Resources
Helpful Links & Documents
The following is a list of valuable resources that can help you start, build and grow your business.
Agriculture
Alternative Market Channels Webinar
Many Alberta food entrepreneurs are familiar with the traditional market options available for them to sell their products – from farmers’ markets to food service to retail. But there are many other options that may be less well known. Margurite Thiessen will talk about the opportunity to access new markets including online, major sporting events and more.
VIEW HERE: Alternative Market Channels Webinar
Getting Into Retail Webinar
An overview of the retail food market including: key market drivers, market trends and the benefits and challenges of selling in this market channel. In this first virtual workshop you will come away with the ability to answer who’s who and the first step to ensuring your priorities align your products with the right place in the retail marketplace.
VIEW HERE: Getting Into Retail – Food & Retail Landscape Webinar
This session explores the components you need to consider as you evaluate your readiness to enter into retail from production to packaging and labeling to pricing and costing and ultimately to making the pitch. Hear from a company who has grown from supplying 50 stores in Alberta to 300 nationwide & the mistakes that propelled his learning curve.
VIEW HERE: Getting Into Retail – Thinking Strategically About Getting Into Retail Webinar
This final session wraps up the workshop series by connecting with two retail food buyers who will share their insights on successfully getting into retail. A business advisor from ATB Entrepreneur Centre will also join the speaker panel to share how they can work with you to become ready for the market place.
VIEW HERE: Getting Into Retail – Connecting with the Retail Food Buyers & Business Development Advisors Webinar
Dentons Agribusiness Podcast Series
A podcast series looking at a key pillar to the Canada’s economic system, the agriculture and agri-food sector. From farming to distribution, advancements in ag-tech, food producers and manufacturers, this podcast series will exam the vast ecosystem that encompasses everything agriculture.
Canadian Agricultural Partnership
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial initiative aimed at generating economic growth in the agricultural sector and delivering the greatest benefits for farmers, food processors and Canadian families.
How to Work With Us
The first step for working with Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre is to complete a client profile form that includes details on your company, the problem or issue that needs to be resolved, the expertise required and the timeline. This information helps us match your specific need with the right area of expertise and service stream (applied research, technical services and consulting or training and education).
Marketing & Merchandizing Strategies for Local Business Start-Ups Webinar
This webinar explores marketing strategies including image, display, curb appeal, merchandising techniques and other tools to attract customers to your business and secure sales.
VIEW HERE: Marketing & Merchandizing Strategies for Local Business Start-Ups Webinar
Selling Local Food in Alberta Webinar
Learn about the opportunity of selling your food product locally, the different market channels available to you and the pros and cons of each.
VIEW HERE: Selling Local Food in Alberta Webinar
Pricing Your Food Product Infographic
The pricing infographic provides you a visual for setting an accurate price for selling your products and a brief overview of selling into retail and margins.
On the second page you will find links to pricing resources and tools.
CARIE Bridge Process
Do you have a challenge you’re looking to solve? We may be able to help at the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE).
Introduction to Working with a Co-Packer Webinar
This webinar will focus on the practical steps and tips from industry experiences in co-packing. You will hear from a panel of company speakers who have worked with a co-packer to produce their agricultural and food products as well as from a co-packer.
VIEW HERE: Introduction to Working with a Co-Packer Webinar
Pricing 101 Webinar Series
This webinar will explore the importance of knowing your actual cost of production and provide insight on how to determine your breakeven point. Join Marissa Brewer, new venture specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry as she helps you solve the mystery of pricing your food products.
VIEW HERE: Pricing 101 – Know Your Cost of Production/Break Even Points Webinar
With a clear understanding of what your actual costs are, you are well positioned to determine a fair price for your food products. Are your prices accurate? Are you leaving money on the table or charging too much?
VIEW HERE: Pricing 101 – Adjusting for Change Webinar
Metabolomics & Agri Food Webinar
Find out how metabolomics is being used in many areas of agriculture, from analyzing crops, to assessing soils, to quantifying beef cattle performance traits, to detecting disease.
Learn how it is also being used in food, nutrition and food safety analysis to identify and quantify nutrients, micronutrients & contaminants in foods/natural products.
