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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260407T183000
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DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
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UID:93446-1775586600-1775593800@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Startup Creation\, Rewritten: Building a Defensible AI Venture
DESCRIPTION:  \nBuilding a Defensible AI Venture: How to Create Long‑Term Competitive Advantage\nCheap prototypes are easy. Defensible startups are not. \nThis session goes beyond generic MVPs to explore how AI ventures create true data moats\, architectural trust\, and long-term defensibility. You’ll learn how leading founders think about risk\, bias\, hallucination\, and liability — and how these considerations shape product and business decisions from day one. \nYou’ll Learn How To:\n\nBuild data moats that can’t be easily replicated\nDesign trust and risk management into your AI architecture\nMove from “AI-powered” to truly defensible\n\nEvent Details\nSpeakers:\nFred Rouhani (Business Advisor\, YES)\nDr. Stefania Pecore (AI Expert\, UNESCO Women4Ethical AI Program; Executive Director\, Women Techmakers Montréal)\nDr. Elham Kheradmand (CEO\, Lucid Axion) \nDate & Time: Tuesday\, April 7\, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM \nFormat: Online. This workshop is presented in English. \nCost: $20.00* \nSign Up Here\nAbout Startup Creation\, Rewritten\nStartup Creation\, Rewritten is a three‑part speaker series revealing how the next generation of impactful startups is being built in an AI‑driven world. With smaller teams moving faster and traditional advantages disappearing\, this series breaks down what actually matters now — defensibility\, specialization\, and sharp execution. \nAcross three focused sessions\, you’ll learn practical frameworks\, explore real founder case studies\, and gain decision‑ready tools you can apply immediately. If you’re building or supporting a tech‑enabled venture and want to stay relevant\, competitive\, and fundable in 2026 and beyond\, this series is your roadmap. \nAbout the speakers:\nFred Rouhani (Business Advisor\, YES)\nFred helps organizations make the AI-native leap and equips entrepreneurs with an AI-native startup mindset. His work is built on one simple belief: Technology must serve as a force multiplier for human capability. \nHe sees a world reshaping in front of our eyes with humans and machines co-creating together. \n  \nDr. Stefania Pecore (AI Expert for UNESCO’s Women4Ethical AI Program\, Women Techmakers Montréal\, Executive Director)\nStefania is a recognized leader in inclusive communication and responsible AI.  Her career began by introducing the first AI and automatic translation subject at an Italian university. After earning her master’s and Ph.D. in Computer Science\, she applied her expertise in NLP and AI across diverse industries\, from education to video games. \nShe is a driving force behind implementing Data Governance frameworks and AI ethics principles in enterprise strategies\, often guided by UNESCO recommendations. She is passionate advocate for empowering women in tech. Stefania is an ambassador for Women Techmakers\, Women in AI\, and Women in Games. She currently serves as the Executive Director for Women Techmakers Montréal. Her commitment to ethical AI culminated in her appointment as an AI Expert for UNESCO’s Women4Ethical AI program\, and her subsequent election as an Ethical AI Expert Without Borders\, where she helps implement UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI worldwide. \nToday\, she supports several founders through Don’t Tech Stress with a precise mission in mind: to take care of the tech burden to let founders push their creativity to the next level. \nDr. Elham Kheradmand (Lucid Axion\, CEO)\nElham is a mathematician and AI researcher dedicated to advancing AI for social good\, with a focus on sustainable finance (ESG)\, climate change\, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). She holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics with a full GPA and has an excellent academic record\, earning numerous prestigious scholarships and awards. She has been recognized for her contributions with distinguished honors\, including ESG AI Leader of the Year 2022 and Women in AI Award winner (AI for social good) in North America in 2025.\n\nA thought leader in AI for sustainability\, Elham actively engages in discussions on the future of AI\, ESG\, and corporate accountability. She is shaping the intersection of technology and sustainable finance. Beyond her technical expertise\, she is passionate about empowering women in their personal and professional growth. She dedicates time to volunteer initiatives supporting this mission.\nOnce registered\, you will receive an email with login instructions a few hours before the workshop starts. If you don’t see the email one hour before the start time\, please check your Spam or Junk folder. \nTo learn more about our services for entrepreneurs\, click here. \n*This low registration fee is only possible thanks to our generous funders and partners.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/building-defensible-ai-venture/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs,Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260414T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260414T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20260217T172624Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T182711Z
