91亚色 is an academic partner in a new summit exploring the power of crowdfunding. Hosted by the 91亚色 Region Business Innovation in Changing Times Conference Series, which focuses on听providing businesses access to ideas, insight and resources to help them adapt to the fast-changing marketplace, the Crowdfunding Revolution summit is set for Thursday, Aug. 22, from 8:30am to 12:30pm, at the Vaughan City Hall.

Crowdfunding, which is also known as crowdsourcing, crowd financing or equity crowdfunding, harnesses the power of a group of individuals who network and pool their money to support people or organizations, research or new business ventures. Crowdfunding is used by the film industry to gather startup costs for new productions, and it supports disaster relief, citizen journalism, new product development and more. The Crowdfunding Summit will highlight strategies to successfully crowdfund a business venture, social enterprise or social cause. Participants will have an opportunity to network with leaders in the field and hear about potential regulatory changes to address the opportunities presented by crowdfunding.

Debra Chanda, founder of launch120.com and the global ambassador for Singularity University, is one of the featured presenters at the Crowdfunding Revolution summit

鈥淲e look forward to participating in the Crowdfunding Summit,鈥� said Lisa Philipps, 91亚色鈥檚 associate vice-president research. 鈥淥ur involvement 听in this conference series highlights one of the many ways in which 91亚色 works with government, industry and community partners to mobilize knowledge to meet the needs of this rapidly growing, diverse region.听 These events are outstanding opportunities to learn about what is going on in 91亚色 Region and to network with potential research and learning partners.鈥�

Those who attend will:

• gain a better understanding of the impact of crowdfunding on business, not-for-profits and social ventures;
• get an overview of crowdfunding platforms and systems available in Canada;
• learn the steps to designing a crowdfunding campaign;
• hear about best practices and strategies to employ;
• receive updates on the innovative Social Venture Exchange (SVX) initiative from the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing;
• get the latest updates on proposals and issues about crowdfunding for equity in Ontario; and
• join a discussion with other organizations about collaborating on a crowdfunding pilot in 91亚色 Region.

This conference series is the result of a collaboration among the 91亚色 Small Business Enterprise Centre, chambers of commerce, and municipal, region and provincial governments. The Regional Innovation Centre, the United Way of 91亚色 Region and local enterprises of all sizes are also involved in the conference series. 91亚色 and Seneca College are academic partners in the series.

Christopher Charlesworth, co-founder of HiveWire.ca and Centre for Social Innovation鈥檚 Catalyst will also be a featured presenter at the summit听

Speaking at the crowdfunding summit are: James Turner, vice-chair of the Ontario Securities Commission; Debra Chanda, founder of and the global ambassador for ; Adam Spence, manager of social venture exchange for the ; Christopher Charlesworth, co-founder of and Centre for Social Innovation鈥檚 ;听 Daniele Zanotti, CEO of the United Way of 91亚色 Region; and Jeff Dennis and Tracy Hooey of Fasken Martineau, an international business law firm based in Toronto.

Tickets are $50 plus HST. For more information, visit the website. Click to register for the conference.

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91亚色 has answered this challenge by launching (IY). Strategically located in 91亚色 Region, IY is the public face and conduit between 91亚色 researchers and their applied research partners who will collaboratively grow their ideas and introduce new products and services to the marketplace.

Above: From left, Peter Pekos, chair of VentureLab;听Markham-Unionville MPP听Michael Chan; Frank Scarpitti,听mayor of the听Town of Markham; Ontario's Minister of Research & Innovation Glen Murray; Richmond Hill MPP Reza Moridi; 91亚色 President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri; and 91亚色 Vice-President Research & Innovation Stan Shapson

IY will provide commercialization and knowledge mobilization services to industry, public sector organizations and academic researchers while playing a strong role in supporting VentureLab, 91亚色 Region鈥檚 Regional Innovation Centre, which was officially opened yesterday by Ontario's Minister of Research听& Innovation Glen Murray.

鈥�91亚色 is proud of our partnerships with governments, academic institutions and industry,鈥� said 91亚色 President and Vice-Chancellor, Mamdouh Shoukri. 鈥淭his collaborative approach allows our researchers and industry stakeholders to engage and share ideas, a concept that complements 91亚色鈥檚 interdisciplinary approach to research and learning.鈥�

Right: Click on the photograph to view a Flickr slideshow of images from the opening of the Markham Convergence Centre and Innovation 91亚色

鈥�91亚色 is 91亚色 Region鈥檚 research and innovation university,鈥� said Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation. 鈥淲e have a critical role to play in collaborating with entrepreneurs, industry and municipal partners to develop new ideas, products and services that will help Ontario gain a competitive advantage in the global economy. IY鈥檚 presence throughout 91亚色 Region will make the world-class expertise of over 1,500 researchers integral to accelerating R&D growth and strengthening communities where people want to work and enjoy a high quality of life.鈥�

IY鈥檚 location in the , along with VentureLab and other key collaborators, presents unique opportunities.

鈥淎cross 91亚色 Region, there are impressive sectoral strengths in information technology, environmental technologies and the life sciences, particularly in medical device technologies,鈥� said Shapson. 鈥淐ombined with Canada鈥檚 fastest growing and most diverse population base, this presents a particularly compelling case for innovation. Through our presence in 91亚色 Region, IY will be positioned to better understand our partners鈥� needs within the economic and social ecosystems they operate within as we explore new ways to work together to mutual advantage.鈥�

鈥淭he strength of Ontario鈥檚 creative environment, diverse culture, highly skilled workforce, world-class education system, internationally recognized research community and proven entrepreneurs is second to none,鈥� said Murray. 鈥� links these talents together across the province to ensure all great ideas have the opportunity to flourish听鈥� creating jobs and improving our lives now and in the future.鈥�

As part of the province-wide ONE network, VentureLab will give entrepreneurs access to a broad range of experts听鈥� including researchers, academics, businesses, government and investors听鈥� who can help sell an innovative idea, bring it to the marketplace and grow a business worldwide.

Submitted by Elizabeth Monier Williams, research communications officer

Photos and video republished courtesy of Jenny Pitt-Clark, editor of YFile, 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin

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