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September 2023 Issue

Welcome to Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation’s (IEF) September 2023 Newsletter!

Check out the exciting news, events, and resources made available by the charity to inspire you and support your business.

What’s in this Issue

• IEF’s Fall 2023 Micro-grants Open Call for Applicants

• Celebrate with us at the 2023 CANIE Awards National Celebration at the Startup Canada Tour in Brampton!

• Free Virtual Workshop: Understanding Deceptive Market Practices, October 4th, 2023, 1pm ET, presented by The Competition Bureau of Canada

• Free Interactive Mental Health Workshop: Emotional Literacy for Entrepreneurs, October 19th, 2023, at 1pm ET via Zoom

IEF’s FALL 2023 MICRO-GRANTS: Open Call for Applications

The IEF Micro-grants are back! Presented in partnership with UPS, the Fall 2023 Micro-grants aim to support Canadian founders belonging to equity-deserving and/or racialized communities overcome financial business obstacles and achieve growth, sustainability, and success.

Applications will be accepted from October 2, 2023, at 9am ET to 11:59pm PT on November 12th, 2023, through the charity’s website.

We are thrilled to offer 11 x $5000 cash micro-grants under the following five categories:

Product Innovation Micro-grant, sponsored by UPS

One x $5000 micro-grant available

To be granted to an entrepreneur who has successfully launched a novel product that offers a significant advancement  in its business’ industry category.

Product Innovation Micro-grant additional eligibility: New product must be already on market and generating revenue.

Global Export Micro-grant, sponsored by UPS

One x $5000 micro-grant available

To be granted to a small Canadian business to aid in launching its products into new international markets.

Social Impact Small Business Micro-grant, sponsored by CIRA

One x $5000 micro-grant available

To be granted to a business with a clear social mission and a commitment to measurable business outcomes that add value to its community and/or the environment. 

Social Impact Small Business Micro-grant additional eligibility: Applicants must present a compelling plan for measurable positive change and sustainable practices within its business operations model.

Indigenous Business Owner Micro-grant, sponsored by Intuit

Two x $5000 micro-grants available

To be granted to Indigenous entrepreneurs to provide financial support to sustain, advance, and scale their businesses and to foster economic growth in their communities.

Woman Business Owner Micro-grant, sponsored by TD

Six x $5000 micro-grants available 

To be granted to empower women business owners through financial aid to fuel their entrepreneurial endeavors and achieve their business goals.

The National 2023 CANIE Awards Celebration, October 26th, 2023!

We can’t wait to see you at the Startup Canada Tour in Brampton Ontario on October 26th, 2023 at The Rose Brampton Theatre where IEF will announce and celebrate the winners of the 2023 CANIE Awards!

IEF’s flagship program, the Canadian Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CANIE) Awards, presented in partnership with UPS, celebrates and honours outstanding Canadian founders belonging to equity-seeking and/or racialized communities who demonstrate excellence in innovation, sustainability, social impact, community leadership, and business achievement.

Register today and receive 20% off all tickets with the code IEF-STARTUP20. We are excited to celebrate our outstanding 2023 CANIE Award winners with you!

The Competition Bureau of Canada Virtual Workshop: Understanding Deceptive Marketing Practices

Do you market a product or service for your business? If so, are you knowledgeable of the laws pertaining to advertising goods and services in ways that may be considered false or misleading?

Being aware of the law can help you market your product safely and can empower you and your business to avoid becoming a victim of deceptive practices.

Join us virtually on October 4th, 2023, at 1pm ET where the Competition Bureau of Canada will discuss:

• Common types of deceptive marketing practices, including key issues related to digital and social media marketing.

• How to lower your risk of breaking the law.

• How to avoid becoming a victim of deceptive scams.

Register for our workshop here – it’s FREE!

The Competition Bureau of Canada has partnered with Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation to deliver a series of free workshops designed to educate and empower small Canadian business owners. Check out the bureau’s online resources – many of which are designed specifically designed for SMEs!

Free Interactive Mental Health Workshop: Emotional Literacy for Entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with GreenShield.

On October 19th, 2023, at 1pm ET, join Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation’s free mental health workshop: Emotional Literacy for Entrepreneurs, facilitated by Snjezana Pruginic, Somatic Therapist, and Founder of Circle Point Wellness.

Emotional literacy equips entrepreneurs with the essential skills required to achieve mental well-being, lead effectively, innovate, and demonstrate resilience. It plays a fundamental role in building authentic healthy relationships in all aspects of our lives, including in our businesses.

In this workshop, we will:

• Explore the fundamentals of emotional literacy, and why working with our emotions strengthens our mental well-being as entrepreneurs.

• Learn how to use practical tools designed to assist entrepreneurs and business leaders in effectively managing negative triggers – situations that evoke negative reactions, feelings of overwhelm, or heightened difficulty in handling specific circumstances.

• Discover how we leverage emotional literacy to cultivate positive and healthy relationships with our employees, customers, vendors, and other individuals within our business network.

Please note that space is limited. If you have previously registered for this workshop but are unable to attend, we ask that you cancel your registration to make room for others to join.

This free workshop is offered by Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) in partnership with GreenShield as part of a collaborative series of workshops and resources made available for Canadian women entrepreneurs.

Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) is a national charity dedicated to supporting, educating, and celebrating entrepreneurs and innovators belonging to racialized and/or equity-deserving groups as they navigate the unfair barriers of institutional, structural, and interpersonal biases.

IEF releases a monthly newsletter on the last Friday of each month to provide you updates to our programs, share information about tools, resources, and services that may support you and your business, and to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship across Canada. Subscribe HERE. See something missing from the newsletter? Let us know what content you want to see at info@ief-fie.ca.