UID:93610-1776191400-1776198600@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Startup Creation\, Rewritten: The Path to Funding and Scale Through Hyper-Specialization
DESCRIPTION:The Power of Specialization: Build an AI Startup Investors Want\n  \nThe most successful AI startups aren’t building broad tools — they’re becoming essential intelligence partners for very specific markets. \nThis workshop explores how vertical and hyper-specialized AI companies attract funding\, scale faster\, and defend their position by solving high-value\, domain-specific problems. \nYou’ll learn how to:\n• Identify high-value niches investors care about\n• Use infrastructure and specialization as a competitive advantage\n• Position your startup for funding or sustainable revenue growth \nSpeakers:\nFred Rouhani (Business Advisor\, YES)\nAna Palacio Vélez (Founder\, Hannai: AI & Economic Integration)\nParisa Golchoubian (Founder & CEO\, Retide Labs) \nDate & Time: Tuesday\, April 14\, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM \nFormat: Online. This workshop is presented in English. \nCost: $20.00* \nSign Up Here\nAbout Startup Creation\, Rewritten\nStartup Creation\, Rewritten is a three‑part speaker series revealing how the next generation of impactful startups is being built in an AI‑driven world. With smaller teams moving faster and traditional advantages disappearing\, this series breaks down what actually matters now — defensibility\, specialization\, and sharp execution. \nAcross three focused sessions\, you’ll learn practical frameworks\, explore real founder case studies\, and gain decision‑ready tools you can apply immediately. If you’re building or supporting a tech‑enabled venture and want to stay relevant\, competitive\, and fundable in 2026 and beyond\, this series is your roadmap. \nAbout the speakers:\nFred Rouhani (Business Advisor\, YES)\nFred helps organizations make the AI-native leap and equips entrepreneurs with an AI-native startup mindset. His work is built on one simple belief: Technology must serve as a force multiplier for human capability. \nHe sees a world reshaping in front of our eyes with humans and machines co-creating together. \n  \nAna Palacio Vélez (Founder\, Hannai: AI & Economic Integration)\nAna is an entrepreneur and innovator with over 25 years of international experience in innovation\, business development\, and communications\, including the last five years in EdTech. Driven by a belief in the untapped talent of professional immigrant women\, Ana recognized a pattern where highly educated women are often overlooked due to fragmented access\, unclear career paths\, and a lack of professional networks.  She founded Clé Maîtresse and Hannai to address this gap. Her work focuses on using AI and human-centered design to foster genuine multidirectional integration\, moving beyond transactional interactions. Ana asserts that opening doors requires cultural affinity\, shared experiences\, and cultural intelligence\, building confidence and mutual recognition.  Ana aims to unlock the multi-billion-dollar potential identified in leading studies by making the talent of professional immigrant women visible and integrated\, positioning them as essential contributors to innovation\, economic growth\, and social justice now.  \nParisa Golchoubian (Retide Labs\, Founder and CEO) \nParisa is 4xfounder\, social entrepreneur\, engineer and artist\, environmental activist and NextAI 2025 allumni\, runs Retide Labs which is an award-winning Canadian OceanTech startup using AI\, data\, and robotics to map plastic pollution and guide global cleanup. Retide’s platform transforms satellite and ocean data into actionable intelligence for the blue economy.  \n  \n  \nOnce registered\, you will receive an email with login instructions a few hours before the workshop starts. If you don’t see the email one hour before the start time\, please check your Spam or Junk folder. \nTo learn more about our services for entrepreneurs\, click here. \n*This low registration fee is only possible thanks to our generous funders and partners.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/build-an-ai-startup-investors-want/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260421T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260421T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20260217T200626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T205823Z
UID:93638-1776796200-1776803400@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Startup Creation\, Rewritten: Engineering Your Product-Market Fit and Go-to-Market
