Cobourg, ON (December 13, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg Economic Development department and Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre have unveiled dynamic and insightful business seminars coming in 2024 designed to provide cutting-edge insights and strategies.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned business professionals, and anyone seeking to elevate their business will benefit from the following series, curated to equip participants with the tools they need to succeed in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Sessions are hosted by industry professionals and thought leaders and will take place at the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre.

Revenue Growth Series: The Revenue Growth series continues as a partnered event with Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation is a practical sales talks series that features local businesspeople who have driven new revenue growth into their company. Occurring monthly on every second Wednesday.

• Seminar Title: Revenue Growth Series with Bryan McKinnon | Date: January 10th, 2024, Time: 8:30 – 10:00am | Venue: Lecture Hall, Venture13 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: Bryan McKinnon is the sole owner of Millard Towers.  Millard Towers is a small manufacturing company that engineers and fabricates aluminum support structures used for aviation, meteorology, telecom, and navigation applications.
• Seminar Title: Revenue Growth Series with Zak Copeland | Date: February 14^th, 2024, Time: 8:30 – 10:00am | Venue: Lecture Hall, Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: This partnered event will highlight the 2023 William Crossen Award recipient Zak Copeland from Prep Food Co. Zak Copeland is a young culinary entrepreneur who has been innovating in the kitchen for years. He opened Prep Food Co. in Downtown Cobourg and is a shining example of what a young entrepreneur is: determined, resilient, passionate, and adaptable.
• Seminar Title: Revenue Growth Series with Montana DesJardins| Date: March 13^th, 2024, Time: 8:30 – 10:00am | Venue: Lecture Hall, Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: Montana DesJardins is leading the way when it comes to women in business. Montana spends her time running The Market & Smør and does her best to balance business and being a mother, while always trying to strive for modelling self-care to other women in business and reaching entrepreneurial success.

Business Spotlight Series: A quarterly program to feature local businesses/organizations that can drive process improvements and new ways of reaching customers for your company making it more profitable and viable.

• Seminar Title: Business Spotlight: Contact North | Date: March 18^th, 2024, | Time: 3:30 – 4:30pm | Venue: NSSL Seminar Room, Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: Chloe Craig is Contact North’s Education and Training Advisor. Chloe helps students find education and training options that best suit their needs, whether they’re fresh out of high school, considering college or university, or going back to school later in life for upskilling to get the job they want.

21st Annual Business Achievement Awards: Cobourg’s Economic Development Team is also collaborating with the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce for the 21st Annual Business Achievement Awards. This gala recognizes and celebrates business successes in several categories. Business nominations and event registration will open in early January 2024.

Date: Friday, March 22nd, 2024, | Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm | Venue: Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn and Convention Centre – 930 Burnham Street

In addition to the above series, the business community may also be interested in the following programs hosted at the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre:  

• Workshop Title: Podcasting 101: From Ideas to Earbuds | Date: January 23^rd, 2024, Time: 9:00 am - 4:00pm | Venue: NSSL Seminar Room, Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: This hands-on workshop will act as crash course into the world of podcasting. We’ll cover everything from the technical to the conceptual and have you podding in no time. Participants will gain insights on various topics, including content creation, equipment selection, recording techniques, editing, and promoting your podcast. Engage in interactive sessions, ask questions, and network with like-minded individuals passionate about podcasting.
• Seminar Title: StrikeUP Digital Conference for Women Entrepreneurs Viewing Party | Date: February 29^th, 2024, | Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Venue: Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: StrikeUP is Canada’s digital conference that convenes women entrepreneurs and the women entrepreneurship ecosystem.  The one-day program is an accessible and free program focused on growth, funding, digital adoption, and global opportunities. The viewing party will end with a panel discussion among women in business.  Venture13 is an exclusive viewing party location in eastern Ontario.  
• March Break Camp: March Break STEM Camp for Youth | Date: Week of March 11^th, 2024, | Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Venue: Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: This weeklong camp will immerse youth aged 11-14 in the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). Participants will gain hands-on experience with coding, robots, engineering challenges, experiments, and more within an inclusive, encouraging environment.
• Seminar Title: AI in the Workplace | Date: March 19^th, 2024, | Time: 9:00 am - 10:30pm | Venue: NSSL Seminar Room, Venture13 – 739 D’Arcy Street | Description: This session tackles the topic on everyone's mind: AI in the Workplace. Will it set us free? Will it render our jobs obsolete? How will this technology impact the way we work? Join us as Richard Stoltenberg, a founding partner at Endring Group, visits Venture13 to share insights gleaned through his organizations research and consultancy around AI integration in the Workplace.

Interested participants are encouraged to register early to secure their spot. Other seminars, workshops and presentations may be added in the coming weeks. For Economic Development programming registration and more information, please visit investcobourg.ca or contact the office at 905-372-5481 or via email at econdev@cobourg.ca. For Venture13 programming registration and more information, please visit venture13.ca or contact the office at 289.677.5490 or via email at info@venture13.ca.

About the Venture13 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre
The Venture13 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre serves as a vital regional catalyst for emerging businesses and innovative ideas. Established in 2018, Venture13 has rapidly emerged as a hub for knowledge-based ventures, powered by a collaborative ecosystem of visionary partners, including Northumberland CFDC, Town of Cobourg, Cobourg Police Services, Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association, and Northumberland Makers. In collaboration with community partners and industry thought leaders, Venture13 provides flexible co-working space, a maker lab, and educational programming designed to equip entrepreneurs and local business professionals along their growth pathway. For more information visit www.venture13.ca.

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Media Contacts
Kara Euale
Manager, Communications
Town of Cobourg
p: 905-372-4301 x 4105 
e: keuale@cobourg.ca