IN THIS NEWSLETTER

Upcoming events and opportunities
Entrepreneur Spotlight – Grand Opening of Mexican Restaurant, Tlacuache!

In case you missed it – Recap and video link to our February Entrepreneur Ecosystem Coffee Break: Perfecting The Pitch

Navigate News – Navigate joins forces with MITACS! Support Agency Spotlight – MITACS
Calling all mentors!
How to connect with us!

UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

Navigate presents: March Entrepreneur Ecosystem Coffee Break – Let’s Get Social!

“There is nothing more powerful than a new idea in the hands of a social entrepreneur.” – Bill Drayton

Once considered a fringe of the philanthropic few, social entrepreneurship as a movement is moving fast into the mainstream. Public and private sector business owners alike are finding innovative ways to put social value creation at the heart of their businesses and are becoming agents of the change they want to see in the world. Customers, too, are choosing to spend their dollars where they will have the most positive impact and are holding businesses to a higher standard than ever before.

Join us on March 22 with special guest speakers from the MUN Centre for Social Enterprise to learn more about social entrepreneurship and the many ways you can integrate positive social change into the way you do business. March 22nd from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Please register in advance!

This is a free online event.

In partnership with Spicer Facilitation and Learning

NLOWE presents Tarah Wheeler on International Women’s Day March 8th from 2 – 3:30 pm | Virtual Event

NLOWE presents a live webinar and the opportunity to learn from Tarah Wheeler, leading cybersecurity expert.

An accomplished information security researcher, Tarah is a political scientist, Fulbright Scholar and author of the best-selling book Women in Tech: Take Your Career to the Next Level with Practical Advice and Inspiring Stories.

Some of the topics we’ll explore are:

• Cybersecurity is business support – just as necessary as keeping the lights on and training employees.
• One of the fundamental practices for a modern business is keeping the company’s digital assets safe.
• Cybersecurity is as valued as the Human Resources and Legal departments.
• Securing assets before an attack can occur has become the priority versus cleaning up after a cyberattack.Bio:Tarah Wheeler is an information security researcher and social scientist. She is CEO of Red Queen Technologies, a security firm. She is a New America international security fellow, a cybersecurity fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and a Fulbright scholar in cybersecurity.Register here!

CBDC Recruitment Event March 9th, 1:30 pm

CBDC Humber is excited to be partnering with Hire For Talent to Host a Leading Inclusion Workshop. This event is open to any entrepreneur in the CBDC Humber service area which covers Corner Brook, Bay of Islands, Humber Valley, White Bay, and Gros Morne.

Better Financial Management for your Business with Keen Payroll & Bookkeeping
March 10th, 10 – 11 am I Virtual Event

In this webinar, we will share tips on how to organize your financial records so that you can capture accurate and timely information, manage the performance of your

business, meet CRA filing deadlines, and ensure you’re making the best decisions for your business moving forward.

Some of the topics that will be covered are:

• Starting off with a plan/budget.
• Keeping a schedule.
• Understanding the why?
• Basic tips for filing HST
• Understanding payroll
• Reading financial reports 101

Free for Members / $10 for Non-Members

Register here!

Supplier Diversity with NLOWE and Marathon Gold March 15th, 10 am – 12 pm I Free Virtual Event

NLOWE together with Marathon Gold presents a Supplier Diversity event aimed at increasing women owned businesses participating in the supply chain in
mining. Join us as NLOWE provides an overview of our Supplier Diversity activities. Marathon Gold will then present on their Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Plan as it relates to the Valentine Gold Project in central NL. They will discuss how they will create opportunities to work with women owned businesses as part of their Business Access Strategy.

Register here!

Upcoming funding opportunity with Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCE)

Mel Woodward Cup

The Mel Woodward Cup is an exciting startup competition organized by the Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCE) and generously supported by members of the business community. The primary objective of this competition is to help accelerate the most innovative and high-potential student-led startups at Memorial University.

Annually, two students or teams respectively win $25,000 and $15,000 of leverageable funding and additional in-kind prizes from partners. All applicants will also receive feedback from judges on their startup idea and be able to share their applications with partners for further opportunities. For the 2022 Mel Woodward Cup, MCE will also award an “Entrepreneurship Award for Women or Non-binary Leadership” ($2,500) and an “Entrepreneurship Award for an Early-stage Idea” ($2,500).

