This fall, Accelerate Okanagan is joining forces with Valley First and MNP to launch a Route 97 Edition of Startup Basics. On November 5th our team will hit the road and visit four Okanagan cities in four days. The purpose of the Route 97 Edition of Startup Basics is to engage in a meaningful way with entrepreneurs and community organizations and to support the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Okanagan.
In each of the four cities (Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, and Salmon Arm), there will be two back-to-back workshop-style sessions presented by Accelerate Okanagan mentors, a panel discussion featuring local entrepreneurs and innovators, and a networking event designed to build community and inspire connection.
Penticton’s Event Details
Penticton’s Startup Basics | Route 97 Edition will be hosted at Cowork Penticton on November 5th from 3:00 to 7:30pm. The two Startup Basics sessions hosted in Penticton will be; Laws of Attraction and Pitching Power.
Laws of Attraction is all about finding your customer. Entrepreneurs will walk through the Customer Discovery process and learn how to ask the right questions and formulate hypotheses to validate their product and market.
Pitching Power is all about the perfect pitch. Whether it is to potential employees, current employees, customers, or investors the pitch is a pivotal part of any business. This session helps you understand the importance of your pitch both within and outside the investor context.
After these two sessions, there will be a Lesson’s Learned panel discussion. We’ve invited local entrepreneurs and community members to share their journey, insights, challenges, and successes in order to inspire you to take the leap.
At the end of the evening, there will be an opportunity to network with the panellists and speakers as well as your fellow entrepreneurs!
Meet the Mentor
Alison is an Executive in Residence with Accelerate Okanagan. She is a visionary and innovative executive that has lead multi-million dollar companies to launching tech start-ups. She currently owns her own company and conducts results-based advisory services to a diverse portfolio of SME clients ranging from technology to manufacturing. She is highly valued for establishing scalable business processes that foster growth, cultivating high performance teams, and is known for her creative energy and ability to translate strategic vision into action plans that build momentum.
She is a versatile executive recognized for having superior marketing skills, exceptional sales abilities and superlative business acumen. She holds a diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and she completed her Queen’s University Executive Program in 2008.
Alison ga nihongo o hanashimasu (translation: Speaks Japanese) and is a wannabe pro-golfer who values every minute spent with family and is learning to love yoga. Namaste!
Meet the Panellists
Jennifer Vincent is the Founder of Cowork Penticton a shared office environment with on-demand resources. Jennifer will be moderating the Lesson’s Learned panel as well as sharing her own insight. Connect with Jennifer Vincent. Learn more about Cowork Penticton.
Fergy Foster is the owner of The Nest and Nectar, the historical Cannery Trade Center. Their concept encompasses down to earth, creative food and drink using the Okanagan’s finest nectar. Fergy will be on the Lesson’s Learned panel and she will also be providing treats at Beers & Bytes. Connect with Fergy Foster. Learn more about The Nest & Nectar
Luc Rodgers is the Founder of Survey Life, a software management platform that provides universal access to project data anytime, anywhere, on any type of device. Luc has been on our Venture Acceleration Program here at Accelerate Okanagan, and he has also participated in Startup Basics before. This year he joins us as a panellist to share his entrepreneurial experience. Learn more about Survey Life.
Scott McMillian is the Founder of X.co and is our 4th panelist. Scott has a MSc in Biochemanics and has been assessing movement for the past 20 years using a wide array of sensor and data-based technologies. Scott has participated in our Venture Acceleration Program in the past and knows the startup journey very well. Connect with Scott. Learn more about X.Co
Not in tech? Not a problem
We welcome all entrepreneurs and wantrepreneurs, not just those in the tech sector.
Get your ticket for the Startup Basics Workshops
Can’t make it to the workshops? Come to the FREE Lesson’s Learned panel
