Setting New Businesses Up For Success

The 2017 SmartStart entrepreneurial training program launched this week in Airdrie with an enthusiastic group of entrepreneurs and mentors.

Over the course of eight months, entrepreneurs will complete the 100 Essential Business Skills online training from GoForth Institute, take part in 11 in-person workshops and work with a mentor to complete a business, feasibility or strategic plan.  

Sara Chamberlain from Airdrie Economic Development says the mentorship aspect is one of the keys.

"This year we've accepted 18 businesses which represents 21 entrepreneurs into the program and those people will be working with our mentors and each business will be paired with a mentor from the local business community. All of our mentors run businesses, they have years of experience, kind of boots on the ground figuring out how to do this and now they're giving back by sharing with entrepreneurs who are just getting into the business game."

SmartStart is now in it's fourth year and has helped more than 50 entrepreneurs with their new business, those that have been in operation for less than three years, or business idea. Chamberlain says the program has been a huge success.

"We have seen really great success We've seen quite a few new Airdrie businesses open as a result, some are still working on their business plan and we're expecting to see them open their doors over the next little while and then for a lot of the businesses that were in existence when they start SmartStart it's just really helped them establish a footing in their business plans and goals and they're still in existence today."  

The program has helped some of the participants realize that business really isn't for them. "We consider that a success too, because the last thing we want is somebody putting out themselves and all the risk it takes to start a business and finding out it wasn't for them," says Chamberlain.  

The idea for SmartStart was born in Airdrie and is an award winning program program delivered by the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce, City of Airdrie Economic Development and Community Futures West.

Air 106.1 is proud to be one of the media sponsors of the SmartStart program.