This competition has been built on the memory of Dr. Mel Woodward, an entrepreneur who started his journey on a dream and a truck. Read more about Dr. Woodward HERE.

Top eight interviews (in-person) – March 8

Top five finalists announced – March 11

2022 MWC Finals (in-person) – March 23

For details, visit the website. 

Aspiring entrepreneurs: Kickstart your business with a solid plan

Futurpreneur and RBC Future Launch proudly present Rock My Business, a free, virtual, three-part workshop series that will help you develop your idea, get started on your business plan and create a viable cashflow for your business—all while connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs in your community and across Canada.

If you’re aged 18-39 and need direction to develop your business idea, have a strong business idea OR recently launched a small business that you’d like to grow, register today for our next series of workshops.

BIG news for aspiring small business owners: You could win $10,000 to help launch your start-up! Futurpreneur and RBC proudly present the RBC Rock My Business Startup Awards, eight awards of $10k each given annually to diverse, young, aspiring entrepreneurs from across Canada, helping kickstart their businesses. Learn how to apply for the awards here!

Upcoming Sessions

Workshop 1: Rock My Business Idea

Monday, March 28th, 9 am – 12 pm

Take this workshop if you have a new business idea and want to test its viability before developing your business plan.

Participants will:

• Learn how to develop an entrepreneurial mindset
• Learn how to make their business idea more viable
• Identify and learn how to overcome key gaps to achieve business viability
• Set a short-term goal with timelines and actions to move their businessforward

Register here!

ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT

Missing that annual trip down south and craving some real Mexican cuisine or just looking for some new flavours to excite your taste buds? Tlacuache to the rescue!

Celebrating its grand opening in mid-March, Tlacuache, Corner Brook’s first authentic Mexican restaurant, has an array of culinary delights to whet the hungry palate. Restaurant owners Jorge

Cortes and Diego Serrano are very excited to welcome you on a veritable Mexican adventure via a mouth-watering selection of regional Mexican dishes and by sharing their rich culture, music and traditions. Navigate caught up with them to learn more about their journey and this great new addition to the Corner Brook culinary scene.

Navigate: Tell us about your new business venture.

Tluacache: We are very excited to be launching Corner Brook’s very first authentic Mexican Restaurant, Tlacuache (pronounced tlah – kwah – cheh), located in the Hotel Corner Brook at 47 Main Street. We have been working hard on renovations and our menu to create a unique Mexican dining experience for our patrons.

Navigate: Tell us a bit about yourselves.

Tluacache: My name is Jorge Cortes and I am from a city called Puebla near Mexico City, and my business partner, Diego Serrano, is from Los Cabos in northern Mexico. I have a Bachelors in Gastronomy and Diego has a Bachelors in Communications. We came to Canada to build a better quality of life and to make Newfoundland and Labrador our home.

Navigate: What does the name “Tlacuache” mean?

Tluacache: “Tlacuache” means opossum. Similar to the story of Prometheus, the God of Fire in Greek mythology, in Mexico, the Mazatec legend of “El fuego y el tlacuache” (The fire and the Opossum) tells the story of how the opossum took fire from the Gods to give it to humanity so that they could develop technology, including food processes. The opossum carried the fire on the tip of his tail which also explains why his tail is now hairless. The opossum is also an animal which is indigenous to Mexico.

Navigate: Why did you decide to become entrepreneurs?

Tluacache: Diego and I wanted to help broaden the culinary options available locally and to help create more diversity. We also wanted to give back to this community which has welcomed us and to create job opportunities for others. We thought a Mexican restaurant would be a good way to achieve this and would be a great addition to the city.

Navigate: How would you describe your food?

Tluacache: We offer Mexican comfort food like my mother and grandmother used to make. Things like chilaquiles (fried corn tortillas with traditional green sauce, onion, feta, sour cream and avocado), mole poblano (a chicken dish with a thick, savoury chili and chocolate-based sauce) that is a speciality from the state of Puebla, or carne asada burritos (flour tortillas wrapped around fillings of beef, beans, cheese and green taquera sauce) from northern Mexico. We also make a range of authentic desserts and regional street foods called “antojitos” (literally translated as “little cravings”) like torta de cochinita (marinated slow-roasted pork shoulder sandwiches) and tacos dorados (crunchy potato tacos with toppings).

Navigate: Tell us about the challenges of starting a business and about your biggest successes.

