Are you an Indigenous person with an interest in learning about the entrepreneurial world? JEDI is collaborating with Startupfest to provide FREE tickets for aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs to attend the festival which runs from July 10-14th in the beautiful city of Montreal, QC.
This collaboration between JEDI and Startupfest is the result of Startupfest founders and their partners keenly trying to reach out and get more Indigenous input and involvement.
Worried that you don’t have enough experience? Don’t be, JEDI and Startupfest want to see as many Indigenous faces as possible, no experience necessary! Just come with a great attitude and a desire to learn.
Mark Taylor, JEDI’s Shipbuilding Strategy manager, has attended the festival for the past two consecutive years and urges all aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs to apply. “I’m hoping that this collaboration can help open the door for more Indigenous people to learn about business and to take advantage of the opportunity.” When asked about what newcomers can expect when attending the festival, Taylor shares that it’s a “very relaxed, very easy going, and very comfortable atmosphere where there are a lot of good opportunities to network.”
Sessions being offered include empowering keynote speeches, a variety of pitch competitions, informative workshops, “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions with influential entrepreneurs, and much more! If you’re interested in learning about how to access capital, how to become a successful entrepreneur, or how to run a successful accelerator program then this is the place for you.
Taylor believes that this collaboration could really open doors for Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities given that “there are a lot of talented Indigenous people out there with great business ideas who could make fantastic entrepreneurs.” It’s an event that should experienced by everyone interested in getting into business.
JEDI and Startupfest want to share this unique experience with all Indigenous people across Canada and are encouraging people of all Indigenous heritages to apply. For more information about the festival or to apply to be a part of it, check out www.startupfestival.com or click on the following link http://www.startupfestival.com/indigenous-inclusion-initiative/.
For applicants living in New Brunswick and interested in receiving travel accommodations, please contact Melissa Lunney, melissa.lunney@jedinb.ca or Jean-Francois Mallet, jean-francois.mallet@jedinb.ca as soon as possible as funds may be limited.