DESCRIPTION:How to Build Real Traction: Product-Market-Fit + Go‑to‑Market for AI Startups\n  \nSolving the right problem is only the beginning. \nIn today’s AI-driven environment\, success depends on achieving predictable Product-Market Fit and executing a focused\, aggressive Go-to-Market strategy. This session offers a measurable framework to help founders escape the AI commodity trap and build real traction. \nYou’ll Learn How to:\n\nEngineer PMF instead of guessing your way into it\nBuild a GTM strategy that supports specialization and scale\nAlign product\, sales\, and growth decisions early\n\nSpeakers:\nFred Rouhani (Business Advisor\, YES) \nMahsa Rezaei (Founder & CEO\, MamaNest — iNest\, AI Upskilling Solution) \nLin Sok (Founder & CEO\, Owni) \nDate & Time: Tuesday\, April 21\, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM \nFormat: Online. This workshop is presented in English. \nCost: $20.00* \nSign Up Here\n\nAbout Startup Creation\, Rewritten\nStartup Creation\, Rewritten is a three‑part speaker series revealing how the next generation of impactful startups is being built in an AI‑driven world. With smaller teams moving faster and traditional advantages disappearing\, this series breaks down what actually matters now — defensibility\, specialization\, and sharp execution. \nAcross three focused sessions\, you’ll learn practical frameworks\, explore real founder case studies\, and gain decision‑ready tools you can apply immediately. If you’re building or supporting a tech‑enabled venture and want to stay relevant\, competitive\, and fundable in 2026 and beyond\, this series is your roadmap. \nAbout the speakers:\nFred Rouhani (Business Advisor\, YES)\nFred helps organizations make the AI-native leap and equips entrepreneurs with an AI-native startup mindset. His work is built on one simple belief: Technology must serve as a force multiplier for human capability. \nHe sees a world reshaping in front of our eyes with humans and machines co-creating together. \n  \nMahsa Rezaei (MamaNest\, Founder and CEO) \nMahsa is a Social Entrepreneur and Tech Architect with over 15 years of experience\, starting as a BI Analyst and evolving into a leader in the AI upskilling space. Her career is defined by the belief that the future of work must include everyone. After recognizing that motherhood acts as a magnifier of systemic barriers for women\, Mahsa pivoted to solve the “Time Poverty” crisis in professional development. She is the Architect of iNest\, an AI Upskilling Router that builds the shortest path between learning and earning for time-starved professionals.  \nA passionate community builder\, Mahsa has spent the last six years cultivating ecosystems for growth. She is the founder of MamaNest\, the host of the MamaNest Podcast\, and the organizer of major initiatives like the HerCareerJourney Immigrant Women’s Career Conference and MamaTech AI Studio. Through her HerCareerLink monthly “career gym\,” she provides continuous networking and training opportunities in Montreal. Mahsa is also a dedicated contributor to the social impact sector\, supporting organizations like WEDO Canada\, HEC Montréal’s Social Business Creation\, and the Hannai Platform. She combines technical expertise with heart-led strategy to prove that career resilience and caregiving are not mutually exclusive. \nLin Sok (Owni\, Founder and CEO) \nLin Sok is the Co-Founder and CEO of OWNI.ai\, a proptech platform helping qualified individuals enter the real estate market sooner and more affordably through co-buying. She is a long-time financial advisor and the founder of Women & Money Montréal. Lin has supported thousands of women and professionals in navigating financial decisions\, building confidence\, and creating wealth on their own terms.  \nInspired by her work in the community and by shifting demographics\, Lin launched OWNI to make ownership possible again for hardworking Canadians who can’t afford to buy alone. She is recognized for her bold\, practical approach to wealth creation and her commitment to keeping real estate in the hands of communities and out of the hands of entities that prioritize profit over people.  \nOnce registered\, you will receive an email with login instructions a few hours before the workshop starts. If you don’t see the email one hour before the start time\, please check your Spam or Junk folder. \nTo learn more about our services for entrepreneurs\, click here. \n*This low registration fee is only possible thanks to our generous funders and partners.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/ai-startup-product-market-fit-go-to-market/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260428T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260428T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20250925T144944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T205416Z
UID:89285-1777401000-1777408200@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Crafting Content with Purpose: How to Create Value & Build An Audience
DESCRIPTION:Create Content That Connects – Learn to Build Trust and Engage Your Audience\nCreate content that connects and stops your audience mid-scroll! Join us on Tuesday\, April 28\, for an inspiring online seminar with Marlee Rabin\, a Private Aviation Interior Specialist at Maison Lipari\, who has created viral TikTok videos with over 15 million views. \nWhy This Workshop Matters\nIn today’s fast-paced digital world\, grabbing attention is harder than ever. This workshop will show you how to use short-form video content to create meaningful connections with your audience. You’ll discover how to build trust\, share real value\, and craft content that speaks directly to the people you want to reach. \nWhat You’ll Learn\n\nHow to create short-form video content that delivers genuine value\nTechniques to build trust and keep your audience engaged\nStrategies for connecting your content to your business goals\nTips from Marlee’s experience building viral TikTok videos\n\nWho Should Attend\nWhether