More than fifty students and early-career professionals joined the chamber’s youth entrepreneur day this summer. The day was designed to take the mystery out of starting a business, and it began with a simple question: what problem do you want to solve?
Morning workshops
Participants worked in small groups with volunteer facilitators from the chamber. They sketched a business idea on a single page, estimated costs and tried to describe their ideal customer in two sentences. A business owner shared how she started her first company while still at school, including the mistakes she would avoid today.
Afternoon pitches
After lunch each group gave a two-minute pitch to a friendly panel. The panel looked for a clear customer, a believable first step and a reason the team cared. Feedback was kind and specific, and several teams adjusted their ideas on the spot.
- Practical tips on pricing and finding first customers.
- A short briefing on registering a business in Ontario.
- An introduction to the mentorship program for young members.
The chamber offers a low-cost student and young professional rate for people starting out, and the day ended with an invitation to join and to attend the next networking evening. Organisers thank the volunteers, the host venue and the sponsors who covered the cost of lunch.