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Before You Start...
Our workshops were developed for both new and aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to learn about the basics of starting a new business. The workshops are available on-demand which allows you to learn and work at your own pace.
The workshop series was designed to go hand and hand with our business coaching service, so there will be instances where you will have to book a meeting with one of our coaches before you can access the next workshop.​
The Path to Success...
STEP 1: To ensure you get the most out of the workshops it is recommended that you first have an INTAKE MEETING with a business coach in order to determine which workshops are right for you.
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STEP 2: Review the workshop module at your own pace. When you finish, or if you have any questions, book your next appointment with your coach.
STEP 3: Review your worksheets and resources from your workshop module with your business coach. These one-on-one meetings will help you to set goals and grow your business.
STEP 4: Repeat! Work through one or all of our workshops and learn about building a solid foundation in your business.
Our
Workshops
Workshops 1, 2 and 3 are unlocked.
To unlock workshops 4 to 10 please meet with a Leap business coach to discuss your progress and receive a password.
1
What's Your Big Idea?
This interactive workshop is the place to start if you want to start a business but are still not sure what to do yet. The workshop will help you come up with many ideas and narrow them down based on your skills, passions, and the demands of the market. Come ready to be creative! This workshop is appropriate for all skill levels and requires no previous business knowledge.
2
Entrepreneurship 101
There is a ton of information for the first-time entrepreneur in this interactive workshop as we try and prepare you for your LEAP into entrepreneurship. We first discuss ways to avoid failure, how to know if you are ready to start a business, characteristics of entrepreneurs, the life of an entrepreneur, and types of entrepreneurship. Next, we do a bit of an introduction to market research, business planning, and funding. We wrap things up with a quick overview of company structure, business registration, and HST/GST.
3
Business Model Canvas
Another great tool for your entrepreneurial toolbox! The business model canvas is a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool that we use to describe, design, challenge, invent and pivot your business model. In this interactive workshop, we walk through the 9 fundamental building blocks of the canvas in detail and we focus on teaching you how to create your first business model canvas.
4
Network Mapping
In this workshop, we’ll help you identify the strengths you already have and the weaknesses or limitations in your toolkit. This will begin to expose whom you may need to hire out or partner with in order to ensure your business’ success. Worried about how you’ll find those people? Don’t be! We’ll also introduce you to the London Entrepreneurial Support Network, mentors, and partnership foundations.
5
Market Research
Your idea is your starting point, but your market research will ensure that you can support those ideas with data. In this presentation we talk about environmental and industry analysis, types of market research, competitor analysis, SWOT analysis, and also where you can look to answer all the questions we ask you to consider in your business. Your new mantra: always be researching!
6
Customer Segmentation
You have some market research under your belt, but now we’re going to dive in deep and get to know your customers and target markets with demographics, goals, buying habits, and setting yourself apart. Using the Customer Segmentation worksheet, we’ll walk you through breaking down each person who might one day buy from you and how much of that market you can conceivably convert over time.
7
Building a Business with Purpose
Using the Happy Startup Canvas we will begin to create the foundation of your Brand Heart and guide you through developing your company mission. We’ll walk you through things like vision, values, and story to help you understand your WHY and then carry you through your problems, solutions, early adopters, and value proposition to help understand your customers and how they engage with your business.
8
Value Proposition Canvas
We’ve done a bit of value proposition work with the Business Model Canvas, but now we’re going to use all we’ve learned to really hone in on why your customers buy from you. This workshop will require you to, "get out of the building" to learn what are your customer's pains, what are the gains they are hoping for, and how can you include what you learn in the development of your product or service. These are the big questions we’ll be asking and then in the next workshop, you’ll find out how to implement your value proposition in lots of different ways.
9
Refining Your Value Proposition
You know the pain points. You know your gain points. Now how do you communicate that effectively? In this workshop we’re going to show you how to write different value propositions that draw on your company’s core ideas so that no matter where your customer finds you, they know what you can do for them.
10
Business Registration & Partnerships
In this quick workshop, we discuss the different type of business ownership structures that might be right for you, what the business registration process is, how to pick the right name for your new business, and when do you need to register for GST/HST or PST.