you’re a business owner\, creative professional\, or entrepreneur\, you’ll leave with practical strategies to create content that supports your growth and helps you stand out online. \nEvent Details\nDate: Tuesday\, April 28\nFormat: Online seminar (presented in English)\nSpeaker: Marlee Rabin\, Private Aviation Interior Specialist @ Maison Lipari\nPre-registration is required. \nWhy You Shouldn’t Miss This\nThis session will help you move beyond just posting content for the sake of it. Learn how to craft videos that engage\, resonate\, and create loyal audiences who trust your message. \nPre-registration is required. This workshop is available in English and is online. \nSign Up Here\n\nAbout the speaker\nMarlee Rabin is a McGill University business graduate with a background in fashion\, marketing\, and entrepreneurship. She curates and outfits private aircrafts and luxury homes\, focusing on delivering an exceptional experience for each client.  \nWith over a decade of experience in brand strategy\, premium retail\, and e-commerce\, Marlee also has a proven track record in creating viral social media content\, including TikTok videos that have garnered over 15 million views. She combines creativity with a deep understanding of client service to drive lasting impact across both digital and physical spaces.    \n Once you register for the online workshop\, you will receive an email with instructions on how to log in. If you haven’t received the email an hour before the workshop starts\, please check your Spam/Junk folder. \nTo learn more about our services for entrepreneurs\, click here. \nThis low registration fee is only possible thanks to our generous funders and partners. \nThe Community Empowerment Literacy Initiative (CELI) is sponsored by TALQ in collaboration with Literacy Quebec and funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/learn-to-build-trust-and-engage-your-audience/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual,Women Entrepreneurship
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260505T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260505T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20250217T154223Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T230044Z
UID:82354-1778005800-1778013000@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Essential Financial Skills to Build Confidence
DESCRIPTION:Essential Financial Skills to Build Confidence\nGain Control Over Your Business Finances 💡\nNavigating your business finances with confidence is crucial to growing your business\, and developing essential financial skills to build confidence is the first step. Understanding key financial principles helps entrepreneurs make informed decisions\, avoid costly mistakes\, and set realistic goals for success. \nJoin this interactive workshop\, led by Ronika Khanna\, CPA\, CFA\, founder of Montreal Financial\, to strengthen your financial literacy and run your business with confidence. 🌟 \nWhy Financial Confidence Matters 💰\nMany entrepreneurs struggle with financial uncertainty\, which can lead to stress and hinder growth. By improving your financial skills\, you gain:✅ Clarity on managing cash flow effectively✅ The ability to set achievable financial goals✅ Strategies to avoid common financial pitfalls \nClaim Your Spot Now!\n  \nWhat You’ll Learn 📖\n1. Improve Cash Flow Management 💵\nDiscover why cash flow is the lifeblood of your business and how to keep it healthy. \n2. Set Realistic Financial Goals 🎯\nLearn how to create clear\, achievable financial targets that support long-term growth. \n3. Avoid Costly Financial Mistakes ⚠️\nIdentify common financial missteps and how to prevent them to keep your business thriving. \nTake Action Today! 🚀\nWalk away with actionable insights\, practical tools\, and the confidence to make smarter financial decisions. Secure your spot today and start building a solid foundation for success! 🌱 \nRegister Today!\n\n\nAbout the speaker:\nRonika Khanna CPA\, CFA\nFounder of Montreal Financial \nRonika Khanna is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)\, and the founder of Montreal Financial. With previous roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and ING Risk Management Limited\, Ronika launched her firm to provide accounting\, tax\, and financial consulting services primarily for small businesses\, startups\, freelancers\, and the self-employed. Her approach is focused on simplifying financial complexities\, enhancing financial literacy\, and empowering business owners with the knowledge to manage their finances confidently. An author of several small business books\, Ronika also regularly contributes expert advice to various media outlets who are looking for guidance about small business and personal finance.  \n  \nLearn more about our ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs program! \nThis workshop is made accessible to you at no cost\, thanks to generous funding from the Government of Canada and Yspace: York University. \n*Please Note: Pre-registration is required. This workshop is presented in English (with French subtitles) and is available as an online\, live streaming webinar only. \nOnce you have registered\, you will receive an email with instructions on how to log on a few hours prior to the start time of the workshop. Please check your Spam/Junk folder if you have not received your email with instructions one hour prior to the start time of the workshop.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/essential-financial-skills-to-build-confidence/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs,Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual,Women Entrepreneurship
