Description
During this such a brief elucidation relating to empowering torontos entrepreneurs.
TORONTO
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
CENTRE
Empowering
Toronto’s
Entrepreneurs
2007 Report to Stakeholders
F
or graduates of the many entrepreneurial programs delivered at the Toronto
Business Development Centre (TBDC), time spent in our classrooms, halls
and offices often marks the passage of a life transition to self-sufficiency
and entrepreneurship. More than 3,500 people have been engaged in our
programs since the Centre opened its doors in 1990 with a mandate “to nurture
the growth of new and emerging businesses in the city of Toronto.”
As one of Canada’s leaders in the field of business incubation, TBDC is a long-
established hub for entrepreneurial development. In addition to our core
business incubation programs, supported by the Toronto Economic Development
Corporation (TEDCO); we offer a range of entrepreneurial training programs with
funding from the provincial and federal governments. This past year saw TBDC
assist a record number of entrepreneurs who contributed to local economic
development and job creation.
TBDC also delivered business training focused on the needs of people with
disabilities and summer programs for youth. Today, TBDC and several of its
partners in economic development are focusing on building a virtual presence by
looking at the feasibility of new opportunities to make both business incubation
and training more accessible, particularly for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
You will see from the following pages that the delivery of all these activities
together creates a learning environment and support network that is truly greater
than the sum of its parts. It allows TBDC to serve as a catalyst in the creation of new
enterprises and new jobs in our community.
In service to our clients are our dedicated staff, business advisors, volunteers, past
graduates and public sector partners who share a passionate belief that entrepre-
neurs are a vital force in our community. We are privileged to collaborate with these
colleagues to ensure that small business will always find a good home in Toronto.
Finally, we would like to thank the Toronto Economic Development Corporation
(TEDCO), its President and CEO, Jeff Steiner, and its Manager, Incubator & Economic
Development Programs, Judy Dunstan, for their ongoing support of business
incubation in Toronto.
Ed Hobbs
General Manager
Toronto Business Development Centre
Toronto Centre Campus.
From front left: Marlene Burke, Laurie Fleming,
Laura Booth, Danny Brennan, Katherine Roos,
Shif Bitew, Ann Parkitny, Sally Wilkie, Joan White,
Van Truong, Greg McCormick, Cheryl Mulgrave,
Maureen Kelly, Jim Pullen, Michael Donahue,
Rene Morrison, Christine Porter.
A M E S S A G E
T O O U R C O M M U N I T Y
In service to help build
new and emerging businesses:
TBDC staff and advisors
in our two locations.
Toronto West Campus.
From front left: Elizabeth Verwey, Barbora Dudinska,
Mike Mouradian, Lynn Tremblay, Richard Sakanashi,
Cheryl Mulgrave, Michael Donahue, Bob Conway,
Danny Brennan, Del Vopni, Sheryll Reid, Ted Barton.
Role is to nurture entrepreneurs
A business incubator is like a laboratory of commerce,
where entrepreneurs can test ideas and strategies
against the expertise of seasoned advisors and peers.
Unlike a business centre, which simply provides
affordable office space or shared business services to
clients, an incubator also provides skills development
and mentoring through residency programs, manage-
ment training, informal networking and regular
progress reviews. The goal is to provide a nurturing
environment – in residence or through training –
where small business entrepreneurs can build a foundation for viable and
sustainable enterprises that graduate into our community, contribute to the
tax base and create jobs.
A new entrepreneur can count on an incubator’s resources for hands-on advice
and guidance on business planning, business management issues, marketing,
finance and technology, as well as finding sources of venture capital. They
also benefit from being close to a network of peers and on-site advisors;
an entrepreneurial environment which encourages the informal exchange of
ideas and experiences.
Ultimately, the goal of a business incubator is not just to help launch new
ventures; it is to produce confident graduates who are well-versed in business
planning and secure in their knowledge to independently run a business within
two or three years of start-up. Their contribution helps diversify the local
economy, accelerate job growth and generate a significant return on investment
for each economic development dollar invested in Business Incubation at the
Toronto Business Development Centre.
I N S I D E A B U S I N E S S
I N C U B A T O R
Both locations of the Toronto Business
Development Centre became summer
headquarters in 2006 for enterprising
youth accepted into the Province of
Ontario’s Summer Company Program.
TBDC provided business training and
mentoring to young entrepreneurs
through this program funded through
the Ministry of Small Business
and Entrepreneurship.
One fine example of a participant in
this program is Jesse Wadon who
commercialized a simple fix to a common
four-legged problem experienced by
Toronto residents – keeping raccoons
out of green recycling boxes.
His business, Rocky Raccoon Proofing
(www.rockyraccoonproofing.com),
installs “raccoon-proof” lid locks
which have successfully tested against
the onslaught of the rowdy raccoons
of High Park.
@TBDC
TBDC successfully inaugurated the
first year of operation of its second
location at 105 Judge Road.
The Toronto West Campus allows TBDC
to accommodate Business Incubation
Program clients and to expand delivery
of the Ontario Self-Employment
Benefits Program.
