Now that we’re finally into the warm weather months, it’s time to shake off the rust and get out to a few startup and small business events! Every month, we compile a list of events we’re interested in attending that are highly useful to the startup and small business community. A few of the organizations listed host a number of great events, but we’ve chosen to feature one event that we feel will be particularly useful.

The events we focus on are in Toronto, the GTA, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Niagara, St. Catharines and Hamilton. Please note that the events may sell out fast, so if you are interested in attending please contact the organization to register quickly. If you’re hosting an event or have come across one you think we should mention, please contact us by email or through social media with your suggestions and event information.

Inbound Marketing Toronto

Inbound Marketing Toronto is a monthly meetup group that focuses its discussion on hot topics within the world of Inbound Marketing. It brings together Digital Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Content Marketing, Media Relations, Start-up Founders, and Online Business Development professionals.

Event: #InboundTO #5: Generate Demand and Nurture Leads: Solving the Riddle

When: May 16, 2013, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Where: BNOTIONS Office, 106 Front Street East, Suite 200, Room YMC, Toronto

HalTech

HalTech’s mission is to act as a catalyst for innovation and commercialization by delivering services to help Halton-based enterprises start, grow and succeed.

Event: N2K Finance – Communicating with Your Investors

When: May 3, 2013, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Ron Joyce Centre – DeGroote School of Business, 4350 South Service Road, Burlington

MaRS Discovery District

MaRS is where entrepreneurs get the help they need, where all kinds of people meet to spark new ideas, and where a global reputation for innovation is being earned, one success story at a time.The often-free events at MaRS are ideal for start-ups, science, technology and social entrepreneurs looking to make connections and learn more about a particular aspect of business.

Event: MaRS Best Practices: The Crowdfunding Success Pattern

When: May 7, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where: MaRS Studio, 101 College Street, Toronto

Startup Drinks

Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. There are no presentations or pitches, just conversation and networking. To meet some of the up-and-coming people in the startup community, this is a great event to attend. These events are held regularly in a number of locations, including Toronto, Hamilton, and Waterloo.

Event: Startup Drinks Waterloo

When: May 7, 2013, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Chainsaw, 28 King Street North, Waterloo

Event: Startup Drinks Hamilton

When: May 9, 2013, 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Winking Judge, 25 Augusta Street, Hamilton

Event: Startup Drinks Toronto

When: May 29, 2013, 8:00 p.m.

Where: Hotel Ocho, 195 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

Innovation Factory

Innovation Factory helps advance Hamilton's innovation community and serves as an inspiring, expert resource for entrepreneurs that fosters connections across the community and accelerates growth. VA Partners’ own Mark Elliott is heavily involved with the Innovation Factory’s Sales Peer to Peer group, frequently planning events.

Event: The B2B Sales Process – The Sales Funnel

When: May 8, 2013, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Where: McMaster Innovation Park, Hamilton

nGen

nGen is a hub for innovation, incubation and business development in Niagara. nGen is Niagara’s Regional Innovation Centre and a member of the Ontario Network of Excellence, which connects technology-based business, entrepreneurs and researchers with services and programs to help innovate and gain a competitive advantage.

Event: Niagara Technology Summit

When: May 8, 2013, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Where: Scotiabank Convention Centre, 6815 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls

Startup Grind

Startup Grind is a 30-city event series hosted in 13-countries that educates, inspires, and connects entrepreneurs. Rooted in the heart of Silicon Valley, Startup Grind brings the world's greatest founders and investors to tell their stories on stage and share it with our global startup community.

Event: Startup Grind Hosts John Ruffolo (OMERS Ventures)

When: May 13, 2013, from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Where: Room CR2, Main Floor, MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street, Toronto

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the “Voice of Hamilton Business” is committed to making the City of Hamilton a great place to live, work, play, visit and invest. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, in concert with other community groups and various local businesses, regularly puts on a number of great events.

Event: Nailing It – How to Close the Execution Gap

When: May 14, 2013, from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Where: Hamilton Chamber Office Boardroom, 120 King Street West, Plaza Level, Hamilton

mesh

mesh is a two-day event that explores how the Web is evolving, the emergence of new and emerging trends, and what’s over the digital horizon. It’s a thinking person’s conference that features challenging, insightful, engaging and provocative speakers and content. We want people to come away from mesh with new ideas, inspiration and tons of food for thought on how they personally and professionally use the web.

Event: mesh13

When: May 15 (all day event)

Where: Allstream Centre, 105 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto

Toronto Business Development Centre

TBDC is an independant non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to nurturing the growth of new and emerging businessess. The Centre has been recognized at home and internationally for achievements in the field of business incubation. Over the past twenty plus years, TBDC has helped more than 4500 businesses through our various programs.

Event: The Power of the Entrepreneur

When: May 15, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Where: Westin Harbour Castle Convention Centre, Frontenac Ballroom, Toronto

Rails Pub Night

This informal social event in Toronto is perfect for anyone interesting in web development. People in the industry are able to gather along with both recruits as people in the web development start up community.

Featured Event: Toronto Rails Pub Night

When: May 20, 2013 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Where: The Rhino, 1249 Queen Street West, Toronto

Communitech

Based in Waterloo, Communitech events are focused on being engaging and interactive, providing useful information for companies of many sizes. Communitech’s Tech Leadership Conference is the largest annual all-day gathering of tech community professionals in Waterloo Region, drawn together to hear from thought leadership in business and tech and to network with peers.

Event: Level Up with Guy Kawasaki: Evangelism, Sales and Marketing

When: May 24, 2013, 8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Where: Waterloo Inn – Viennese Ballroom, 475 King Street North, Waterloo

Silicon Halton

Silicon Halton organizes a number of events throughout the year in the region Halton which including Burlington, Oakville, and Milton. Their monthly meetups and Peer2Peer include three main components; a key notes presentation, a get to know a member presentation, and time set out for networking. These events are catered to anyone at a startup – especially in the tech industry – that want to learn more about business best practices.

Event: Converting Opportunities to Deals Workshop

When: May 27, 2013, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Where: Quality Suites Hotel (Civitan Room), 754 Bronte Rd, Oakville

Innovation Guelph

Innovation Guelph provides educational programs, events, and services to help entrepreneurs, community organizations, researchers and business leaders develop their ideas. They also have expert advisors to help with your development.

Event: Stepping into Business – How to Get Ready

When: May 27, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where: Innovation Guelph, 111 Farquhar Street, Guelph

Ontario Centres of Excellence

Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) drives the development of Ontario’s economy by helping create new jobs, products, services, technologies and businesses. In partnership with industry and academia, OCE co-invests to commercialize innovation originating in the province’s colleges, universities and research hospitals.

Event: Discovery 2013

When: May 27-28, 2013 (all day event)

Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto

Silicon Peel

Silicon Peel is a grass roots hi-tech community of people who make a living, make meaning, and make things happen in technology in Peel Region.

Event: Silicon Peel Meetup #5: Three Ways to Fund Your Startup

When: May 29, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Where: Mississauga Civic Centre (Committee Room A), 300 City Centre Dr, Mississauga

Did we forget your event or an event you’re attending? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list!

For further information about any of these events contact our team, and don’t forget to sign up for next month’s newsletter (which comes out next week!) for more great events around the GTA.