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260506T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260506T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20241213T205611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260115T224223Z
UID:78931-1778092200-1778099400@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:The Autonomous Artist: Releasing Music in the Digital Era
DESCRIPTION:Take Control of Your Music Career: Releasing Music in the Digital Era\nAre you ready to take control of your music career and thrive as an independent artist? In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape\, mastering the art of music distribution\, promotion\, and revenue generation is essential. Join us on Wednesday\, May 6\, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM\, for an online workshop\, “The Autonomous Artist: Releasing Music in the Digital Era.” \nLed by Stephen Voyce\, a multi-award-winning recording artist\, this interactive session will provide you with the tools and strategies to successfully release your music\, promote it effectively\, and explore diverse revenue streams. \nKey Topics Covered\nReleasing Your Music: Digital Distribution\nLearn how to release your music across top platforms like Spotify\, Apple Music\, and YouTube Music. Discover the best practices for choosing a digital distribution service\, optimizing royalties\, and ensuring your tracks reach a global audience. \nPromoting Your Release: Word of Mouth and Social Media\nPromotion is critical to your success. Master strategies for building excitement around your music release using social media\, engaging with fans\, and leveraging word-of-mouth campaigns to amplify your reach. \nCreating Opportunities: Multiple Revenue Streams\nGo beyond streaming royalties. Explore how to generate income through licensing\, merchandise\, live performances\, collaborations\, and more\, building a sustainable career in music. \nManagers and Publicists: When and Why to Hire\nConsidering building a team? Learn when to hire managers or publicists\, how they can boost your career\, and the value they bring to your overall success without compromising your independence. \nWhy You Should Attend\nThis workshop is perfect for independent artists looking to navigate the music industry confidently. You’ll walk away with practical knowledge\, actionable steps\, and the confidence to take control of your music career. \nDon’t miss this chance to elevate your music journey. Register today! \nSign Up Now!\nGuest speaker: Stephen Voyce\, Multi-Award-Winning Recording Artist  \nAbout the speaker:\nBorn on the moon\, raised on Mars\, stuck on Earth\, reaching for the Stars  These are the words tattooed on the chest of an artist whose career has been spent looking for himself. A career that was born in darkness but\, through a journey of self-exploration\, introspection and acceptance\, found its way to a brighter tomorrow.  \nWith an ever growing following and fanbase\, multiple awards and nominations\, music releases spanning a decade\, collaborations with artists around the world\, this singer\, songwriter\, producer\, actor\, filmmaker\, science geek continues to shatter even his own expectations for himself. He’s learned to find meaning in not just his successes but also his missteps as they’ve led him to the person he is today. Through his journey he hopes to spread a message of self empowerment\, to remind the world that hope is always alive\, that that fire never truly burns out.  \nRegister Now!\n  \nPre-registration is required. This workshop is available online. \nOnce you register for the online workshop\, you will receive an email with instructions on how to log in. If you haven’t received the email an hour before the workshop starts\, please check your Spam/Junk folder. \nTo learn more about our services for Artists\, click here. \nThis low registration fee is only possible thanks to our generous funders and partners.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/take-control-music-career-releasing-music/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Artists,Arts,Evening,Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260512T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260512T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20260312T145640Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T200940Z
UID:94258-1778610600-1778617800@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Securing Funds for Your Purpose-Driven Startup
