovery, more than they did before the pandemic. Many Canadians are also actively seeking out and supporting 2SLGBTQ+ (52%) and BIPOC (61%)-owned businesses, products, and services. This shift is significantly higher for millennials (65%, 69% respectively), indicating that today ’ s consumers are becoming more conscious about purchasing through a diversity- and community-focused lens.

Has the disruption in the small business landscape deterred entrepreneurs from turning their vision into reality?

Quite the contrary. There ’ s no doubt the disruption has been challenging for many small business owners. But we ’ ve also seen many aspiring and existing entrepreneurs look for ways to turn lemons into lemonade, so to speak. The changes we ’ ve seen around new customer expectations and behaviors, increased digital adoption and a growing focus on supporting local businesses have created some new opportunities for entrepreneurs. In our April 2021 poll, we found entrepreneurial aspirations to be at an all-time high with 55% of Canadians polled said they have thought about owning a business, while nearly a quarter of existing business owners surveyed said they started their business during the pandemic.

Are there any other factors contributing to the growing desire to start a business right now?

The pandemic has also created an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on their priorities. While many started their business as a result of new market opportunities, more than three-quarters of those who started their business, or knows someone who did, started based on shifting personal priorities or because they felt it gave them a new sense of purpose. Seven in 10 also felt entrepreneurship would provide a way to replace lost income due to the pandemic. Canadians supported small businesses by leveraging new channels like e-Commerce, curbside pick-up, etc. during the pandemic. Do Canadians still prefer that or are they eager to get back into in-person shopping and dining?

Many Canadians and small business owners have certainly appreciated the easing restrictions and in-person interactions after months of closures. However, we don ’t expect the pandemic-driven shopping practices to go away anytime soon and small business owners will need to provide hybrid options to engage with customers, especially as the pandemic situation continues to evolve.

In our survey, 86% of Canadian respondents said that they’d like to continue using online shopping and digital payment options, while 78% of respondents said that they’d like to continue leveraging curbside pickup and delivery features.

Do you have any practical tips or considerations for small businesses given the trends that are here to stay?

We have 3 tips for business owners looking to strengthen their business and stay resilient in the face of uncertainty.

First, continue to explore ways to digitally enable your business operations and create an online presence for customers to engage with you. Providing your services and solutions online doesn ’t mean it has to replace your brickand-mortar operation, but depending on your customer base and growth goals, an online channel could be a great complement to expand your reach and make it more efficient and accessible for customers to engage with your brand. Digitizing your payment and other operational functions like invoicing, payroll, cash management, and virtual employee health services can help streamline administrative tasks and save you money in the long run. RBC offers many of these solutions and more through its collaboration with Owner, Moneris, Bookmark, ADP, Wello, and others to make it easier for business clients to start digitizing their operations.

Second, continue to cultivate strong relationships with your local community members. They say that finding new customers is always more expensive and harder than keeping your existing ones happy. Build on the trust and relationship equity you ’ ve built with your most loyal customers pre-and during the pandemic as your business continues to recover and grow. Be diligent about providing tailored, local offers and sharing news that is relevant to your community members. Nextdoor is one app that RBC offers to help business owners do that.

Finally, proactively plan for contingency financial scenarios, whether times are good or bad. This will allow you to be more objective and agile in making decisions, should those scenarios play out. Share those plans with your financial advisor, accountant, lawyer, and other trusted professionals so that they ’ re aware of your plans and can spring into action more quickly when you need their support. This should be a living plan that is revisited and updated throughout the year as macro-economic conditions, market competitiveness and business goals evolve.

For more information on small business tips, resources, and solutions that go beyond banking, visit www.rbc.com/smallbusinessnavigator.

How entrepreneurs can leverage Samsung’s innovative display technologies

to transform their small businesses in Canada

If a picture paints a thousand words, Samsung Canada display technologies paint millions. With digital transformation at the forefront of business conversations in recent years, innovative display solutions have surged in quality and uptake, with more companies leveraging the techto improve operations and performance, while significantly reducing costs.

Over the last two years, the use of tech to transform the customer experience has never been more important as the business need to offer in-store services that inform and support visitors while maintaining a safe environment became dominant across Canada. Small businesses have borne the brunt of the change to keep from closing their doors and entrepreneurs have had to source new solutions to help them ride the unpredictable economic landscape.

As the economy continues to reopen across the country and adapt to new protocols, Samsung Canada display technologies are optimal solutions for in-store experiences that preserve customer and employee safety while pushing businesses to the next level.