Tluacache: Being from another country, it was challenging to figure out the rules and regulations of starting a business in Canada. We weren’t familiar with the process, and then there were the language and cultural barriers, so we had to ask for advice.

Another challenge of opening an international restaurant was of course getting the authentic Mexican ingredients we needed. We have to order them in, but that is also one of our successes, because nobody else will have the same ingredients as us. It is a part of what makes Tlacuache unique and authentic.

Navigate: What is the number one piece of advice you would give to someone starting a business?

Tluacache: Really get clear on your idea and what you want to do and plan for it. Develop it well. Don’t rush.

Tlacuache is hiring! Check out their job ads.

Waiter/Waitress: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/jobposting/35780896

Cook: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/jobposting/35780895

For more information about Tlacuache including their breakfast, lunch and evening menus visit: Contact
Jorge Cortes and Diego Serrano

(709) 630-0147

47 Main Street, Corner Brook Email: [email protected]

Website: https://tlacuache.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TlacuacheRestaurant

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlacuache.restaurant/

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

February Entrepreneur Ecosystem Coffee Break – Perfecting the Pitch

This February, we learned about the importance of perfecting your business pitch and why it is one of the most critical skills every entrepreneur must master. A clear, compelling pitch tells the story and the why of your business, and is ultimately what will convince a potential client or investor to believe in your product or service as much as you do.

A recording of the coffee break is available here.

During the session, we discussed things like the importance of having a strong value proposition, the elements of an effective pitch and pitch deck, what potential investors look for in a good pitch, and the dos and don’ts of pitching.
Here are a few of the key components to include in a pitch:

1. Intro, greeting or tagline
2. The problem your business is solves
3. The solution your business provides
4. Info on your target market potential and any competition you might have in that market
5. Your Unique Value Proposition (underlying magic)

6. Your plan and business model
7. A demo or any accomplishments or traction you have gained so far
8. Your skills and team
9. A call to action
10. Wrap up and thank yous

For more information on the anatomy of a good pitch, check out this video:

Also, watch the following video from Shark Tank of one of their best pitches ever. This is how it’s done, folks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLUyzXhoBik

February’s coffee break also provided local entrepreneurs and support organizations an opportunity to connect and to highlight their businesses and programs including:

Entrepreneurs

Carmelita Morgan, Carma Yoga, Deer Lake

Offering yoga classes and retreats in the Deer Lake / Pasadena area. Also available to present at retreats, conferences, or workshops. For details, contact Carmelita
at [email protected] or https://carmayogadotca.wordpress.com/ or https://m.facebook. com/carmayogawithcarmelita/.

Colleen Warren, Colleen’s Bridal Boutique, Corner Brook

Offering bridalwear and women’s formal wear for your most special occasions. Visit https://www.facebook.com/ColleensBridalBoutique/ or contact Colleen at [email protected] or 709-640-2617 to book an appointment.

Edwina Bateman, Avail HR Training Solutions, Port aux Basques

From empowering employees to customized leadership development, Avail provides a learning experience that will assist organizations to break through communication barriers to build a happier, healthier and more engaged workplace. For more information contact Edwina
at [email protected] or 709-694-3513 or visit www.availhr.com.

Julie Lewis, SassyTuna Studio, St. John’s

SassyTuna Studio – a Makerspace (art + tech + coding) long before there was a definition for it – 20 years running. Julie can be reached at [email protected].

Linda Newman Meade, Plexus Worldwide, Pasadena
Linda is with Plexus Worldwide and is a Ruby Ambassador. Plexus is a health and wellness company offering all-natural health products for gut health.

Sharon Evans, SEVA Meditation, Pasadena

Seva Meditation offers instruction of Primordial Sound Meditation. Choose from a 4-session course and/or weekly group guided meditation sessions. To learn more
visit: https://www.facebook.com/sevameditation or www.sevameditation.com.

Support Organizations

Brent Decker, Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Corner Brook

Brent is an Economic Development Officer with the Government of NL. He can be reached at [email protected].

Carla May, NLOWE, Corner Brook

Carla is the Start-Up Advisor for Western Region with NLOWE. She can be reached at [email protected].

Kelli Radford, Horizon TNL (formerly RDÉE TNL), Mainland/Stephenville

Horizon TNL provides support to francophone and bilingual entrepreneurs. Contact Kelli at [email protected] or visit www.rdeetnl.ca for details.