L E A D I N G T H E B E N C H M A R K
Results of a first-ever survey of business incubators published by
Statistics Canada in 2006 indicate that the Toronto Business
Development Centre far surpassed the national averages during the
previous year in the following areas –
• Revenue Generated by Clients: Well in excess of $ 5,000,000
• Number of Client Businesses Served: Over 350
• Job Creation by Clients : Over 400
N
e
w
E N T R E P R E N E U R S I N T H E C O M M U N I T Y
Not child’s play
When Libby Lund-Pedersen applied
for what is now known as the Ontario
Self-Employment Benefits (OSEB)
Program in early 2005, her idea was
to establish a daycare centre in one of
Toronto’s up-and-coming neighbour-
hoods, King West Village, in response
to a growing need among the area’s
young professionals. It also happened to be near the vicinity
of the TBDC’s King Street West location, in a building that
Lund-Pedersen had often passed by but “never knew what
it offered,” she says.
Lund-Pedersen became a regular at TBDC, working out
the details of her daycare business: “I was there all the time:
I think I used every single service that was available,” she says.
At the time, she was in transition from a career as a public
relations executive to self-employment. Lund-Pedersen says
she’s not sure she would have followed through with
her plans if it weren’t for the influence of TBDC. “Having the
support of the training program behind me made me feel
like there was no turning back, whenever anything got me
discouraged about starting this business,” she says.
Challenges included meeting stringent provincial licensing
requirements and finding certified childcare staff.
“It was a place that really helped in building confidence, and
my business advisor was wonderful to work with,” she says.
Today, after a year in operation, Lund-Pedersen’s new venture,
The Downtown Kids Academy (www.downtownkids.com) at
905 King St. West, is bustling with active toddlers. She leases
a 3,000-foot, light-filled space and adjoining courtyard. With a
current staff of six, the daycare has already earned recognition
as one of “T.O.’s best daycares” by the National Post.
Nurturing innovation
Another important aspect of business incubation and training
is to identify entrepreneurs at the leading edge of developing
new and innovative products and services.
In the technology field, one of TBDC’s all-time
success stories is graduate Chris Carder, founder
of e-mail marketing company ThinData Inc.
(www.thindata.com). In 1995 he was convinced
that the Internet was going to be a valuable channel
for companies to connect with their preferred
customers. His business offered effective strategies to build
customer loyalty and deliver e-mail newsletters by subscrip-
tion – messages people would find informative and would
enjoy receiving. If you’ve ever signed up for e-mail news from
Mirvish Productions, Aeroplan or Delta Hotels, for example,
it’s thanks to ThinData which counts them all as clients.
“I always knew I would be able to do this, but I wasn’t quite
sure it would get this big,” says Carder, whose company has
grown to become Canada’s market leader in permission-based
e-mail marketing. He competes with the top international firms
for contracts and currently employs 55 people.
“Much of the difference between people who have a great
idea, and people who can realize it as a successful business is
the ability to find great mentors. The Toronto Business
Development Center was, for me, that great source of mentor-
ship,” says Carder. So strong is his belief in the value of
mentoring, he serves on the TBDC Board of Directors to support
the organization’s activities.
ThinData has more than doubled in size over the last two years
alone, and relocated to expanded office space on St. Clair Ave.
East. The company serves clients all over the world and is
staffed with a wide variety of people who have top-level
marketing and technology skills; from web developers to
project managers and strategists.
Photo: Yvan Marston
Business ideas take flight Business ideas take flight
TBDC grads create jobs, enrich the community
TBDC consistently hears from successful graduate entrepreneurs, both old and new, who share news
about the progress of their businesses and reflect on how their experiences at the Toronto Business
Development Centre shaped their entrepreneurial journeys.
From innovative technology companies to consumer product designers to in-demand social services,
TBDC’s graduates are proud business owners who create jobs locally, pay taxes in the community and
have their eyes set on growth and leadership in their field.
Start-up springboard
Not everybody who approaches TBDC’s Business Incubation
Program for assistance is starting from scratch. The Centre has
also been a valuable stepping stone for owners of emerging
businesses looking to grow their operations to the next level.
For Kaleem Ahmad, owner of con-
sulting and software company Web
Impact Inc. (www.web-impact.com),
the advisory resources and office
space available at TBDC were a
springboard for business develop-
ment plans.
“TBDC is not only there for start-ups,” says Ahmad. “It also
serves emerging companies, and we were there through a
period of early-stage business growth,” he says. At any given
time, there may be up to forty or more entrepreneurs in resi-
dence, locating their businesses in TBDC’s facilities. Not only
can they tap into the expertise of the Centre’s on-site business
consultants, instructors and volunteers, these entrepreneurs
often learn from each other by sharing information and moral
support with their neighbours in this unique “entrepreneurial”
community.
Web Impact was a resident business in the Centre between
2001 and 2004, while Ahmad refined his business model and
grew his business operation. “I would credit TBDC on the value
of its business and consulting advice, for sure,” says Ahmad,
who now leases office space on Atlantic Avenue in the city’s
reinvented Liberty Village district. The company now serves
Fortune 500 companies such as Honeywell and Fujitsu and
customers like the Business Development Bank of Canada, and
has seen sales grow 1,000% over the last five years, says
Ahmad. Web Impact employs programmers, software applica-
tion developers, sales and marketing staff, and technical
writers, among others.
Another former client who similarly outgrew space at the King
Street West Centre – right according to plan – is Daniel
Merizen, owner of Onigo Imports (www.onigo.com), a design-
er and wholesaler of home décor fabrics and fashion acces-
sories. In 1997, the biology major found himself out of work
but eligible to enrol in what is now known as the Ontario Self-
Employment Benefits (OSEB) Program, delivered by TBDC.