Awards/Scholarships
AWSN Scholarship $3000
The AWSN Scholarship Program is part of larger equity efforts within the AWSN network. Through the guidance of a gender-based analysis plus (GBA+), the program uses an intersectional lens and is structured in a way that allows AWSN to distribute the awards in an equitable manner, limiting unconscious bias, stereotypes, and other barriers commonly faced by underrepresented groups.
Deadline: June 30, 2021
Data Science for Albertans Industry Fellowships
Emerging entrepreneurs, startups or small to medium-sized companies who are interested in adopting data science practices or exploring a data science problem will be paired with emerging data scientists (Fellow) to help address their data science challenge.
Over the course of six weeks, the Fellows will work hands-on to help tackle the industry challenge and provide the industry partner with a proof of concept that can help their organization grow and develop. The Fellows will work alongside a data science expert, who mentor them as they work through the challenge.
Deadline: June 13, 2021
Business Start Up Guides
Alberta Social Entrepreneurship Support System
Alberta Social Entrepreneurship Support System (A.S.E.S.S.) helps Social Enterprises move their ideas forward with these online workbooks and 9 modules/video series – VIEW HERE
Independent Contractor Guide
An independent contractor is a person, business, or corporation that provides goods or services to a hiring company under the terms of a contract. Independent contractors supply a broad range of products and services in a variety of industries including trades, manufacturing, health care, and transportation.
Certified B Corporation
Certifying as a B Corporation goes beyond product- or service-level certification. B Corp Certification is the only certification that measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance. The B Impact Assessment evaluates how your company’s operations and business model impact your workers, community, environment, and customers.
Diversity and Inclusion Tools
Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
Here you’ll find inclusion guides and education guides covering some of the most topical conversations and initiatives happening around diversity and inclusion in the Canadian workplace.
An inclusion guide is a practical, actionable tip sheet which CCDI offers to its Employer Partners, clients and external stakeholders on how to achieve inclusion in the organization for different audiences.
Government of Canada
Take the Gender-based Analysis Plus Course
This course is designed as a basic introduction to GBA+. You will learn to define the key concepts of GBA+ and recognize how various identity factors can influence the experience of federal government initiatives. You will learn to identify how GBA+ can enhance the responsiveness, effectiveness and outcomes of federal government initiatives while applying some foundational GBA+ concepts and processes.
Indigenous Canada
Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.
Entrepreneurial Education
League of Innovators Labs Accelerator Program
Labs Accelerator Program is the League of Innovators’ premier 12-week acceleration program supporting youth-led startups across Canada.
Throughout the program, the participants get access to workshops, ask me anything sessions with serial entrepreneurs and investors, coaching and resources as we dive into our key learning pillars (Founders First, Getting Your House in Order, and Building Connections).
Deadline: July 5, 2021
Imaginal Ventures
Scale-Up Program
Imaginal Ventures have created a new and innovative digital program, combined with a bespoke online Eco-Space, that will support the scaling of businesses, using evidenced based techniques that teach conscious decision-making and the building of a solid foundation to accelerate growth and impact.
Deadline: June 18, 2021
Government Subsidies
Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit
Starting in mid-April, the Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit will provide payments of up to $10,000 to eligible small and medium businesses most affected by the pandemic and ongoing public health restrictions.
Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant
Application intake for the spring 2021 payment from Alberta’s small business grant is now open.
Eligible organizations will receive a payment of up to $10,000, which follows the previous intake that provided up to $20,000.
Innovation Employment Grant
The Innovation Employment Grant encourages economic growth by supporting small and medium-sized businesses that invest in research and development (R&D) with a grant worth up to 20% of qualifying expenditures.
Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program uses tax incentives to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada.
These tax incentives come in three forms: an income tax deduction, an investment tax credit (ITC), and, in certain circumstances, a refund.
Grants / Loans
Alberta Government
Alberta Jobs Now Program
Businesses and non-profits can apply for funding to reduce the cost of hiring and training Albertans for new jobs.
ECO Canada
We provide 50% of a wage to eligible employers who hire the brightest minds in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) and Business.
