Innovacorp regularly participates in business events, conferences and notable industry initiatives. Check it out.

INVEST ATLANTIC – Raising Capital for Business
October 26, 2010
Innovacorp is proud to be partnering in INVEST ATLANTIC, being held in Halifax at the World Trade and Convention Centre this fall. This investment conference will focus on raising equity capital for businesses looking for expansion, growth, and/or partnerships. Panelists include Innovacorp’s Jevon MacDonald and Patrick Keefe. For more information, visit www.investatlantic.ca.

Business Over Breakfast –Views from the Top - CEO Panel
September 29, 2010
Join a panel of experienced CEOs as they share their perspectives on building and leading a technology business. Hear about the financial, marketing and sales, human resource, and technical challenges they've faced and how they've triumphed (or, in some cases, didn't). Visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-views-top-ceo-panel

BioPort Atlantic – Pumping the Pipeline
September 21-22, 2010
Atlantic Canada's premiere event for the life sciences industry is happening soon!  Innovacorp's CEO and president (interim), Stephen Hartlen, will be there to discuss the new Innovacorp Enterprise Centre, opening in April 2011. To register and learn more, visit http://www.bionova.ns.ca/bioport .

NSCC Event Honouring Dr. Jack Buckley
July 20, 2010
Innovacorp's Jennifer Robichaud presented at an event honouring the contributions of Dr. Jack Buckley, former president of NSCC. Dr. Buckley was president of NSCC from 1997 - 1999 and played a key role in making the college the success it is today.

Innovation in Transportation
June 24, 2010
Innovacorp’s Stephen Hartlen presented on the importance of innovation at a Transport Canada workshop on innovation in transportation.

Business Over Breakfast: Building Effective Distribution Channels
May 26, 2010
Distributors can help early stage companies reach export markets. Unfortunately, many companies have problems finding the right distributors, negotiating an agreement, and managing the distributor relationship. The best distribution channels for your company depend on your market, your product, and what your competitors are doing, but there are things you can do to build effective and hassle-free distribution channels, maintain control over product sales, and protect your profit margins. This month's panel members were Ian Lucas, executive vice president of innovation and strategy with Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd., Robert Nadeau, partner at Kerr & Nadeau, and Mike Flynn, director of business development at Tether. Panel moderator was Stephen Hartlen, president and CEO (interim) at Innovacorp. For more information and to listen to a podcast from the event, visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-building-effective-distribu....

National Business Incubation Association's International Conference on Business Incubation
May 16-19, 2010
Innovacorp's Stephen Hartlen and Shelley Hessian participated at NBIA's International Conference on Business Incubation happening in May in Orlando, Florida. Stephen and Shelley delivered a half-day pre-conference workshop in which they shared Innovacorp’s proven outreach strategy for developing, managing and growing the client pipeline. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.nbia.org/events/.

Innovation Nation – Halifax Roundtable
May 5, 2010
Innovacorp and the Public Policy Forum co-hosted a small gathering of select senior leaders from the private, public, research and social sectors to discuss the future of innovation in Canada. Participants addressed two questions: What must be done to increase innovation -- research, development and commercialization -- in the private sector, and how can the broader community of innovators build a stronger culture of collaboration between and within sectors? This roundtable is part of a cross-country series that launched last year. The objective is to help develop a blueprint for the next generation of innovation strategy in Canada. The Public Policy Forum will report on each roundtable and prepare a summary report of the series in advance of a national gathering in Toronto on May 27.

Business Over Breakfast: Avoiding Sales Pitfalls for Start-ups
April 29, 2010
You formulated a brilliant marketing strategy and executed a flawless campaign. By now everyone has heard about your clearly superior product. So why aren't you selling more? Jim Gillis, principal partner and vice president of engineering with ADM Systems Engineering, Paul Phillips, director of business development for Precision BioLogic, and Eldon MacKeigan, a partner at Sandler Training, discussed the difference between marketing and sales, the importance of sales, and how to create a proactive and effective selling system to grow your company. For more information visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-avoiding-sales-pitfalls-sta....

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network (EDN) Entrepreneur of the Year Event
April 20, 2010
Innovacorp's Stephen Hartlen participated in a panel discussion at EDN's Entrepreneur of the Year event. The discussion focused on equity sources of financing, and included a small business investor, an angel investor, and a representative from the First Angel Network.

Expat Canadian Event (Cape Breton Style) in San Francisco
April 8, 2010
Innovacorp helped host an expat Canadian event in San Francisco on April 8. The event was a rocking Cape Breton kitchen party with an innovation theme. Innovacorp's Bob Pelley joined representatives from other event partners, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, Cape Breton Island – Nova Scotia's Masterpiece, East Coast Connected, as well as trade mission participants from the Cape Breton business community. There were almost 200 confirmed guests for the gathering. The event coincided with the arrival of the Cape Breton Island – Nova Scotia's Masterpiece yacht, to California. The vessel is Cape Breton's entry, and the only Canadian entry, in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. The goal of the event was to promote Atlantic Canada (Cape Breton Island, in particular) as a place where people come to visit, to do business, to invest, to study, and to live.