Once he finished the program, he
applied to become a participant in
the Business Incubation Program
to get things rolling. “The busi-
ness incubator was really great.
They helped me to get a line of
credit and set up a business plan
with proper cash flow projections,” says Merizen. Efforts to
build a predominantly US retail clientele for his products have
helped propel the business to the point where he was able to
graduate from TBDC and buy a 5,000-sq.-ft. warehouse near
Dupont and Lansdowne where he now employs four
people.
“They were fantastic in every way,” says Merizen of the TBDC
advisors who guided him. “The Centre allowed me to have a
stepping stone, especially to get the credit I needed in place
and have support at the very beginning.”
Test of time
One successful Toronto business executive can look back at
TBDC with the fond memory of having been one of the first
incubator residents in the King Street West building in the
early 1990s.
“I think I was the third client of the Centre. The fees for the
Business Incubation Program, which include use of a small
office were very affordable,” says Lorice
Haig, who is now president and CEO of
Xenex Enterprises Inc. (www.xenex.ca), a
business process and technology specialist
that employs seven full-time staff and up to
50 developers to create custom software for
companies. Haig has long since moved the
company he founded into its own space,
currently a 2,000-sq.-ft. office on Rexdale Blvd. He now shares
his business acumen as active member of the Etobicoke
Chamber of Commerce, as chair of its Advisory Committee.
All these years later, Haig remains passionate about what
his experience with TBDC and its advisors brought to him:
“The entrepreneurial spirit lives within the walls of that place,”
he says.
“Much of the difference between people who have a great idea, and people who can
realize it as a successful business is the ability to find great mentors.
The Toronto Business Development Center was, for me, that great mentorship.”
AUDIO EXPERTISE: David Drage and Heather
Pajuluoma are co-owners of Renegade Audio
(www.renegadeaudio.ca) which specializes in
post-production audio editing for film and televi-
sion. They are specialists in adding sound
effects and editing dialogue and are also highly
regarded for their work in animation. Recently,
Renegade Audio has also branched out into
forensic audio work for the legal field.
FIT AND FASHIONABLE: Fashion designer Brenda
Beddome has a loyal following of women who love the
style of her urban clothing collection not just for its
look, but its comfort, thanks to her special attention to
cut and fabric. This business-minded designer also
offers a unique level of service to her retail distributors
across Canada, providing options to customize details
and fabrics for customers.
KNITS TO SUDS: Jacqueline Sava founded her line
of hats and fine knitwear with Jacq’s-Hats several
years ago. Now, from a studio at TBDC’s King Street
West location, she’s broadened her enterprise under
the banner of BRidGE Industrial Design, (www.soak-
wash.com), a design and product development studio.
A new product launched in 2005 called SOAK was
developed to fill a perceived niche among knitters and
crafters looking for a delicate hand wash for fine knits.
An effective marketing campaign led to rave media
reviews, and the line is now carried in stores across
North America.
UPPER-CASE TYPE: Alan Morris of Type Morris (www.type-
morris.com), works with companies and organizations to
produce printed promotional materials and marketing
pieces to effectively connect with customers. Not only is he
a resident entrepreneur, Morris has also been a guest
speaker at networking events – demonstrating how eager
many residents and grads are to share their special area of
expertise with others at the Centre.
B U S I N E S S E S I N R E S I D E N C E
SEE MORE ONLINE:
Visit our website at www.tbdc.com for links to all these companies and
to see a directory of Business Incubation Program clients.
Inside the
Incubator
Inside the
Incubator
Business Incubation is the focus of
activity at the Toronto Business
Development Centre, which accepts
applications from new and emerging
businesses to become resident clients.
Business advisory support, starter
office suites and access to valuable
business linkages are available in two
locations for the benefit of early stage
business ventures. Incubator residents
receive assistance with business plan
development, marketing, operations
and financial management from TBDC.
Program support is flexible to suit the
needs of early stage companies.
Plus, the Centre’s collegial environment
and shared resources encourages
networking with resident
entrepreneurs and instructors.
Here’s just a small sampling of the
variety of people and their businesses
that currently reside inside the city
of Toronto’s Business Incubator:
The Toronto Business Development Centre “graduated” one of
its own home-grown training programs in 2006, recognizing
the entrepreneurial dreams of people with disabilities. The BIZ
Futures Program – Self Employment & E-Commerce Skills
Development for Persons with Disabilities officially moved
from pilot project to become an ongoing offering.
For over four years, this program has positively served the
needs of people with disabilities who aspire to self-sufficiency
through self-employment. Graduates from the program have
successfully started businesses that range from commercial
photography to producing art cards to delivering holistic
healthcare and much more.
The BIZ Futures pilot was launched in 2003 as a funding part-
nership with the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social
Services Ontario Disability Supports Program (ODSP). Since
then, links were also formed with a variety of organizations,
including The Toronto Consortium of Employment Services and
the Metro Association of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, to
support the success of participating entrepreneurs.
A passion for art has become a viable enterprise in the hands
of Ashley Proctor, a young entrepreneur and graduate of the
BIZ Futures program in 2006. Proctor was injured in a road
accident five years ago while riding her bicycle to the Ontario
College of Art and Design, as a student. She
has since struggled with chronic pain and
limited mobility, making her eligible for the
Ontario Disability Support Program.
