Skip to main content
small business briefing

Minister of State Gary Goodyear responds to a question in the House of Commons on March 23, 2009.Sean Kilpatrick

The latest news and information for entrepreneurs from across the web universe, brought to you by the Report on Small Business team. Follow us on Twitter @GlobeSmallBiz

Government on the side of angels

The Government of Canada will contribute up to $2-million to support a regional angel-investor network, Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, said Tuesday at the National Angel Summit.

The funds will be distributed to four Southern Ontario angel networks - in Cambridge, Collingwood, Kingston and Toronto - and to two organizations that represent them across Southern Ontario. The money is designated for online resources and for outreach activities to help recruit new investors from the region, across the country, and worldwide.

"I think it's clear that support for angel investors is a winning proposition: by unlocking investment capital, angels are helping us keep skilled workers and patents here, and helping to create sustained prosperity for our region and our country," Mr. Goodyear said in a press release. "This investment will attract new capital to our region, creating high-value jobs and long-term economic prosperity."

The program, Investing in Business Innovation, was created after the government solicited feedback from business leaders, academics and community leaders from across southern Ontario.

"The investment in Southern Ontario's angel community by FedDev Ontario will help our region attract angels, local and foreign, and help them invest their dollars, expertise and networks in our next generation of growth companies," says Bryan Watson, executive director of the National Angel Capital Organization, which organized this year's National Angel Summit.

The following organizations and networks will benefit from this initiative:

National Angel Capital Organization, with a contribution up to $968,800: A national not-for-profit representing angel networks, located in Toronto, established to provide angel investors with a secure environment to network and learn from their peers, as well as to be heard collectively on national issues.

National Angel Organization, with a contribution up to $847,763: A provincial not-for-profit representing angel networks, located in Toronto, established to deliver the Angel Network Program across Ontario.

Golden Triangle Angelnet, with a contribution up to $50,000: A not-for-profit angel network, located in Cambridge, which invests in promising, early stage businesses operating in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge and beyond.

Georgian Angel Network, with a contribution up to $50,000: A not-for-profit angel network, located in Collingwood, that works to connect angel investors in the Georgian Triangle region (Owen Sound, Meaford, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Creemore, Midland, Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge, Parry Sound and Huntsville) with entrepreneurs needing equity capital to commercialize their innovations.

PARTEQ Innovations, with a contribution up to $50,000: A not-for-profit technology transfer office founded by Queen's University. PARTEQ works with university researchers and the business and venture capital communities to bring promising discoveries to market, while returning proceeds to researchers and their institutions.

York Angel Investors, with a contribution up to $50,000: A not-for-profit angel network, located in Vaughan, that connects local entrepreneurs seeking early and mid-stage capital with local investors.

Copyrighted work requires a licence

Do you play music or use other forms of copyrighted work without paying licensing fees? To legally use original works, you must obtain the necessary permits, according to a blog post on the government's Canada Business Network site. If you play recorded music in your store or use excerpts from a book or poem, you are required to get a licence from the copyright holder. To comply with the law, you need a licence to use original musical, artistic, literary, and dramatic works. The post also contains a list of organizations dedicated to helping obtain licences for copyrighted works.

Why women rule

According to a 2011 survey conducted by American Express, women in the United States are launching new businesses at 1.5 times the rate of the national average. In Canada, women are creating not only jobs, but entire companies, at double the rate of the national average. "Women are paving the way to a brand new breed of successful entrepreneurs, because women have some undeniable skills that make them excellent business owners," says Krizia de Verdier, executive producer and host of the Women Entrepreneurs HQ Online Show. She outlines seven reasons why women make great entrepreneurs, including the fact they value personal development, they are better listeners, and they are more about inclusion than competition.

EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Eat, drink and be merry

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is holding a Munch and Mingle in Toronto on Dec. 1, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at Fionn MacCool's on The Esplanade. Kick off the festive season with a drink, some appetizers, "great company and conversation, and a lot of holiday spirit." IABC will be making a group donation to Sick Kids hospital on behalf of its Toronto chapter. Consider bringing a donation of toys, books, arts and crafts supplies, DVDs, music and gift cards for children and teens. There will also be prize draws, including gift certificates.

Have some fun in Montreal

The Montreal Small Business Network hosts Startup Drinks Montreal on Nov. 30 2011, the final event of its kind for the year. Admission is free, the gathering is set up to share ideas, get together and network, "and maybe even have fun." It takes places at Brutopia, from 5:30 p.m., until whenver. Follow this link to obtain your complementary ticket.

EDITOR'S PICKS FROM REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS

You've come a long way, baby

Ugi Fitness Inc. has come a long way since columnist John Warrillow first began writing about it back in October, when he launched his 'reality' series on the company and its attempts to grow. At that time, Ugi was suffering through its worst month in recent memory with inventory for its Ugi ball – the centrepiece of the company's 30-minute full-body workout system – on back order. Since then, Ugi has been on a roll. It now has inventory and is starting to ship its product again. This is Mr. Warrillow's final installment in the series.

FROM THE ROSB ARCHIVES

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's super angel

With venture capital waning as a source of start-up funds for small business, Cathryn Atkinson wrote a year ago, a new type of financier has stepped into the gap - the "super angel." These investors have deep pockets and a willingness to provide material support and professional knowledge to startups or new companies with good business ideas. They operate on a smaller scale than traditional venture capitalists, but on a larger scale than the more traditional "angels," who usually invest in a handful of companies.

Got a tip on news, events or other timely information related to the small-business community? E-mail us at yourbusiness@globeandmail.com

Join The Globe's Small Business LinkedIn group to network with other entrepreneurs and to discuss topical issues: http://linkd.in/jWWdzT

Our free weekly newsletter is now available. Every Friday a team of editors selects the top picks from our blog posts, features, multimedia and columnists, and delivers them to your inbox. If you have registered for The Globe's website, you can sign up here. Click on the Small Business Briefing checkbox and hit 'save changes.' If you need to register for the site, click here.

Report an editorial error

Report a technical issue

Editorial code of conduct

Tickers mentioned in this story

Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 28/03/24 7:00pm EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
AXP-N
American Express Company
-0.03%227.69

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe