2013 PARTNERSHIPS Entrepreneurship Empowers Everyone
Startup Blueprints!
Overview! • Entrepreneurship is the engine of
growth and the heart of the Canadian economy
• High-growth enterprises accounts for
4.7% of all small businesses, but are responsible for 45% of new job creation in Canada
• Yet there is a fundamental lack of
awareness, understanding, and appreciation for entrepreneurship in Canada – which can seriously undermine Canada’s economic future
Overview !
• In 2012, Startup Canada embarked on
a cross-country tour that brought together 40 communities, 300 partners and 20,000 Canadians to brainstorm for solutions • Startup Blueprints is: • the collection of insights from this tour, the
largest and most extensive entrepreneurial consultation in Canada • the call-to-action for fostering an entrepreneurial culture and building support infrastructures to usher in a new era of prosperity for Canada
1. Culture & Education ! • Canada is a nation built by
entrepreneurial immigrants from all over the world • Yet at present, entrepreneurial values, endeavors and investments are often met with disbelief, mistrust and apathy • A fundamental cultural shift is required for Canadians to rediscover their roots and build a strong, prosperous nation abound with opportunities
1. Culture & Education !
Proposed Initiatives: • Creating a unified and inspirational brand for Canadian • •
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entrepreneurship Promoting campaigns that celebrate the entrepreneurial mindset and dispel misconceptions Showcasing inspiring entrepreneurial role models through mainstream media, cultural institutions and grass-root social media campaigns Unleashing newcomer and boomer entrepreneurship by providing them with support and recognition Fostering youth entrepreneurship through youth media, entrepreneurial funding programs and volunteering opportunities at home and abroad Building entrepreneurial higher-education through curricular innovation, collaborative networks, competitions, funding incentives and ratings Re-designing K-12 education through early experiential learning, entrepreneurial games, story-telling and industry partnerships
2. Bigger & Better Business! • There has been a serious decline in the
number of public companies in Canada – and the losses have not been replaced due to lack of new entrants • To revitalize the Canadian economy, it is necessary to cultivate a large and healthy crop of early-stage startups in order to produce major high-growth companies that can become anchors in their communities • Ultimately, Canada needs sustainable companies that solve real-world challenges and create real economical, social and environmental impact to serve as the backbone of its economy
2. Bigger & Better Business! Proposed Initiatives: • Creating a one-stop online shop to share resources, •
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networks and opportunities Developing business-in-a-box solutions, standardized hands-on training programs and community-based support frameworks to equip entrepreneurs from across Canada with the knowledge, skills and networks to jump-start businesses with ease Championing mentorship as a critical element of entrepreneurial ecosystem Resolving the shortage of risk capital through investment tax credits, startup finance education, client and revenue generation, angel investor networks, and exploration of new funding models Securing discounted services and products for entrepreneurs through collective bargaining under a national organization
3. Bigger & Better Businesses! Proposed Initiatives: • Providing networking opportunities for entrepreneurs to
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connect and learn from members of the ecosystem, offline and online Making more human capital available to startups through on-campus recruitment fairs, Startup Visa and newcomer orientations Equipping entrepreneurs to do business globally through travel mobility programs and trade office support for new market entry Augmenting government programs that support innovation and commercialization efforts Reducing red tape concerning government services, reporting, regulations and taxation Building one-stop entrepreneurship hubs with co-working places, incubators/accelerators and business support organizations Supporting social entrepreneurship through better policies, access to the resources available to the for-profit sector, and cross-sector collaboration
3. Communities & Networks! • The Canadian entrepreneurship
support community is highly fragmented – there is a great deal of confusion, chaos and silo behavior that significantly reduce its effectiveness • There is an urgent need to consolidate the support tools, programs, services and talents in the ecosystem to better serve Canadian entrepreneurs • Canada needs to fuel entrepreneurship from the bottom up through a national entrepreneurship network, led by entrepreneurs and supported by high-level government vision and strong partnerships
3. Communities & Networks! Proposed Initiatives: • Creating a unified national network that reduces
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fragmentation and promotes transparency, standardization and collaboration Engaging the government across multiple departments to formulate a feedback and datadriven strategy on entrepreneurial policy Investing in the capacity of key national associations with the potential to advance entrepreneurship across Canada Building healthy and vibrant entrepreneurial communities at the local level, supported by the national infrastructure Developing a unified research base to aggregate and disseminate findings and best practices nationwide Establishing a philanthropic foundation endowed by successful Canadian entrepreneurs to invest in strategic research, infrastructure, programming and advocacy initiatives
Final Words! • Canada needs to unite behind a common
vision and strategy to empower its entrepreneurs in order to safeguard quality of life, build sustainable communities, and secure prosperity for the future • We need to create a grass-root, entrepreneur-led national entrepreneurial network that serves as a connector, communicator and enabler for all stakeholders in the Canadian entrepreneurial ecosystem • Welcome to the next era of Canadian nation building – welcome to Startup Canada
Contact hello@startupcan.ca & follow @startup_canada!