However she found the business guidance
at TBDC to independently launch Creative
Blueprint (www.creativeblueprint.ca), an
artists’ representation agency that now has six clients. “The
program’s advisors really understood what I needed, and
where I most needed help,” says Proctor, whose disabilities
are not obviously visible, so not always easily recognized.
Another 2006 BIZ Futures graduate, Maria Cruz, knows what a
difference the right tools can make to people who face physical
challenges in daily life. After learning about the program
through the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB),
she enrolled in TBDC’s entrepreneurial training program with
the idea of designing assistive devices.
“The instructors really stick with you. They
helped me with my business plan, and the
idea came up to start with a website as a
way of developing my market,” says Cruz.
And so, www.access-r-ease.com was
born, a portal with a wide range of helpful
devices with room to grow.
A C C E S S I B L E P R O G R A M S
SOURCES OF FUNDING
COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS 18%
ENTREPRENEURIAL
TRAINING
PROGRAMS 59%
TORONTO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
(TEDCO) 11%
INCUBATION
ACTIVITIES 12%
APPLICATION OF FUNDS
ENTREPRENEURIAL
TRAINING
PROGRAMS 57%
INCUBATION
ACTIVITIES 32%
The Centre manages multiple training and incubation mandates
Total New Jobs Created 2004 2005 2006
Entrepreneurial Training Programs 279 306 405
New Incubator Companies 28 29 35
Continuing Incubator Companies 57 56 58
New Graduates from the Incubator 21 18 22
Total NEWJOBS 385 409 520
JOB CREATION
TBDC has launched a steady stream of job creation
COMMUNITY-BASED
PROGRAMS 11%
Milestone year for program
Milestone year for program
More support for entrepreneurs with disabilities
The Toronto Business Development Centre has been recognized at home and internationally for
its achievements in helping entrepreneurs succeed and as a role-model in the field of business
incubation. Named “Incubator of the Year” in 2003 by the U.S.-based National Business Incubation
Association, the Centre has built success in three main streams of activity:
1. BUSINESS INCUBATION
Business incubation is a business support process that accelerates the successful development of
new and early-stage companies by providing entrepreneurs with access to an array of strategically
valuable resources. Business advisory support, appropriate office space, meeting rooms, strategic
linkages and the opportunity to participate in a dynamic entrepreneurial community are all part of the
offering.
Business Incubation Program participants and graduates commercialize innovative technologies and
services, create jobs, pay taxes and strengthen local economies.
2. ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING
The Toronto Business Development Centre delivers streams of business training geared to the needs
of various entrepreneur groups.
• The Ontario Self-Employment Benefits Program (OSEB) supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Training,
Colleges and Universities and funded in part by the Government of Canada, offers business
training and advisory assistance to eligible entrepreneurs.
• For entrepreneurs on social assistance, the Ontario Works Self-Employment Development Program
funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, assists with start-up of new ventures.
• Through the Summer Company program, enterprising students aged 15 to 29, receive hands-on
business training, mentoring and financial awards to start and grow a successful business.
This program is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
3. COMMUNITY OUTREACH
TBDC hosts networking events, trade exhibits and training sessions tailored to specific needs.
• On a monthly basis, a series of Small Business Seminars introduce management principles and the
business planning process. These seminars, open to the public, are an ideal first step for anyone
thinking of starting a new business venture.
• The BIZ Futures Program – Self Employment and E-Commerce Skills Development Program for
Persons with Disabilities provides access to entrepreneurial training to people with disabilities,
in a program sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services Ontario
Disability Supports Program (ODSP).
• Marketing and Sales Clinics are held to accommodate the needs of entrepreneurs with a disability
growing their businesses.
T O R O N T O ’ S B U S I N E S S I N C U B A T O R
TORONTO BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Nurturing the growth of new and emerging
businesses in Toronto since 1990.
1071 KING STREET WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO M6K 3K2
TORONTO WEST CAMPUS
105 JUDGE ROAD, TORONTO, ONTARIO M8Z 5B5
(416) 345-9437 E-MAIL: [email protected]
WWW.TBDC.COM
Board of Directors - 2007
Chair
Chethan Lakshman
Senior Advisor
Corporate Communications
RBC Financial Group
President
John O’Grady
Economist
Treasurer
Mario Cordeiro
The Dain Group
General Manager
Ed Hobbs
General Manager
Toronto Business Development Centre
Corporate Secretary
Cheryl Mulgrave
Administration Manager
Toronto Business Development Centre
Councillor Case Ootes
City of Toronto
Chris Carder
President, Thindata
Catherine Doncaster
Creative Director, Cat Creative
John Martin
Manager, Entrepreneurship
and Youth Partnerships
Ministry of Small Business
and Entrepreneurship
Glenn Pincombe
President, Touristics International
Brian Shell
Shell Jacobs Lawyers
David Smith
Vice President, Digital
Mandrake Management Consultants
James B. Warren
Vice President, Strategic Relationships
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
This Report to Stakeholders is published
to inform our clients, community
partners and the municipal, provincial
and federal agencies we collaborate
with to nurture small businesses
and self-employment in Toronto.
It complements our annual financial
statements, which provide an account
of our financial performance.