For businesses, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to tech needs. From retail to hospitality, every operation has a unique set of challenges and goals, with different processes for managing employeesbe it from home or office. Restaurants look for ways to entice customers and communicate offers while offices require new ways to hold large board meetings and manage workflow. Samsung Canada has a range of digital display products that can help small businesses meet their needs. The innovative display of the Samsung Business TV engages customers with eye-catching visuals. Samsung designed the product to help restaurants, retail stores, salons, and other consumer-facing businesses with innovative and highimpact digital signage. The Business TV has more than 100 pre-loaded templates for businesses to up the ante in stores. Businesses can also trim traditional marketing costs with the TVs, which allow owners to update the displays directly from their own phones without printing menus or promotional materials.

In the age of “ contactless

” experiences, theSamsung Kiosk offers space-saving and compact design to cater to employee and customer needs. The Kiosk, an intuitive all-in-one payment and ordering system, curtails the one-to-one interactions with the customers and provides an enhanced service experience.

Gone are the days when all office meetings were confined to conference rooms. With an increasingly virtual and hybrid workforce, more people clock in from home and participate in virtual meetings, which can all be facilitated more easily with the Samsung Interactive Display Flip 3.0. This innovative display simplifies teamwork, allowing users to share notes, sketch out and brainstorm new ideas, present plans, and collaborate with ease. The interactive display ’ s 4K UHD picture quality renders teamwork in vivid, eye-catching quality and can be synced with personal devices to share realtime content. Leading the way in tech solutions for an ever-changing business landscape, Samsung continues to evolve its products and prioritize small businesses with adaptable technology for any environment. Its digital displays are the latest way in which the tech innovator has enhanced experiences for not only the business ownersbut also their customers.

To learn more about Samsung Display Solutions, visit samsung.com/ca/business/displays.

AWS joins in the Celebration of

Canada’s Small Businesses during Small Business Month

October is Small Business Month in Canada, a time to celebrate this country ’ s many innovative and visionary entrepreneurs. The event began in 2006 as an offshoot of Small Business Week, which launched 42 years ago.

There may be no other place in the world better suited to celebrate small businesses — there are approximately 1.2 million active SMBs here, representing 97.9 percent of Canadian employers. October has become the time of year to recognize and laud the significant contributions they make to local communities, provinces, and the entire Canadian economy.

At AWS Canada, we

’ ve long been committed to helping small and medium businesses grow. But the COVID-19 pandemic has made our efforts more important than ever. Since March 2020, Canada ’ s SMBs have been profoundly impacted by the crisis. They ’ ve had to kickstart efforts to digitize and to enhance the online customer experience, as well as shifting their employees to remote work.

They

’ ve done so by taking advantage of our suite of tools, workshops, and upskilling opportunities via training and certification. All of these AWS offerings have allowed us to support SMBs every step of the way as they ’ ve navigated the maze of the COVID-19 pandemic and its onagain, off-again restrictions and shutdowns.

Events like Small Business Month not only celebrate the important role SMBs play as the backbone of the Canadian economy, they also provide opportunities to learn, brainstorm, network, and collaborate with other small businesses and entrepreneurs. This is particularly important for SMB operators and builders on the frontlines at most organizations as the pandemic continues to pose operational challenges for businesses of all sizes.

Canadian SMBs, however, has proven remarkably resilient. On Oct. 21, Canadian Small-Medium Business Day, AWS is hosting a virtual learning event to celebrate that resiliency and hear their stories of growth. We ’ll also provide details on how we ’ ve helped them not just survive but thrive. Our session, aimed at SMB operators and builders, will also provide details on how cloud technology can accelerate growth for any business, how companies can build with AWS, and how our courses allow business leaders and team members to upskill. Tailored for an audience that wants to learn how embrace the cloud and other critical AWS offerings, the session will delve into the foundational architecture and steps of cloud adoption, along with the technical and business impacts of the cloud.

It will explain:

How teams can experiment and innovate faster

How they can easily scale up or down with the needs of the business

How they can lower upfront expenses by only paying for what they need

How they can begin focusing on business differentiators, not infrastructure

How they can easily and quickly scale globally

And how they can do all this while reducing operational costs and saving money

Speakers from the AWS team include:

Keith Mascarenhas, a Solutions Architect who works with SMBs in central Canada to help them grow and achieve outcomes faster. He is passionate about machine learning and a member of the Amazon Computer Vision Hero program.

