The Founder’s Journey –

Module 1 Overview:

Entrepreneurship is the creation of value by solving problems, filling voids, and creating a better way of doing things. Entrepreneurs are simply people who identify the problem and develop the products, processes, or services to solve it, creating value for the customer, themselves and society. This module identifies the common myths of entrepreneurship and alternative paths entrepreneurs take in the creation of their ventures to solve real problems or pursue interesting opportunities. You’ll hear how Debbie Fung, the Ivey entrepreneur behind Yoga Tree, built a business that solved a unique problem and how she continues to succeed in her entrepreneurial journey.

Module 2 Overview:

Every successful venture solves a clearly defined customer problem. This session introduces the ideation essentials needed to find and refine the problem statement at the core of an entrepreneurial opportunity. You will learn how to identify problems, the difference between “good” and “bad”, and how to frame the problem in a compelling and believable way. Finally, you will appreciate how a well-crafted problem statement drives innovation and experimentation around possible solutions. Throughout this module, you’ll hear from Ivey entrepreneur Fenton Jagdeo Jr., co-founder of the successful men’s cosmetic brand, Faculty, on how he and his partner are reimagining men’s cosmetics and grooming.

Module 3 Overview:

Once you have defined the ‘problem’ or ‘entrepreneurial opportunity’ that you wish to tackle, there are many different avenues you can take to solve it. In this session, learn how to ideate, experiment, understand your customers, and get closer to that winning business solution. You’ll learn how Western entrepreneur Vino Jeyapalan, CEO of Kabo, a fresh dog food delivery service, found his way from a personal pain point (losing his beloved dog) to a profitable venture (selling healthy and customizable dog food).

Module 4 Overview:

Launch! That exciting and terrifying moment when all your hopes, fears, desires, planning, and preparation form into a living, breathing company. Like the Space X, Virgin Galactic, or Blue Origin rocket launches, will you rise high into the night or crash down? The decisions made in the run-up to launch (and the days and months after), will determine the success of your business. This session will discuss mentally preparing to be an entrepreneur, setting up your firm to be fully operational on day one, and getting those early wins upon which to build. You’ll meet and learn first-hand from Ivey entrepreneur Heather Payne, the founder of Juno College of Technology, the school of choice for people underrepresented in the tech industry.

Module 5 Overview:

How do you know whether a new venture is a good deal? A good deal is anything you can finance. The ability to raise money by attracting investors or generating early sales separates good deals from bad, and the foundation for financing a deal starts with planning. This session addresses the importance of planning and how critical the business plan is to secure the financing you typically need for a startup to flourish. Through the module, you’ll hear insights from Ivey entrepreneur Mallorie Brodie, the co-founder of Bridgit, an intelligent project management software solution for the construction industry.

Module 6 Overview:

You’ve done the building. You have a prototype that the market actually wants. Now, you need to sell it. Sales is the lifeblood of any company, and no product or service ever truly sells itself. This session will provide a framework for how to attract, keep, and grow your customer base. Whether you are selling a product directly to consumers, or a service to Fortune 500 companies, this session will help you create the right plan and process to sell with confidence. Throughout the module, you’ll hear from Western entrepreneur Shannon Kamins, the founder of Booch Organic Kombucha, a fermented beverages company that has focused on sales since its inception.

Module 7 Overview:

High growth is tough to achieve and even tougher to maintain. The reason: in a high-growth environment, the management practices that create success are often the same ones that can lead to failure as the firm grows. In this session, you will learn the challenges of growing a business beyond the startup stage, as well as the skills and attitudes that are needed to successfully create and manage a high-growth venture. You will hear the story of one exemplar scale-up called Voices, co-founded by Ivey entrepreneur David Ciccarelli and Western entrepreneur Stephanie Ciccarelli.

Module 8 Overview:

Do you want to do well financially while doing good for society? If so, building a social enterprise could be for you! This session dives into what a social enterprise is, and why you might want to start one. It will compare social enterprises with regular ‘for-profit’ ventures and discuss how to manage a benefit corporation. You’ll discover how Ivey entrepreneur Jason Cottrell runs a Toronto-based social enterprise and software studio called MyPlanet. MyPlanet not only generates income for its founder, but also promotes the well-being of its employees and local community while minimizing its environmental footprint.