Supported
by TEDCO
doc_977181782.pdf
During this such a brief elucidation relating to empowering torontos entrepreneurs.
TORONTO
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
CENTRE
Empowering
Toronto’s
Entrepreneurs
2007 Report to Stakeholders
F
or graduates of the many entrepreneurial programs delivered at the Toronto
Business Development Centre (TBDC), time spent in our classrooms, halls
and offices often marks the passage of a life transition to self-sufficiency
and entrepreneurship. More than 3,500 people have been engaged in our
programs since the Centre opened its doors in 1990 with a mandate “to nurture
the growth of new and emerging businesses in the city of Toronto.”
As one of Canada’s leaders in the field of business incubation, TBDC is a long-
established hub for entrepreneurial development. In addition to our core
business incubation programs, supported by the Toronto Economic Development
Corporation (TEDCO); we offer a range of entrepreneurial training programs with
funding from the provincial and federal governments. This past year saw TBDC
assist a record number of entrepreneurs who contributed to local economic
development and job creation.
TBDC also delivered business training focused on the needs of people with
disabilities and summer programs for youth. Today, TBDC and several of its
partners in economic development are focusing on building a virtual presence by
looking at the feasibility of new opportunities to make both business incubation
and training more accessible, particularly for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
You will see from the following pages that the delivery of all these activities
together creates a learning environment and support network that is truly greater
than the sum of its parts. It allows TBDC to serve as a catalyst in the creation of new
enterprises and new jobs in our community.
In service to our clients are our dedicated staff, business advisors, volunteers, past
graduates and public sector partners who share a passionate belief that entrepre-
neurs are a vital force in our community. We are privileged to collaborate with these
colleagues to ensure that small business will always find a good home in Toronto.
Finally, we would like to thank the Toronto Economic Development Corporation
(TEDCO), its President and CEO, Jeff Steiner, and its Manager, Incubator & Economic
Development Programs, Judy Dunstan, for their ongoing support of business
incubation in Toronto.
Ed Hobbs
General Manager
Toronto Business Development Centre
Toronto Centre Campus.
From front left: Marlene Burke, Laurie Fleming,
Laura Booth, Danny Brennan, Katherine Roos,
Shif Bitew, Ann Parkitny, Sally Wilkie, Joan White,
Van Truong, Greg McCormick, Cheryl Mulgrave,
Maureen Kelly, Jim Pullen, Michael Donahue,
Rene Morrison, Christine Porter.
A M E S S A G E
T O O U R C O M M U N I T Y
In service to help build
new and emerging businesses:
TBDC staff and advisors
in our two locations.
Toronto West Campus.
From front left: Elizabeth Verwey, Barbora Dudinska,
Mike Mouradian, Lynn Tremblay, Richard Sakanashi,
Cheryl Mulgrave, Michael Donahue, Bob Conway,
Danny Brennan, Del Vopni, Sheryll Reid, Ted Barton.
Role is to nurture entrepreneurs
A business incubator is like a laboratory of commerce,
where entrepreneurs can test ideas and strategies
against the expertise of seasoned advisors and peers.
Unlike a business centre, which simply provides
affordable office space or shared business services to
clients, an incubator also provides skills development
and mentoring through residency programs, manage-
ment training, informal networking and regular
progress reviews. The goal is to provide a nurturing
environment – in residence or through training –
where small business entrepreneurs can build a foundation for viable and
sustainable enterprises that graduate into our community, contribute to the
tax base and create jobs.
A new entrepreneur can count on an incubator’s resources for hands-on advice
and guidance on business planning, business management issues, marketing,
finance and technology, as well as finding sources of venture capital. They
also benefit from being close to a network of peers and on-site advisors;
an entrepreneurial environment which encourages the informal exchange of
ideas and experiences.
Ultimately, the goal of a business incubator is not just to help launch new
ventures; it is to produce confident graduates who are well-versed in business
planning and secure in their knowledge to independently run a business within
two or three years of start-up. Their contribution helps diversify the local
economy, accelerate job growth and generate a significant return on investment
for each economic development dollar invested in Business Incubation at the
Toronto Business Development Centre.
I N S I D E A B U S I N E S S
I N C U B A T O R
Both locations of the Toronto Business
Development Centre became summer
headquarters in 2006 for enterprising
youth accepted into the Province of
Ontario’s Summer Company Program.
TBDC provided business training and
mentoring to young entrepreneurs
through this program funded through
the Ministry of Small Business
and Entrepreneurship.
One fine example of a participant in
this program is Jesse Wadon who
commercialized a simple fix to a common
four-legged problem experienced by
Toronto residents – keeping raccoons
out of green recycling boxes.
His business, Rocky Raccoon Proofing
(www.rockyraccoonproofing.com),
installs “raccoon-proof” lid locks
which have successfully tested against
the onslaught of the rowdy raccoons
of High Park.
@TBDC
TBDC successfully inaugurated the
first year of operation of its second
location at 105 Judge Road.
The Toronto West Campus allows TBDC
to accommodate Business Incubation
Program clients and to expand delivery
of the Ontario Self-Employment
Benefits Program.
