Waterfront Chats | Finding The Right Space

Our Waterfront Chats meetup series is geared at start-up businesses and provides an opportunity to hear from and network with local entrepreneurs and organizations. Learn about their successes, barriers and challenges to launching and growing their small businesses. Attendees will also be given an opportunity to provide a thirty-second pitch and network.

We hold Meetups almost every month, and every event will be unique. Small Business BC Meetups are open to entrepreneurs at any stage of business and from all industries. Follow the conversation using #SBBCMeetup.

Finding the right space can be critical to the success of a business. With the rising costs of commercial real estate and the difficulty of navigating zoning requirements, entrepreneurs are having to turn to innovative and alternative spaces to operate their businesses. Come and listen to our three speakers talk about alternative space options and learn about how you can operate your business with less traditional locations.

Guest Speakers:

Andrew Barnes - Coho Commissary
After 15 years of senior management experience in a Fortune 500 company, Andrew has worked the last three years to help entrepreneurs and new graduates reach their full potential. With a passion for food and community, Andrew has launched an events company, an investment fund, and a consultancy business to support food business in BC.

Sabrina Chammas - L’Atelier
I'm Lebanese Canadian but I lived in the US for 9 years (between Boston and Los Angeles). I have a BA in Communications from Northeastern University and an MFA in Film Production from the University of Southern California.
I used to work out of Next Space in Venice beach, California. I chose to start at L'Atelier because I wanted a beautiful space to work from and wanted to start a community of inspiring people.

James Komenda - FREESPACE
In May of 2018, James capitalized on his 11 years of sales leadership, and passion for growing companies; developing win-win partnerships by launching his own company FreeSpace.
FreeSpace partners with the city’s most beautiful and unique restaurants during the hours in which they are not open to provide productive, inspiring and distinctive workspaces to meet the growing demand of today’s mobile workforce.

Moderator and Special Guest:

Mark Eversfield - MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST
He teaches both primary and secondary market research techniques, guest lectures on market research, and provides market research coaching for small businesses. Mark recently wrote an economic impact report on the tech sector for the Okanagan region and is the data manager for an economic development project called BizMap. After graduating from the University of Victoria with a degree in Economics and Statistics, Mark gained his experience in market research through companies such as MarCon Research, BC Stats, Western Diversification Canada, and Small Business BC.

What is BizMap?

A collaboration between Small Business BC, 16 Vancouver BIAs and the City of Vancouver, Bizmap offers a powerful tool to analyze and compare key market data at the neighborhood level, to help grow sustainable business communities.

Agenda:
5:00pm – 5:15pm – Networking
5:15pm – 5:20pm – Opening Remarks
5:20pm – 5:50pm – 30 Second Introductions from Attendees
5:50pm – 6:20pm – Panel Discussion
6:20pm – 6:40pm – BizMap & Closing Remarks
6:40pm – 7:00pm – Networking

Light food and refreshments will be provided.

Registration is $10 online and $12 at the door (payable by cash, debit or credit).

Reserve your place now, as space is limited!