MetroTech Connect Inaugural MeetUp

WHO

Attendees: Anyone interested in being part of a network of collaborative, innovative, tech start-up focused humans!

Presenters:

Jaap Siekman MSc, PEng, PMP
Jaap is the Regional Manager for NorthBridge Consultants. He educates start-ups and growing companies on Government Funding programs that support R&D and Innovation in Canada.
Jaap has 28 years of managerial experience in New Product Development, Engineering and Manufacturing in a variety of industries.
Started 25 years ago, and with ~20 professionals in offices in BC, ON and QC, NorthBridge is an expert consultancy firm assisting businesses throughout Canada with Government Funding that supports R&D, Innovation and Growth.

Gary Bizzo - Strategist/Global Influencer
Gary has mentored over 1000 business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs and is a global social media influencer and author. Forbes, in May 2017, said Bizzo was one of the Top 25 Small Business Accounts on Twitter. London-based Richtopia said Bizzo was one of the Top 200 Social Influencers in the World for 2017. Entrepreneur Magazine, in 2014, said Bizzo was one of “17 Masters of Marketing & PR Entrepreneurs Can Learn From”.
He is an Elite Weekly writer for Equities.com (the largest platform for emerging growth companies). He is the author of “How to Start a Successful Business – the First Time” and “Social Media RockStar – Social Media Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Business” both on Amazon. He also contributes to Stockhouse.com
Gary is a Partner at Equifaira - Liquidity Event Planners, specialists in strategy & execution, corporate finance, capital formation & investor relations.

Matthew Lee, Scotiabank
Matt is the Small Business Advisor for Scotiabank, at their 49th and Fraser office. He has been with the Bank for the last three years, as both a personal Financial Advisor, and in his current role. Before beginning his career in banking, Matt had owned and operated a small franchise company in Richmond, BC, as well as a small business in Fort St. John, BC. He holds a degree in Business Management from Dalhousie University, and founded Dalhousie’s Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur program – a week long boot camp for retired/exiting Canadian Forces members, which trains them to build their own small business after completing their service. This program (formerly known as Bootcamp for Business) was renamed to Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur after partnering with Futurepreneur and The Prince’s Charities, a foundation set up by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. WHAT

All things finance! Not only how to get money but how to spend it and ways to save it!

WHERE

The stylish, state of the art Sanctuary Lounge at i-on-CONNECT at One Innovation Place in North Burnaby. A short walk or bus ride from Production/University Skytrain Station and minutes from SFU, BCIT, Hwy#1 & Hwy#7

WHEN

We plan on having our Connection MeetUps on the third Thursday of most months – Thursday is, after all, the new Friday!! HOW

1. Show up.
2. Network, eat pizza, have a beer, share experiences at a roundtable facilitated by one of our speakers.
3. Sit back and listen to the featured presentations.
4. Participate in a vote on your content…what do you want out of this MeetUp…this is all about you!
5. Head home smarter and more confident than when you arrived, buzzed on knowledge 😉

HOW MUCH

$15 - via PayPal/Credit Card

RUNDOWN

6:00pm: Network, food and bev, roundtables facilitated by our presenters
7:00pm: MTC announcements & intros
7:10: Presentations begin – Q & A to follow each
8:10pm: Wrap up and topic proposals/voting