L E A D I N G T H E B E N C H M A R K
Results of a first-ever survey of business incubators published by
Statistics Canada in 2006 indicate that the Toronto Business
Development Centre far surpassed the national averages during the
previous year in the following areas –
• Revenue Generated by Clients: Well in excess of $ 5,000,000
• Number of Client Businesses Served: Over 350
• Job Creation by Clients : Over 400
N
e
w
E N T R E P R E N E U R S I N T H E C O M M U N I T Y
Not child’s play
When Libby Lund-Pedersen applied
for what is now known as the Ontario
Self-Employment Benefits (OSEB)
Program in early 2005, her idea was
to establish a daycare centre in one of
Toronto’s up-and-coming neighbour-
hoods, King West Village, in response
to a growing need among the area’s
young professionals. It also happened to be near the vicinity
of the TBDC’s King Street West location, in a building that
Lund-Pedersen had often passed by but “never knew what
it offered,” she says.
Lund-Pedersen became a regular at TBDC, working out
the details of her daycare business: “I was there all the time:
I think I used every single service that was available,” she says.
At the time, she was in transition from a career as a public
relations executive to self-employment. Lund-Pedersen says
she’s not sure she would have followed through with
her plans if it weren’t for the influence of TBDC. “Having the
support of the training program behind me made me feel
like there was no turning back, whenever anything got me
discouraged about starting this business,” she says.
Challenges included meeting stringent provincial licensing
requirements and finding certified childcare staff.
“It was a place that really helped in building confidence, and
my business advisor was wonderful to work with,” she says.
Today, after a year in operation, Lund-Pedersen’s new venture,
The Downtown Kids Academy (www.downtownkids.com) at
905 King St. West, is bustling with active toddlers. She leases
a 3,000-foot, light-filled space and adjoining courtyard. With a
current staff of six, the daycare has already earned recognition
as one of “T.O.’s best daycares” by the National Post.
Nurturing innovation
Another important aspect of business incubation and training
is to identify entrepreneurs at the leading edge of developing
new and innovative products and services.
In the technology field, one of TBDC’s all-time
success stories is graduate Chris Carder, founder
of e-mail marketing company ThinData Inc.
(www.thindata.com). In 1995 he was convinced
that the Internet was going to be a valuable channel
for companies to connect with their preferred
customers. His business offered effective strategies to build
customer loyalty and deliver e-mail newsletters by subscrip-
tion – messages people would find informative and would
enjoy receiving. If you’ve ever signed up for e-mail news from
Mirvish Productions, Aeroplan or Delta Hotels, for example,
it’s thanks to ThinData which counts them all as clients.
“I always knew I would be able to do this, but I wasn’t quite
sure it would get this big,” says Carder, whose company has
grown to become Canada’s market leader in permission-based
e-mail marketing. He competes with the top international firms
for contracts and currently employs 55 people.
“Much of the difference between people who have a great
idea, and people who can realize it as a successful business is
the ability to find great mentors. The Toronto Business
Development Center was, for me, that great source of mentor-
ship,” says Carder. So strong is his belief in the value of
mentoring, he serves on the TBDC Board of Directors to support
the organization’s activities.
ThinData has more than doubled in size over the last two years
alone, and relocated to expanded office space on St. Clair Ave.
East. The company serves clients all over the world and is
staffed with a wide variety of people who have top-level
marketing and technology skills; from web developers to
project managers and strategists.
Photo: Yvan Marston
Business ideas take flight Business ideas take flight
TBDC grads create jobs, enrich the community
TBDC consistently hears from successful graduate entrepreneurs, both old and new, who share news
about the progress of their businesses and reflect on how their experiences at the Toronto Business
Development Centre shaped their entrepreneurial journeys.
From innovative technology companies to consumer product designers to in-demand social services,
TBDC’s graduates are proud business owners who create jobs locally, pay taxes in the community and
have their eyes set on growth and leadership in their field.
Start-up springboard
Not everybody who approaches TBDC’s Business Incubation
Program for assistance is starting from scratch. The Centre has
also been a valuable stepping stone for owners of emerging
businesses looking to grow their operations to the next level.
For Kaleem Ahmad, owner of con-
sulting and software company Web
Impact Inc. (www.web-impact.com),
the advisory resources and office
space available at TBDC were a
springboard for business develop-
ment plans.
“TBDC is not only there for start-ups,” says Ahmad. “It also
serves emerging companies, and we were there through a
period of early-stage business growth,” he says. At any given
time, there may be up to forty or more entrepreneurs in resi-
dence, locating their businesses in TBDC’s facilities. Not only
can they tap into the expertise of the Centre’s on-site business
consultants, instructors and volunteers, these entrepreneurs
often learn from each other by sharing information and moral
support with their neighbours in this unique “entrepreneurial”
community.
Web Impact was a resident business in the Centre between
2001 and 2004, while Ahmad refined his business model and
grew his business operation. “I would credit TBDC on the value
of its business and consulting advice, for sure,” says Ahmad,
who now leases office space on Atlantic Avenue in the city’s
reinvented Liberty Village district. The company now serves
Fortune 500 companies such as Honeywell and Fujitsu and
customers like the Business Development Bank of Canada, and
has seen sales grow 1,000% over the last five years, says
Ahmad. Web Impact employs programmers, software applica-
tion developers, sales and marketing staff, and technical
writers, among others.
Another former client who similarly outgrew space at the King
Street West Centre – right according to plan – is Daniel
Merizen, owner of Onigo Imports (www.onigo.com), a design-
er and wholesaler of home décor fabrics and fashion acces-
sories. In 1997, the biology major found himself out of work
but eligible to enrol in what is now known as the Ontario Self-
Employment Benefits (OSEB) Program, delivered by TBDC.
