Where do you begin when starting your own business?
Click on the tabs below for advice and resources when creating your own startup.
“When you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.” - Ellen DeGeneres
How do you come up with a successful business idea? It takes a lot of guts and determination...and it helps to have a good idea. The video below shows some practical tips for brainstorming a business idea.
An important step in starting a business is to research your industry. The databases below are great resources for finding reliable, up-to-date industry reports and statistics.
Market Research is an essential step to constructing your business plan. You want to know:
The websites and databases linked below can help you find our more about your market.
Writing a business plan from scratch is easy with the aid of these helpful links:
The secret to every successful business venture is crafting a winning pitch to your stakeholders and investors.
According to Harvard Business School Online, the following steps are key to pitching a business idea:
Know who you are pitching.
Consider how you’re presenting yourself, not simply your idea
Tell a story
Cover the details
Show the roadmap
Read more about How to Pitch Your Business Idea.
Here’s an example of a winning pitch from Montreal’s StartupFest 2017. Watch how the CEO tells a story but also gives details.