- Students gain valuable on-the-job experience and employers increase future talent pool and resource availability
- We offer funding for three sessions per year: Winter, Summer, and Fall
- Student Candidates and Host Employers are required to find their own co-op placement
- Applications typically open 3 months prior to start of each co-op session
Additional funding may be available for employers who hire students from one of the following groups:
- Women in STEM
- Indigenous People
- Persons with Disabilities
- First-year Students
- Recent Immigrants (Permanent resident or refugee status)
- Visible Minorities
Business Benefits Finder
Find the right programs and services, whether you’re starting out or scaling up.
Energy Savings for Business
Energy Savings for Business will help eligible Alberta businesses reduce emissions, decrease operating costs, grow their operations and become more competitive, while creating skilled jobs and boosting economic recovery.
Campus Alberta Neuroscience
Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN) is pleased to announce its Entrepreneurship Seed Grant for 2021. The Entrepreneurship Seed Grant is a foundational pillar of CAN’s Entrepreneurship Program that provides funding and collaborative support for early-stage innovation projects with solutions that address neuroscience and mental health related challenges in Alberta.
Deadline: June 30, 2021
Innovation Canada
From funding to expert advice to driving new collaborations, our flagship programs and services are designed to help businesses innovate, create jobs and grow Canada’s economy.
Immigrant / Permanent Resident / Refugee Resources
BDC Newcomer Entrepreneur Loan
Experienced as a business owner or not, BDC helps immigrants handle the typical challenges of building a company in Canada.
Futurpreneur Newcomer Loan
If you’re new to Canada and don’t have a credit history, Futurpreneur Canada wants to help you launch your business. We provide tailored support and eligibility criteria to reflect your new status in Canada.
Business Planning Workbook for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
This Business Planning Workbook is designed for immigrant entrepreneurs to learn about planning to start a business in Alberta. By following the steps outlined, you will complete a business and marketing plan.
Marketing Effectively in Alberta for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
This is one of a series of Guidebooks created by Business Link to assist immigrant entrepreneurs with understanding what works for starting a successful business in Alberta. In this Guidebook, you will learn the basics of marketing for your business and how to build a marketing and sales strategy that you can be confident will advance your business goals.
Connections: An Immigrant's Guide to starting a Business in Alberta
This guidebook will walk you through the process of getting started with your own business and provide you with resources to learn more. It will help you understand Alberta business culture. You will also learn how your cultural background can help you to succeed as an Alberta business owner.
Understanding Financing in Alberta for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Understanding Financing in Alberta is designed for immigrant entrepreneurs who are preparing to request financial support for their new or growing business. Whether you have not quite started your business, or are established and getting ready to go, this is important information.
Indigenous Resources
Alberta Indian Investment Corporation
In addition to capital funding, AIIC also provides grants to help your business with equity assistance.
Indigenous Business Planning Workbook
This Business Planning Workbook is designed to help Indigenous entrepreneurs create a business plan. Business plans are very important tools for people starting a business. A business plan is like a road map. It shows where you want to go and gives the details on how you will get there.
Piikani Nation Grant Equity Program
The Small Business development portion of Piikani Economic Development is responsible for promoting and supporting small businesses for Piikani Nation members.
Pitch contests
Dentons 2021 AgTech Pitch Competition
The Dentons 2021 AgTech Pitch Competition aims to bring exposure to an important industry that is experiencing significant technological growth. Agriculture is one of the foundational pillars to Canada’s economy, in addition to providing a secure food source for its citizens and citizens in importing countries.
Deadline: June 23, 2021
Research
Jump Ball Initiative
Rapidly connecting innovators to business innovation assets. The Jump Ball Initiative (JBI) taps into the innovative capacity and capabilities of the network of Canada’s 30 Technology Access Centres, including over 1,000 business innovation experts and more than 2 million square feet of dedicated applied research space.
Research Facilities Navigator
The Research Facilities Navigator is a directory of publicly funded research facilities that are opening their doors to collaborations with industry, academia and government.
Community Resources
In addition to the above, please check out these community resources that can support you on your entrepreneurial journey.