Once he finished the program, he
applied to become a participant in
the Business Incubation Program
to get things rolling. “The busi-
ness incubator was really great.
They helped me to get a line of
credit and set up a business plan
with proper cash flow projections,” says Merizen. Efforts to
build a predominantly US retail clientele for his products have
helped propel the business to the point where he was able to
graduate from TBDC and buy a 5,000-sq.-ft. warehouse near
Dupont and Lansdowne where he now employs four
people.
“They were fantastic in every way,” says Merizen of the TBDC
advisors who guided him. “The Centre allowed me to have a
stepping stone, especially to get the credit I needed in place
and have support at the very beginning.”
Test of time
One successful Toronto business executive can look back at
TBDC with the fond memory of having been one of the first
incubator residents in the King Street West building in the
early 1990s.
“I think I was the third client of the Centre. The fees for the
Business Incubation Program, which include use of a small
office were very affordable,” says Lorice
Haig, who is now president and CEO of
Xenex Enterprises Inc. (www.xenex.ca), a
business process and technology specialist
that employs seven full-time staff and up to
50 developers to create custom software for
companies. Haig has long since moved the
company he founded into its own space,
currently a 2,000-sq.-ft. office on Rexdale Blvd. He now shares
his business acumen as active member of the Etobicoke
Chamber of Commerce, as chair of its Advisory Committee.
All these years later, Haig remains passionate about what
his experience with TBDC and its advisors brought to him:
“The entrepreneurial spirit lives within the walls of that place,”
he says.
“Much of the difference between people who have a great idea, and people who can
realize it as a successful business is the ability to find great mentors.
The Toronto Business Development Center was, for me, that great mentorship.”
AUDIO EXPERTISE: David Drage and Heather
Pajuluoma are co-owners of Renegade Audio
(www.renegadeaudio.ca) which specializes in
post-production audio editing for film and televi-
sion. They are specialists in adding sound
effects and editing dialogue and are also highly
regarded for their work in animation. Recently,
Renegade Audio has also branched out into
forensic audio work for the legal field.
FIT AND FASHIONABLE: Fashion designer Brenda
Beddome has a loyal following of women who love the
style of her urban clothing collection not just for its
look, but its comfort, thanks to her special attention to
cut and fabric. This business-minded designer also
offers a unique level of service to her retail distributors
across Canada, providing options to customize details
and fabrics for customers.
KNITS TO SUDS: Jacqueline Sava founded her line
of hats and fine knitwear with Jacq’s-Hats several
years ago. Now, from a studio at TBDC’s King Street
West location, she’s broadened her enterprise under
the banner of BRidGE Industrial Design, (www.soak-
wash.com), a design and product development studio.
A new product launched in 2005 called SOAK was
developed to fill a perceived niche among knitters and
crafters looking for a delicate hand wash for fine knits.
An effective marketing campaign led to rave media
reviews, and the line is now carried in stores across
North America.
UPPER-CASE TYPE: Alan Morris of Type Morris (www.type-
morris.com), works with companies and organizations to
produce printed promotional materials and marketing
pieces to effectively connect with customers. Not only is he
a resident entrepreneur, Morris has also been a guest
speaker at networking events – demonstrating how eager
many residents and grads are to share their special area of
expertise with others at the Centre.
B U S I N E S S E S I N R E S I D E N C E
SEE MORE ONLINE:
Visit our website at www.tbdc.com for links to all these companies and
to see a directory of Business Incubation Program clients.
Inside the
Incubator
Inside the
Incubator
Business Incubation is the focus of
activity at the Toronto Business
Development Centre, which accepts
applications from new and emerging
businesses to become resident clients.
Business advisory support, starter
office suites and access to valuable
business linkages are available in two
locations for the benefit of early stage
business ventures. Incubator residents
receive assistance with business plan
development, marketing, operations
and financial management from TBDC.
Program support is flexible to suit the
needs of early stage companies.
Plus, the Centre’s collegial environment
and shared resources encourages
networking with resident
entrepreneurs and instructors.
Here’s just a small sampling of the
variety of people and their businesses
that currently reside inside the city
of Toronto’s Business Incubator:
The Toronto Business Development Centre “graduated” one of
its own home-grown training programs in 2006, recognizing
the entrepreneurial dreams of people with disabilities. The BIZ
Futures Program – Self Employment & E-Commerce Skills
Development for Persons with Disabilities officially moved
from pilot project to become an ongoing offering.
For over four years, this program has positively served the
needs of people with disabilities who aspire to self-sufficiency
through self-employment. Graduates from the program have
successfully started businesses that range from commercial
photography to producing art cards to delivering holistic
healthcare and much more.
The BIZ Futures pilot was launched in 2003 as a funding part-
nership with the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social
Services Ontario Disability Supports Program (ODSP). Since
then, links were also formed with a variety of organizations,
including The Toronto Consortium of Employment Services and
the Metro Association of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, to
support the success of participating entrepreneurs.
A passion for art has become a viable enterprise in the hands
of Ashley Proctor, a young entrepreneur and graduate of the
BIZ Futures program in 2006. Proctor was injured in a road
accident five years ago while riding her bicycle to the Ontario
College of Art and Design, as a student. She
has since struggled with chronic pain and
limited mobility, making her eligible for the
Ontario Disability Support Program.
