WOLFVILLE, NS - A free event coming up in Wolfville will assemble the Annapolis Valley business start-up community for a networking function and documentary screening.
“Seed” will take place at the Al Whittle Theatre on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. The event features a networking function for the diverse associations, businesses and individuals that make up the Valley’s digital technology start-up community. A documentary looking into the world of business pitch competitions will be screened.
Refresh Annapolis Valley founder Michael Caplan said Seed would be an opportunity for participants to mingle and build their entrepreneurial network.
“Seed is an assembly of the Annapolis Valley entrepreneurial family,” Caplan said. “20 organizations who make up the Valley start-up ecosystem have come together to co-organize this event.”
Leanne Strathdee, manager of innovation and incubation for the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre, will deliver an introductory keynote address. She said the start-up ecosystem in the Valley is made up of the resources and supports that entrepreneurs need at every stage.
“These include entrepreneurial skills development for early-stage businesses, business advisors and consultants, research, technology and innovation specialists, sector specific specialists and access to places to work,” Strathdee said.
The event features a screening of Seed, a documentary that follows an international group of programmer entrepreneurs at Angelhack: one of the most competitive global “hackathons” and business pitch competitions.
Strathdee said Seed would demonstrate the human side of pitching, that everyone can pitch, and it takes hard work and determination to put together a winning pitch.
She said business pitching is an essential skill for entrepreneurs. It’s the ability to clearly explain an idea, the problem being solved, how it’s being solved, customers and revenues and expenses. Developing the perfect pitch helps entrepreneurs become more confident in communicating their ideas.
Following Seed, the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre will host Start It Up from Nov. 24 to 25, a 28-hour problem solving competition where teams pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. The winning team will earn $6,000; second place wins $3,500 and the third-place team wins $500. The hope is that the winning teams will use the money to further invest in their idea.
Seed has been made possible by the support of the Valley Regional Enterprise Network via its Collective Impact Project. For free tickets to Seed, visit https://refreshannapolisvalley.org/.