Sobey MBA Panel on Business Development and Entrepreneurship
April 6, 2010
Innovacorp's Stephen Hartlen participated in a panel discussion on business development in Atlantic Canada, along with David Surrette of Export Development Canada and Greg Dickie of the Busines Development Bank of Canada. The event was an opportunity for business leaders to interact with Saint Mary's MBA students, and provide their insights and expertise on various subjects.

6th Annual Halifax Sci-Tech Expo
March 30-31, 2010
Innovacorp's Lidija Marusic participated in the Halifax Sci-Tech Expo, an annual event that is part of a system of regional science fairs that encourages students in grades seven through twelve to be creative, inventive and innovative in a science discipline of their choosing.

Capacity, Capability, Challenges – Cape Breton University
March 26, 2010
Innovacorp’s Jennifer Robichaud joined a human resources panel at Cape Breton University’s Shannon School of Business and the Small Business Development Centre. The session was called Capacity, Capability, Challenges  – Human Resources in Small Business. Jennifer and four other human resources experts each presented for 20 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.

Business Over Breakfast: Marketing Panel - What's Your Strategy?
March 26, 2010
Pierrette d’Entremont of Pida Infant & Maternity Products Ltd., Josh Hansen of Via Web Media, Mike Carter of Tri-Star Avid Media and Gerry Curry of Curry Systems and Consulting, shared their marketing insights, online strategies and tips for success. For more information visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-marketing-panel-whats-your-....

Business Over Breakfast: The Role of Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards for Start-Ups
March 25, 2010
Ross Finlay, co-founder and director of the First Angel Network, Patrick Keefe, investment manager with Innovacorp, and Dan MacDonald shared their viewpoints on types of board structure, when to implement them, and how to make them successful. For more information visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-boards-directors-advisory-b....

Dalhousie University Faculty of Management Class Presentation
March 4, 2010
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald presented to a commerce class at Dalhousie University on the topic of international business.

Dalhousie University New Venture Creation Class Presentation
March 3, 2010
Innovacorp's Ben Forcier presented to a new venture creation/entrepreneurship class at Dalhousie University on the topic of venture capital.

Business Over Breakfast: Software Product and Service Pricing and Packaging Strategies
February 24, 2010
Pricing and packaging can be daunting at the best of times, but it’s especially complicated for early stage software product and/or service companies. Pricing and packaging affects company image, consumer take up and churn behavior, and of course, revenue and profits. Patrick Hankinson, director of marketing for Tether, Matthew Doucette, co-founder of Xona Games, and Duncan Enman, founder of Can Stock Photo discussed the logic of their pricing strategies and what they have learned about pricing’s impact on top and bottom line growth. Click here to learn more.

Innovacorp I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition Awards Reception
February 9, 2010
On February 9, 2010, Innovacorp hosted the I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition awards reception, an upbeat, fast-paced event that celebrated innovation and entrepreneurship in Nova Scotia. Tether was announced as the provincial winner of the competition, and all 10 1st and 2nd place zone winners were profiled through video vignettes. The event featured special guest speakers Premier Darrell Dexter and Innovacorp board chair Dr. Jacquelyn Thayer Scott.
If you were unable to attend the event, or even if you were there, and would like to see how the evening unfolded, visit http://innovacorp.ca/url/tk0hu5a to watch a video recording of the awards presentation.

Mount Saint Vincent University Student Business and Tourism Conference
February 5, 2010
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald was the luncheon speaker at Mount Saint Vincent's 2010 Student Business and Tourism conference, Leadership, Growth & Effectiveness: A Connected Circle. Dan's presentation focused on innovation and leadership. Click here to read Dan's speech from the event, attended by almost 300 business, marketing and public relations students from MSVU and NSCC, with panels made up of business leaders from around the province.

Brains for Change
January 23-24, 2010
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald participated in a panel at Brains for Change, a conference to identify and articulate student priorities for the future of the university, hosted by the Dalhousie University Student Union. Dan discussed the commercialization process of science and technological innovation to help inspire students to think of how their research can lead to meaningful future
careers.

Business Over Breakfast - Outlook 2010: The recession is over! Or is it? What now?
January 21, 2010
Some analysts are saying the recession is over and the economy is on track for a full recovery. Or is it? What do you do now? How do you come off what is arguably the worst economic year in two generations? Do you come out of the gate swinging? Do you hunker down and remain extra cautious for another year? What did 2009 teach you? Did you make decisions about spending or hiring that will help you post-recession? Has the downturn changed your industry, your customers, your competitive landscape? Robert Orr, president & CEO of Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd., Brian Lowe, vice president of Immunovaccine Inc., Saeed El-Darahali, president & CEO of SimplyCast, Roland Swift, president of MorSwift Machines Inc., and panel moderator Dan MacDonald, looked back at the challenges they faced in 2009 and shared their thoughts and strategies for the months ahead. For more information visit http://innovacorp.ca/bob-recession.