However she found the business guidance
at TBDC to independently launch Creative
Blueprint (www.creativeblueprint.ca), an
artists’ representation agency that now has six clients. “The
program’s advisors really understood what I needed, and
where I most needed help,” says Proctor, whose disabilities
are not obviously visible, so not always easily recognized.
Another 2006 BIZ Futures graduate, Maria Cruz, knows what a
difference the right tools can make to people who face physical
challenges in daily life. After learning about the program
through the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB),
she enrolled in TBDC’s entrepreneurial training program with
the idea of designing assistive devices.
“The instructors really stick with you. They
helped me with my business plan, and the
idea came up to start with a website as a
way of developing my market,” says Cruz.
And so, www.access-r-ease.com was
born, a portal with a wide range of helpful
devices with room to grow.
A C C E S S I B L E P R O G R A M S
SOURCES OF FUNDING
COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS 18%
ENTREPRENEURIAL
TRAINING
PROGRAMS 59%
TORONTO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
(TEDCO) 11%
INCUBATION
ACTIVITIES 12%
APPLICATION OF FUNDS
ENTREPRENEURIAL
TRAINING
PROGRAMS 57%
INCUBATION
ACTIVITIES 32%
The Centre manages multiple training and incubation mandates
Total New Jobs Created 2004 2005 2006
Entrepreneurial Training Programs 279 306 405
New Incubator Companies 28 29 35
Continuing Incubator Companies 57 56 58
New Graduates from the Incubator 21 18 22
Total NEWJOBS 385 409 520
JOB CREATION
TBDC has launched a steady stream of job creation
COMMUNITY-BASED
PROGRAMS 11%
Milestone year for program
Milestone year for program
More support for entrepreneurs with disabilities
The Toronto Business Development Centre has been recognized at home and internationally for
its achievements in helping entrepreneurs succeed and as a role-model in the field of business
incubation. Named “Incubator of the Year” in 2003 by the U.S.-based National Business Incubation
Association, the Centre has built success in three main streams of activity:
1. BUSINESS INCUBATION
Business incubation is a business support process that accelerates the successful development of
new and early-stage companies by providing entrepreneurs with access to an array of strategically
valuable resources. Business advisory support, appropriate office space, meeting rooms, strategic
linkages and the opportunity to participate in a dynamic entrepreneurial community are all part of the
offering.
Business Incubation Program participants and graduates commercialize innovative technologies and
services, create jobs, pay taxes and strengthen local economies.
2. ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING
The Toronto Business Development Centre delivers streams of business training geared to the needs
of various entrepreneur groups.
• The Ontario Self-Employment Benefits Program (OSEB) supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Training,
Colleges and Universities and funded in part by the Government of Canada, offers business
training and advisory assistance to eligible entrepreneurs.
• For entrepreneurs on social assistance, the Ontario Works Self-Employment Development Program
funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, assists with start-up of new ventures.
• Through the Summer Company program, enterprising students aged 15 to 29, receive hands-on
business training, mentoring and financial awards to start and grow a successful business.
This program is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
3. COMMUNITY OUTREACH
TBDC hosts networking events, trade exhibits and training sessions tailored to specific needs.
• On a monthly basis, a series of Small Business Seminars introduce management principles and the
business planning process. These seminars, open to the public, are an ideal first step for anyone
thinking of starting a new business venture.
• The BIZ Futures Program – Self Employment and E-Commerce Skills Development Program for
Persons with Disabilities provides access to entrepreneurial training to people with disabilities,
in a program sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services Ontario
Disability Supports Program (ODSP).
• Marketing and Sales Clinics are held to accommodate the needs of entrepreneurs with a disability
growing their businesses.
T O R O N T O ’ S B U S I N E S S I N C U B A T O R
TORONTO BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Nurturing the growth of new and emerging
businesses in Toronto since 1990.
1071 KING STREET WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO M6K 3K2
TORONTO WEST CAMPUS
105 JUDGE ROAD, TORONTO, ONTARIO M8Z 5B5
(416) 345-9437 E-MAIL: [email protected]
WWW.TBDC.COM
Board of Directors - 2007
Chair
Chethan Lakshman
Senior Advisor
Corporate Communications
RBC Financial Group
President
John O’Grady
Economist
Treasurer
Mario Cordeiro
The Dain Group
General Manager
Ed Hobbs
General Manager
Toronto Business Development Centre
Corporate Secretary
Cheryl Mulgrave
Administration Manager
Toronto Business Development Centre
Councillor Case Ootes
City of Toronto
Chris Carder
President, Thindata
Catherine Doncaster
Creative Director, Cat Creative
John Martin
Manager, Entrepreneurship
and Youth Partnerships
Ministry of Small Business
and Entrepreneurship
Glenn Pincombe
President, Touristics International
Brian Shell
Shell Jacobs Lawyers
David Smith
Vice President, Digital
Mandrake Management Consultants
James B. Warren
Vice President, Strategic Relationships
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
This Report to Stakeholders is published
to inform our clients, community
partners and the municipal, provincial
and federal agencies we collaborate
with to nurture small businesses
and self-employment in Toronto.
It complements our annual financial
statements, which provide an account
of our financial performance.
Supported
by TEDCO
doc_977181782.pdf