DESCRIPTION:Learn How to Fund Your Purpose-Driven Startup and Scale Your Impact\nLearn how to fund your purpose-driven startup and scale your impact through practical insights and tools. Raising capital for a purpose-driven venture requires strategy\, clarity\, and understanding what funders look for. In this workshop\, participants will learn how to get funding for your purpose-driven startup and scale with impact through practical\, real-world examples and actionable strategies. \nLed by Faduma Gure\nLed by Faduma Gure\, Maternal Health Researcher and Founder of LISS Technologies\, the session shares the story behind securing $195\,000 from the Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT) to pilot a breastfeeding initiative in Somalia. Participants will learn the steps\, mindset\, and strategies Faduma used to validate her innovation\, navigate impact-focused funders\, and refine her product using data-driven insights. \nPositioning Your Purpose-Driven Venture for Funding\nThe workshop teaches participants how to clearly articulate the impact of their innovation and present it in a way that attracts investors\, grants\, or pilot opportunities. By understanding funders’ priorities and expectations\, founders can position their venture to demonstrate measurable outcomes\, scalability\, and relevance in their sector. \nAttendees will explore strategies for approaching grants\, investors\, and pilot programs while keeping their mission at the center of all communications. These tools empower entrepreneurs to confidently approach funding opportunities without compromising their values or vision. \nValidate\, Test\, and Scale With Confidence\nA key takeaway of the session is learning how to validate innovations through real-world testing and data. Participants will gain insights into designing pilots\, collecting meaningful data\, and using it to strengthen their case for funding. \nBy the end of the workshop\, attendees will have:\n\nA clear understanding of how to position a purpose-driven product for funding\nPractical strategies for approaching grants\, pilots\, and impact-focused investors\nInsights into validating innovations through real-world testing and data\n\nWho Should Attend?\nThis session is ideal for entrepreneurs in health\, social impact\, or any purpose-driven sector who want to attract funding and scale their ventures successfully. \nSpeaker\nSpeaker: Faduma Gure\, Maternal Health Researcher and Founder of LISS Technologies \nRegister Today!\n\n\nAbout the speaker:\nFaduma Gure | Maternal Health Researcher and Founder of LISS Technologies\nFaduma Gure is a maternal health researcher and the founder of LISS Technologies\, a Canadian-based startup looking to support breastfeeding moms and newborns globally through innovative and accessible technological solutions.   \n After developing the world’s first solar-powered breast pump\, Faduma secured $195\,000 from FIT (the Fund for Innovation and Transformation) to test this innovation in Somalia. With this funding\, Faduma was able to pilot her innovation and provide breast pumps to mothers and ensure their newborns had access to breast milk. This FIT-supported initiative proved successful\, and Faduma has since gone on to revise the devices and integrate a data-driven component to ensure mothers and their newborns are better supported in their breastfeeding journeys.  \nLearn more about our ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs program! \nThis workshop is made accessible to you at no cost\, thanks to generous funding from the Government of Canada and Yspace: York University. \n*Please Note: Pre-registration is required. This workshop is presented in English (with French subtitles) and is available as an online\, live streaming webinar only. \nOnce you have registered\, you will receive an email with instructions on how to log on a few hours prior to the start time of the workshop. Please check your Spam/Junk folder if you have not received your email with instructions one hour prior to the start time of the workshop.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/fund-your-purpose-driven-startup-and-scale-your-impact/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs,Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260526T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260526T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20260312T190929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T195321Z
UID:94270-1779820200-1779827400@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Navigating Hard Conversations in Early Stage Startups
DESCRIPTION:Learn How to Handle Tough Startup Conversations With Legal Confidence\nFounders often spend months perfecting their product but less time on the crucial conversations and agreements that sustain a healthy team. In this workshop\, participants will learn to handle tough startup conversations with confidence and legal clarity\, gaining practical strategies to discuss roles\, responsibilities\, compensation\, time commitments\, and equity with partners and investors. \nLed by Niousha Riahi\nLed by Niousha Riahi\, Business and Litigation Lawyer and Startup Governance Specialist in Montréal\, this session is designed for early-stage entrepreneurs seeking to strengthen communication and governance practices. Drawing from her extensive experience advising startups on contracts\, partnership structures\, and conflict prevention\, Niousha provides actionable tools to avoid misunderstandings\, define boundaries\, and protect ventures legally. \nSet Boundaries and Prevent Conflict Early\nThe workshop emphasizes proactive conversations to ensure clarity and alignment within the team. Participants will explore methods to establish clear roles\, document expectations\, and address sensitive topics before they escalate. Learning to handle tough startup conversations with confidence and legal clarity helps founders prevent costly disputes and build a foundation of trust among co-founders and contributors. \nYou’ll learn