Enterprize 2010
January 15, 2010
Representatives from Innovacorp participated as judges in Enterprize 2010, hosted by the Dalhousie Faculty of Management's Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship. Innovacorp also participated in the Griffon's Den Venture Capital panel at the event.The business plan competition for students ran in conjunction with the Enterprize Atlantic 2010 Business Conference. For more information visit http://entrepreneurship.dal.ca/Enterprize%20Atlantic%202010/.

30,000ft to 3,000ft: The BioCommons Proposition, Vital Partnerships and Services
December 14, 2009
Dan MacDonald presented Innovacorp's High Performance Incubation (HPi)TM business model to stakeholders at an event hosted by the champions of PEI BioCommons, a business incubation facility for high potential life sciences companies that is planned for construction in PEI. Dan joined panelists Dave Smardon of BioEnterprise in Ontario, Barry Stickings of BioCity Nottingham in the UK and Marting Yuill from ORIC in British Columbia. The event took place at the UPEI School of Business. The BioCommons is expected to officially open in the fall of 2011.

Driving Progress and Driving Results through Business Innovation - An evening with Peter Nicolson, President of the Council of Canadian Academies
December 10, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald, along with Stephen Lund, president and CEO of NSBI and Bill Walsh, dean of the NSCC Business School, hosted a group of business leaders for a dinner and discussion with Peter Nicholson, president of the Council of Canadian Academies. The evening discussion focused on Why Canada Falls Short, a report released this spring by the Council of Canadian Academies’ Expert Panel on Business Innovation.

Business Over Breakfast - Exploring the India Opportunity
December 17, 2009
Innovacorp hosted Business Over Breakfast - Exploring the India Opportunity at the Technology Innovation Centre. Carolyn Hatcher, trade commissioner with Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and Mausam Kalra, vice president of local search with GenieKnows.com shared their knowledge and firsthand experience about this market and provided tips and insights on how to successfully export products to this growing market. For more information visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-exploring-india-opportunity.

Atlantic Valuation Conference
November 27, 2009
Innovacorp's Ben Forcier spoke at the Atlantic Valuation Conference at Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business on November 27. He addressed the audience of participants, made up mostly of students who are or will be in the CFA program and are considering careers in the investment banking sector or are interested in becoming research analysts.

Business Over Breakfast at Innovacorp - Social Media for Entrepreneurs
November 18, 2009
Innovacorp hosted Business Over Breakfast - Social Media for Entrepreneurs at the Nova Scotia Community College Dartmouth Waterfront Campus, with online marketing expert Jeff White, principal with Brightwhite Design (www.brightwhite.ca) and Joel Kelly, digital strategist with CCL Group (www.cclgroup.ca), as they discussed the social media phenomenon and how it is already affecting how business is done. To listen to the event visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-social-media-entrepreneurs.

Demo Hub for Entrepreneurs
November 16, 2009
As part of Entrepreneurship Week, Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald participated in Demo Hub at the HalifaxHub (www.thehubhalifax.ca). Dan discussed “How to Prepare a good pitch."

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia Practitioners' Forum
October 29, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald spoke at the ICANS Practitioners' Forum in Truro, Nova Scotia. During his presentation, Dan discussed Innovacorp's HPi business model and how Nova Scotian accountants can assist their clients in benefitting from Innovacorp's services.

Power of Green Conference
October 21, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald moderated a panel focusing on “The valuable link between innovation and sustainability,” featuring insights from Jean-Paul Deveau, President, Acadian Seaplants; Peter Allen, President, Thermo Dynamics; and Robert Niven, President, Carbon Sense Solutions. The Power of Green Conference, held in Halifax, also featured excellent internationally recognized keynote speakers. For more information visit http://www.thepowerofgreen.ca/.

Innovacorp's I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition
September 9, 2009
Innovacorp officially launched the provincial I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The I-3 competition is for Nova Scotians with potential new knowledge-based businesses. More details will be available in the coming weeks.

NBIA Webinar: Mentoring Network vs. Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programs
July 15, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald was the featured speaker for a webinar hosted by the National Business Incubation Association. During the online training seminar, Dan discussed options for getting clients the help and advice they need, including mentoring networks and entrepreneurs-in-residence, and explored the pros and cons of each option.