Thank you again to everyone who attended this session! We look forward to connecting with you during our next virtual coffee break!

Carole and Allison

NAVIGATE JOINS FORCES WITH MITACS

Navigate clients to benefit from Accelerate Entrepreneurship Program

The Navigate Business Incubator has been named a Mitacs-approved incubator for the Accelerate Entrepreneur program.

Accelerate Entrepreneur is designed to support the unique needs of postdoctoral, undergraduate, graduate and college student entrepreneurs. The program funds student and postdoctoral entrepreneurs to further develop the research or technology at the core of their start-up business. With the support of an approved incubator – in this case, the Navigate Business Incubator – Mitacs funding helps students and postdoctoral fellows build their professional entrepreneurial skills, with the goal of commercializing their startup’s technology, product, or service through funded internships. In short, Accelerate Entrepreneur pays students and postdoctoral fellows to grow their startups and get to market faster.

The Navigate Business Incubator, a partnership of Grenfell Campus and the Corner Brook Campus of College of the North Atlantic, is a one-stop shop with all the resources a new startup needs to take their business to the next level. This dynamic space is the perfect catalyst for growing startups to launch or jumpstart their business.

“Being approved to offer the Accelerate Entrepreneur Program is a great opportunity for the incubator and our clients,” said Navigate Manager Allison Rowe. “Startups housed at our incubator can have their investment matched by 50 per cent by this program, and Mitacs can release a research award to students or post-doctoral entrepreneurs through four-month internships, valued at $15,000 per internship.”

The eAccelerate program will be delivered through the suite of supports offered at the Navigate Business Incubator:

• Free co-working space
• Defined-term office spaces for resident companies
• Access to funding for expert consulting services, marketing, legal support, training, etc.
• Access to free meeting spaces
• Business coaching and mentorship
• Events, activities and workshops for entrepreneurs and startups
• Two types of membership: Voyager and Trailblazer
• Access to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem

For more information about the Navigate its programs, contact Allison Rowe at [email protected].

FUNDING AGENCY SPOTLIGHT

Mitacs is a national not-for-profit that funds innovation and research projects, connecting Canadian industry, not-for-profits and many other types of organizations to academic researchers to co-fund a research team to take on that organization’s challenge. So far Mitacs has funded more than 40,000 projects across Canada. Since the pandemic especially, Mitacs has found no shortage of companies turning to post-secondary institutions for help. Mitacs plays a connector and funding role in that, with a budget of $708 million over five years.
Navigate asked Libby Carew of Mitacs’ NL operations a few questions to learn more about her organization.

Navigate: What is your role with Mitacs?

LC: I am Director of Business Development for NL. Together with Niraj Shukla, Mitacs Team Lead, Atlantic, we put together projects for the province in every industry you can imagine. Our job is to find out where industries need innovation and research help and then connect them to a research team of faculty and students.

Navigate: Whom do you support?

LC: Easier to answer whom we don’t support! We work with tech companies, natural resource- based companies, small businesses, industry associations, hospitals and municipalities and more. We support start-up events, which involve all the incubators in the province – including Navigate! – as we have a stream of funding for ventures started by students. International students are eligible for our funding too so we are seeing great uptake there.

Navigate: What types of support/funding/programs are available?

LC: We have a discount on now for small-to-medium enterprises where Mitacs will cover 75% of the cost for the first 4 months of a project or a “single internship.” We have research funding and also innovation funding, which amounts to four months of consulting for a HQP (highly qualified personnel) student to take on a project. So, for instance $2,500 from the participating organization plus $7,500 from Mitacs means a total of $10,000 paid to an intern to do a project. We see this as a great way for multiple industries to tap into the great talent we have at the campuses of Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic. And Mitacs can also work with not-for-profits – we just need to vet them to make sure they are eligible before we start a proposal.

Navigate: What advice would you give to new entrepreneurs starting out?

LC: Go for it! The pandemic has disrupted the labour market, broken many supply chains and how businesses operate and service their markets. There are new opportunities in the current market landscape. Get involved with the start-up community and connect with people who share your vision for your business and we’ll help chart the course for you.

Navigate: How do entrepreneurs/students/others apply?

LC: Get in touch with me and start an application!

Libby Carew

Director, Business Development (NL)

[email protected]

www.mitacs.ca

Ask me about our SME discount on projects!

https://discover.mitacs.ca/boost-funding-sme/

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