what needs to be discussed\, what should be documented\, and how to approach sensitive topics while preserving relationships and ownership rights. \nCompensation\, Equity\, and Legal Guidance\nA major focus of the session is understanding compensation\, equity distribution\, and legal formalization. Attendees will receive guidance on structuring agreements that protect both the founders and early contributors while aligning incentives for growth. Practical tools include frameworks for initiating difficult conversations\, legal best practices\, and innovative solutions to maintain business ownership and attract committed partners. \nBy the end of the workshop\, participants will walk away with:\n\nA law-informed framework for initiating hard conversations with co-founders and investors\nPractical tools for setting boundaries\, documenting expectations\, and preventing conflict\nGuidance on compensation\, equity\, and roles with legal insights to protect ownership\n\nThis session equips early-stage founders to communicate effectively\, formalize agreements appropriately\, and foster a healthy startup culture. \nSpeaker\nSpeaker: Niousha Rahi\, Business and Litigation Lawyer & Startup Governance Specialist \nRegister Today!\n\n\nAbout the speaker:\nNiousha Rahi\, Business and Litigation Lawyer & Startup Governance Specialist\nNiousha Riahi is a business and litigation lawyer in Montréal specializing in startup governance\, commercial agreements\, and conflict prevention. She supports founders in building strong legal foundations that foster trust\, protect relationships\, and safeguard long-term growth. Niousha has a decade of experience spanning government roles and private-sector practice. She has represented both emerging startups and multinational corporations in national and multijurisdictional matters.  \nAs the founder of Riahi Legal\, Niousha leads a boutique law firm recognized for excellence in civil and commercial litigation. Since 2024\, the firm has been named by ThreeBestRated.ca as one of Montréal’s top three civil litigation law firms. It has been ranked among TrustAnalytica’s Top 10 Reliable Small Business Lawyers. More recently\, Riahi Legal has also been listed among Montréal’s top five family law firms.  \nBeyond her practice\, Niousha contributes regularly to legal workshops and public-facing publications aimed at entrepreneurs and the wider community. She also serves on the board of non-profit organizations\, reflecting her deep commitment to community engagement and accessible legal education.  \nLearn more about our ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs program! \nThis workshop is made accessible to you at no cost\, thanks to generous funding from the Government of Canada and Yspace: York University. \n*Please Note: Pre-registration is required. This workshop is presented in English (with French subtitles) and is available as an online\, live streaming webinar only. \nOnce you have registered\, you will receive an email with instructions on how to log on a few hours prior to the start time of the workshop. Please check your Spam/Junk folder if you have not received your email with instructions one hour prior to the start time of the workshop.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/learn-how-to-handle-tough-startup-conversations-with-legal-confidence/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs,Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260527T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260527T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20250829T144446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T202452Z
UID:88739-1779906600-1779913800@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:Grant Writing Essentials for Artists: Two-Part Series
DESCRIPTION:Grant Writing Skills for Artists: Build Your Artistic Career with Confidence\nThe Grant Writing Two‑Part Mini Series is a hands‑on workshop designed to give artists practical tools to build sustainable\, thriving careers. Strengthen your grant applications with sharper pitches\, solid budgets\, and realistic timelines. \nWhat You’ll Learn\n\nDevelop a clear\, persuasive approach to funding applications using proven grant writing skills for artists.\nLearn how to structure\, write\, and present funding proposals that stand out to juries and funders.\n\n \nWorkshop Overview\nAbout the series\nYou know art. We can teach you business. \nThis two-part workshop is designed to equip artists with practical tools to build sustainable careers. We’ll cover essential business and marketing skills tailored specifically for artists. \nDevelop your artistic practice or business strategically in order to see growth! \nPart 1: The Pitch – Wednesday\, May 27\nYour art has potential – now you must represent it on paper in a way that will captivate the reader. In the first part of this series\, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling\, context-rich pitch that jumps off the page to effectively illustrate the true value of your art project. Starting with an essential grant-writing check-list\, you’ll understand how to represent your work with clarity and persuasion. \nPart 2: Budgets + Timelines – Wednesday\, June 3\nAll winning grant applications include cohesive\, well-thought-out budgets and timelines that accurately illustrate the project from both a time and financial perspective. In this session\, we’ll focus on developing a set of best practices for crafting budgets and timelines that enhance your future grant applications and drive results. \nSpeaker\nCaroline Gauthier\, MBA\, HEC & YES Artist Business Coach \nDetails\n\nCost: $35\nFormat: In person and online (live‑streaming webinar)\nPre‑registration: Required\n\nDon’t Miss Out: Reserve Your Spot Today!