‘Beginning a enterprise may be overwhelming. Our Mentor Program ensures that budding entrepreneurs don’t need to navigate this path alone,’ stated Paul Cataford, govt director of Enterprise Hyperlink
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Enterprise Hyperlink has launched its pilot Mentor Program, designed to help grassroots small companies in Alberta. The provincial help group for entrepreneurs this system is designed to assist aspiring homeowners together with retailers, mom-and-pops, consultants and sole proprietors in Alberta.
“Beginning a enterprise may be overwhelming,” says Paul Cataford, govt director of Enterprise Hyperlink. “Our Mentor Program ensures that budding entrepreneurs don’t need to navigate this path alone. Our purpose is to create a supportive setting the place new enterprise homeowners can develop and develop with the steering of those that have expertise and precious recommendation.”
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Cataford is devoted to selling and creating entrepreneurship in Alberta, with numerous the precise expertise to guide Enterprise Hyperlink.
He accomplished his engineering diploma at Queen’s College and earned his MBA in finance and technique on the Schulich College of Enterprise at York College. His profession covers a 15-year stint on Bay Avenue as a company banker and a enterprise capital and personal fairness investor. He has led a know-how switch workplace, created an early-stage firm creation incubator on the College of Calgary and co-founded a medical system product growth and manufacturing firm in Calgary.
Cataford has been an impartial company director on the boards of over 35 corporations and organizations together with publicly-listed firms and a number of other not-for-profits and associations.
He says when the chance was offered in 2022 to function govt director of Enterprise Hyperlink, he believed it an ideal match for his govt expertise and his ardour for selling small companies.
Enterprise Hyperlink was established in 1996 as a non-profit group to nurture the expansion and success of Alberta’s small companies. Authorities funded — federally by Prairies Financial Improvement Canada and provincially by the Ministry of Jobs, Economic system and Innovation — it has 30 staff all through the province and providers round 5,000 purchasers per yr.
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Packages are designed to help mainstream companies, new Albertans, and Indigenous entrepreneurs with complete providers together with customized teaching, market analysis, academic packages, on-line assets, networking alternatives, and focused referrals.
The brand new free Mentor Program adopts a “pace courting” method for mentor-mentee pairing, guaranteeing a customized and efficient match, ensuring that experience and expertise align intently with the mentees enterprise wants and objectives.
To this point, greater than 55 seasoned entrepreneurs have already signed up as mentors.
The pilot program kicks off with an preliminary 30-minute consumption assembly to determine and focus on potential challenges, adopted by a 90-minute session geared toward creating methods and set the trail for future success. From there mentees and mentors have three distinct paths to select from: formalizing their relationship by common conferences, choosing a extra versatile method with casual interactions, or persevering with to entry Enterprise Hyperlink’s assets and occasions if rapid challenges are resolved.
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To be eligible for this system, companies have to be Alberta-based and in operation for lower than a yr or within the preliminary phases of creating a marketing strategy.
Cataford says the Enterprise Hyperlink Mentor Program is devoted to testing and refining efficient help methods for brand spanking new entrepreneurs, an method that ensures this system I conscious of the wants of Alberta’s small enterprise group.
International doughnut and coffeehouse chain Krispy Kreme is increasing within the Calgary market and with the assistance of Monika Blachut and Michael Kehoe of Fairfield Business Actual Property have secured an amazing location alongside Macleod Path South.
Building will start later this yr on quite a bit owned by Lansdowne Fairness Ventures immediately in entrance of its Schanks Sports activities Grill.
In response to Kehoe, Krispy Kreme officers plan their first Calgary location as a ‘doughnut theatre hub’ the place prospects can observe the doughnut-making course of because the candy snacks journey alongside a 12-metre manufacturing line, which features a glaze waterfall. The free-standing flagship constructing can have a dine-in part plus a drive-through.
Looking for the precise employment? Folks can get in entrance of hiring managers, community and apply with employer exhibitors on the free Calgary Profession Truthful and Coaching Expo being held Thursday, Feb. 6, on the BMO Centre at Stampede Park.
David Parker seems frequently within the Herald. Learn his columns on-line at calgaryherald.com/enterprise. He may be reached at 403-830-4622 or by e-mail at data@davidparker.ca
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