Take Your Design to Market

I get dazzled by the creations of entrepreneurs and here’s an example of crazy ideas that make it to the consumer market: Monsters.
I have Colin.
Colin likes to play computer games and fret about his future.
Sounds like my younger son, except he does not worry about anything except to ask when can he get a Hoodie with pictures of his industrial Metal rock band all over it. (Horrors!)
I brought Colin home and my son loved him. At first, he wanted to punch Colin - what is it with teenage males and rough play? Anyway, today Colin is off to school with my son and will be spending time in the media lab. So I guess I may have lost Colin…
Check out Monsters at Monster Factory.

Dress for Success

Questions at speeches about your book are always interesting. At the TBDC presentation, I was asked by John Renfrew, “How do you find money for your business?” John told me he is working on a medical product and wants to attract investment dollars.
MaRS Discovery Centre is the first place to start for a new entrepreneur like John. They hold conferences and networking events with a cost of $25. Investors hang out at these events and if you collect business cards and do follow up coffee meetings, you will find out who has money for your medical product.
But looking at John, I could see he would not be taken seriously by anyone unless he got a serious makeover.
The good news is that it is quite a simple thing to achieve. The secret weapon is a navy blue blazer. Team that up with a white shirt and your credibility goes up 100%. Human beings are funny beasts and we do make judgements about people by how they look. I still have my favourite 20 year old, blue blazer which has travelled around the world with me and whenever I wear it, it lends a whole level of gravitas to me and pays off in many ways.

Business Plans are Hell

A crowd of curious entrepreneurs is always a pleasure to meet and last night, I was greeted by a group of enthusiasts when I visited the Toronto Business Development Centre. For anyone who is thinking about a start-up, this is a great place for you to start.
TBDC have business plan mentors.
Heaven!
These TBDC mentors will poke, prod and push you to get your business plan done.
Writing a business plan is hell. Doing the financial plan is worse. Most entrepreneurs love their product but the numbers and big thinking are like having to eat your vegetables. To have an outsider help you along the path to getting your plan “investor ready” is the winning way to raising capital. I have added TBDC to one of my favourite links on the side of this blog so you can find it anytime you visit.
Another key to moving your business out of your brain and basement into the real world that I discuss in my book Money Magnet, is to interact with other like minded business people and the people connected to TBDC are inspiring. They set up networking events which will prod you along. The journey of business can be lonely and getting around other people also struggling is a good motivational boost.
Try one of TBDC's networking events for yourself and get going with that business plan (and those pesky financials).

Our Chairman, Chuck Loewen, Discussed at Schulich

I was a guest speaker at Schulich School of Business last night and had to cross the Union’s picket line. It was dark, 6:30pm and I was engrossed in thought. I did vaguely notice a woman in a fuzzy sweater walk past my car but as she was not police, I did not pay her much attention.
I found out later that I was supposed to roll down my window to listen to the union’s side of the story. No wonder they made me sit there for ages!
But as I hear of Polar Capital being closed and more on Bay Street, I just wonder about this model of government workers voting themselves higher pay raises during bad times. The Union at Ford is hanging in until that old cow is dry so I guess the same for Canada.
The students made it to Bob Angel’s marketing class and I was impressed with the level of interest. Cindy asked me if marketing using a photograph of an old, white man in our brochure (our Chairman, Chuck Loewen) was a good idea. She thought it would put off people as the world is now more diverse. Maybe one day we will get beyond identity as a decision making criteria but for now it seems that it is an issue for marketing.

News - Speaking at TBDC

Networking at TBDC Wednesday November 12th
Date Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:27PM
Toronto Business Development Centre is very excited to have Jacoline Loewen, author of Money Magnet - How to Attract Investors to Your Business, as featured speaker at our November Networking event.

Money Magnet - How to Attract Investors to Your Business

Toronto Business Development Centre is very excited to have Jacoline Loewen, author of Money Magnet – How to Attract Investors to Your Business, as featured speaker at our November Networking event.

Jacoline is an experienced corporate consultant, lecturer, and writer of business strategy. She is currently a partner at Loewen & Partners where she advises owner managed companies seeking capitol - venture capitol and private equity.
Ms Loewen sits on the Advisory Board of the Women's Post and on the board of the University of Toronto, Rotman MBA IMC. She is a mentor for the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and a member of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises, Women in Capitol Markets and The Ticker Club.
Join us Wednesday November 12th at our 1071 King Street West location as Jacoline talks about what is required to get the money you need for your venture. She will discuss strategies and how to pitch potential investors for capitol. In addition Jacoline will share business development strategies and success stories.
Don't forget to bring your business cards.
Admission is free, but requires registration. You can register online, or contact our Advisor on Call at 416-345-9437 to register by telephone.

Agenda
5:00 - 5:30 PM: Registration with light refreshments
5:30 - 5:45 PM: Welcome and introductions
5:45 - 6:15 PM: Money Magnet - How to Attract Investors to Your Business - Jacoline Loewen
6:15 - 6:30 PM: Questions and Answers
6:30 - 7:00 PM: Networking continues

Click here to download flyer.