Organizing Transatlantic Innovation Conference
June 22-27, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald was the Canadian speaker at the “Organizing Transatlantic Innovation” conference presented by the Techopolicy Network and the National Academy of Sciences in Helsinki, Finland from June 22 - 27. At his presentation on June 26, Dan talked about best practices for technology commercialization in the transatlantic field.

The Conference Board of Canada - Innovation Council
June 11, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald spoke at the Conference Board of Canada's Innovation Council meeting. Dan provided insights on the topic of "open innovation" obtained working with client companies from the information and communications technology, life sciences and clean technology industry sectors. Open innovation refers to the use and leverage of open source technologies, and related ramifications in the areas of intellectual property and supportability.

Inaugural CEO Roundtable Luncheon
June 10, 2009
The Inaugural CEO Roundtable represented the first of a series to be held with various business mentors and protégés. The session provided participants with an opportunity to have lunch and open dialogue with fellow technology company CEOs and some of Canada's premier business leaders - members of Cape Breton University's Shannon School of Business Advisory Board, including Joe Shannon, Harold Schwartz, Chief Terry Paul, Susan Murray, John McLennan, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Louis Maroun, Sir Graham Day, and Purdy Crawford. The event was presented by Innovacorp, along with the Cape Breton Partnership and the Shannon School of Business Centre for Small Business Development, Cape Breton University. Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald kicked off the event.

Atlantic Business Summit, University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management - Presented by East Coast Connected
June 5, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald joined panelists George Armoyan, chairman of Clarke Inc., Denise LeBlanc, partner at McInnes Cooper, and Paul Dube, CEO of the Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Technology Industries, to discuss "how can we make Atlantic Canada the place from which to conduct business internationally?" The event featured lively discussions with industry and business leaders examining current topics and trends in Atlantic Canada. For more information visit www.eastcoastconnected.ca/events/the-atlantic-business-summit.

The 3rd Atlantic RE$EARCH MONEY Conference
June 3, 2009
Innovacorp's Stephen Hartlen participated in a panel discussion at the Atlantic RE$EARCH MONEY conference in St. John's, Newfoundland. The event examined how the Atlantic provinces are investing now to ensure economic sustainability for the long term and brought together experienced entrepreneurs, investors, economic development practitioners and policy makers from Atlantic Canada and elsewhere to address this important issue.

Deloitte Panel: "Non-Traditional Financing in a Recession"
June 3, 2009
Innovacorp's Ben Forcier was part of an expert panel that discussed strategies to finance business growth through alternative forms of financing available to small and mid-market businesses in Atlantic Canada. Assembled by the business advisory professionals at Deloitte, the panel focused on issues specific to the recession and offer financing options and insight that can work with, or without, traditional financial institutions.

Face to Face
June 1, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald moderated a panel discussion on innovation at Progress' annual Face to Face conference at Digby Pines Resort and Spa in Digby, Nova Scotia.

Business Over Breakfast at Innovacorp
May 28, 2009
Innovacorp hosted a Business Over Breakfast on May 28. The event featured online marketing expert Stéphane Lagrange, owner and lead consultant of WebTarget Inc., a consulting practice that specializes in strategic consulting for web and new media projects with clients in New York, Montreal and Halifax, along with fellow panelists Kathryn Garden of DementiaGuide Inc. , Charlene Fekeshazy of EastMed Inc., and Doug Milburn of Protocase Inc. Moderated by Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald, the discussion covered how online marketing techniques can most efficiently extend the reach of your go-to-market strategy. To listen to the event online, visit http://innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-marketing-panel.

NBIA's 23rd International Conference on Business Incubation
April 19 - 22, 2009
Innovacorp's Stephen Hartlen and Shelley Hessian presented at a preconference workshop at the conference, themed "building on best practices." Their presentation focused on how to build a strong client pipeline through various initiatives, with examples from our I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition, Web 2.0 and others. Dan MacDonald also presented a session entitled "Mentoring Network vs. Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programs." Providing clients with subject matter expertise often requires that you understand advanced sector-specific topics. However, no business incubation team can provide expert advice across all disciplines or industry sectors. This session explored the pros and cons of two common approaches: the mentoring network and the entrepreneur-in-residence.

Business Over Breakfast at Innovacorp
March 25, 2009
Innovacorp hosted a Business Over Breakfast on Wednesday, March 25. Moderated by Dan MacDonald, an expert panel of software product/service company executives, including Morgan Currie of Marcato Digital Solutions Ltd., Gordon Dickie of GOALLINE and Christien Lomax of Coemergence Inc. discussed the "business ramifications of software development environments," focusing on the business side of the discussion. For more information visit innovacorp.ca/business-over-breakfast-business-ramifications-software-development-environments.

Presentation with NSCC's Deans and Principals
January 30, 2009
Innovacorp's Dan MacDonald and Stephen Hartlen presented an overview of Innovacorp's HPi business model and discussed existing and potential synergies between Innovacorp and NSCC.