Andre Albuquerque, a Training Delivery Manager, and Cloud Evangelist. Andre is an IT professional with more than 18 years of professional experience in the IT industry with job roles in Systems Analysis and Systems Engineering, Software Development, Partner and Customer Enablement, Technical Training, and Cloud Architecture.

Shaiju Joseph, a Training & Certifications business development manager supporting the SMB and ISV/DNB segments across Canada. Joseph helps clients accelerate growth and increase agility by identifying cloud skills gaps to craft strategic enablement and certification paths that help achieve business objectives while building cloud fluency.

Michele Romanow

Business Woman of the Month

Whoever says that women were meant for home and look after kids, belongs to the stone age. Every now and then, we get to read and learn more about such vibrant, young women who are making it big as entrepreneurs. Michele Romanow is no exception. She started Clearco, formerly Clearbanc, as a platform to reimagine businesses. She co-founded the company in 2015 with an idea to offer the most founderfriendly monetary solutions for SaaS, e-commerce, and mobile app business founders. Also considered to be a Tech Titan, Michele is the youngest entrepreneur ever to join CBC’s super-hit show – Dragon’s Den.

How did it Happen?

Michele Romanow, before becoming a woman founder, spent her childhood in Regina, a small town in Canada. She grew up with her folks amidst the farms. Because of this, she has always been very grounded. From a very young age, the value of hard work got instilled in her. She believed in putting her foot down and doing it all to take her business to the place where it is now. Her first business was a caviar fishery. People were really excited about it in the beginning. However, the supply chain part was not so glamorous.

Before her 33rd birthday, Michele Romanow founded five companies and exited two of them before her 30th. She has been the co-founder of SnapSaves, which was later on acquired by Groupon, and Buytopia.ca, which acquired ten of its competitors including WagJag and Shop.ca. in 2015, she joined as the youngest ever judge on CBC’ s Dragon ’ s Den and has been a successful ‘Dragon ’ for the last five seasons.

Formerly known as Clearbanc, Clearco is one of the pioneers in being an innovative, founder-friendly investment start-up in Canada. Company, instead of taking a stake in the companies it supports financially, Clearco offers them the funds which are needed in exchange for a flat 6% fee. This is paid back to them by the start-ups as and when they start earning revenues. To date, the company has invested more than $1 billion for 2,800 + organizations. Recently, Clearco launched a different kind of valuation appraisal platform for start-ups which is driven by Artificial Intelligence.

About Clearco

Also, the company offers three free tools –ClearPartners, ClearValuation, and ClearInsights – to help businesses track and quantify their growth.

Wrapping it Up

Clearco was co-founded by Michele Romanow in 2015 with an aim to be a constant support system for start-ups. The company believes in sticking with its start-up clients throughout their business lifecycle. This means, they are not only present to support the start-ups financially but are always beside them through thick and thin. Currently, the company deals in financing for e-commerce and subscription-based SaaS companies. And to be able to avail its financing for the ClearCapital and ClearRunway, the companies should have 6+ months of revenue more than 10k/month. For the ClearAngel financing, the company should be a registered corporation or limited liability company in North America, with 2-20k monthly revenue.

Clearco offers various products for all types of founders. Starting from inventory and marketing funding for the e-commerce businesses (ClearCapital), flexible financing for SaaS companies (ClearRunway), access to capital, an extensive network of apps, investors, and agencies, and data-driven advice (ClearAngel), Clearco aims at supporting start-ups in every way possible.

Wish to learn more about such inspiring young women entrepreneurs in Canada? Subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine now! This is the perfect place for you to clear all your doubts regarding small and medium businesses in Canada.

Michele Romanow’s

mantra has always been,

‘Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do

Michele was a high achiever in academics. She did her civil engineering at Queen ’ s University. However, within the first year of her stay there, she understood that she was meant for bigger deals in life. At 19, she decided on opening a zero-waste café on her university campus and for that, entered several business plan competitions to raise funds. She didn ’t win but she never lost hope. She opened The Tea Room during her fourth year there and today, 10 years later, it’ s still run by the student government at Queen ’ s.

During her journey of being one of the most coveted young women entrepreneurs in Canada, she never listened to the naysayers. She believed dearly in herself, in her dreams, and launched 5 businesses before she turned 33. She also knew well the trick of leaving a place when necessary and therefore, exited two companies before the age of 30.