\n\nSave your seat for both workshops for $35.00. This small investment could transform your funding success. \n👉 Sign up now and take a major step toward mastering grant writing. \n\nReserve Your Spot!\n\nAbout the speaker:\nCaroline Gauthier first began her training as an opera singer\, earning her music degree at Université de Montréal\, before transitioning into theatre and film. Being of an entrepreneurial spirit\, she soon began producing stage shows and short films and co‑founding a film collective\, where she saw her films selected in festivals in Canada\, Europe and the United States. After a 12-year career in arts and media\, realizing that managing and coordinating were among her core strengths\, Caroline chose to pursue her passion for business by completing an MBA at HEC Montreal. \nKnown for her practicality\, empathy\, and rigor as well as her analytical mindset\, Caroline has long combined her creative sensibilities with a highly rational approach to move projects forward in both artistic and nonprofit contexts. \nAs a YES artist business coach\, she brings structure\, vision\, and follow‑through to artists and creative entrepreneurs\, helping them develop their projects from ideation to completion. \nPre‑registration is required. This workshop is presented in English and is available in person and as an online\, live‑streaming webinar. \nIf attending in person\, please arrive at the YES office (666 Sherbrooke Street West\, 7th floor) 15–30 minutes before the workshop begins. \nOnline participants will receive login instructions a few hours before the start. If you do not see the email\, please check your Spam or Junk folder. \nTo learn more about our services for artists\, click here. \nThis low registration fee is made possible thanks to our generous funders and partners.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/grant-writing-essentials-for-artists/
LOCATION:YES Employment + Entrepreneurship\, 666 Sherbrooke Street West 7th Floor\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H3A 1E7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Artists,Arts,Evening
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260602T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260602T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T075808
CREATED:20260204T215149Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T221200Z
UID:93018-1780425000-1780432200@yesmontreal.ca
SUMMARY:From Lead to Close: Real Sales Skills That Deliver
DESCRIPTION:Unlock the sales skills that drive real business growth\nSales don’t have to feel pushy or intimidating. In this online workshop\, you’ll discover practical\, step-by-step techniques to confidently move from generating leads to closing deals. Whether you’re just starting out or want to strengthen your approach\, you’ll gain the tools you need to sell with authenticity and ease. Plus\, you’ll learn how to build trust at every stage of the process.  \nWhat you’ll learn\n\nHow to turn leads into loyal clients\nProven strategies to build trust and credibility\nClosing techniques that feel natural and effective\n\nWhy join this workshop?\nAs an entrepreneur\, having strong sales skills can unlock new growth and opportunities. Additionally\, this workshop will boost your confidence\, refine your pitch\, and help you approach sales in a way that works for you. By participating\, you will see how small changes can create big results.  \nReserve your spot today!\nDon’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your sales skills and take your business to the next level. Register now to secure your place! By the end of the session\, you will walk away ready to turn conversations into clients. \nSecure Your Spot!\n\n🔗 Register now and take your business to the next level! 🚀 \nAbout the speaker:\nChris Ramoutar\, Regional Lead – The Americas\, Alphanumeric Systems \nChris brings 20 years of work experience\, the majority in sales and people management. Holder of an MBA from Concordia University\, he has experience working in a range of industries thanks to years in the Contact Centre world. During his workshop\, expect to hear examples from Travel and Hospitality\, Telecommunications\, Start-ups\, Technology and now Pharmaceuticals as he draws from his most recent move into this space with Alphanumeric Systems. \n*Please Note: Pre-registration is required. This workshop is presented in English and is available as an online\, live streaming webinar only. \nOnce you have registered\, you will receive an email with instructions on how to log on a few hours prior to the start time of the workshop. Please check your Spam/Junk folder if you have not received your email with instructions one hour prior to the start time of the workshop.
URL:https://yesmontreal.ca/event/turn-leads-into-clients/
LOCATION:Online / Remote\, Canada
CATEGORIES:ELLEvate Women Entrepreneurs,Entrepreneurship,Evening,Virtual
ORGANIZER;CN="YES Employment + Entrepreneurship":MAILTO:info@yesmontreal.ca
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