THIS IS FOR YOU IF YOU'RE A...
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Founder and Entrepreneur – If you’re focused on creating functional prototypes or MVPs to test, learn, and iterate, this workshop is designed to support your journey.
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Aspiring and Established Leaders – Whether you’re just starting out, running a startup, or a seasoned business leader, this workshop is ideal for refining your products and driving innovation.
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Customer-Centric Visionaries – Perfect for those dedicated to understanding and meeting customer needs, managing intellectual property challenges, and preparing for sustainable, long-term growth.
WORKSHOP INFORMATION
These workshops run every Tuesday night from February 18 – March 25, 2025 at 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Each workshop offers invaluable insights and practical tools to navigate the complexities of startup development and innovation.
By attending four out of the six in-person workshops, including the Demo Roundtable, participants will receive a Badge of Completion.
OUTCOMES
- Gain a deeper understanding of product development principles and techniques.
- Learn practical strategies for rapid experimentation and validation of business ideas.
- Immerse yourself in human-centered design thinking to create innovative solutions.
- Develop essential skills in defining product vision, understanding customer personas, and crafting effective product roadmaps.
- Acquire knowledge and tools to safeguard and leverage intellectual property for long-term business success.
- Refine your product concepts, make informed decisions, and prepare for the next stage of growth through hands-on workshops and expert guidance.
- Equip founders with essential skills for success in the Alberta Catalyzer’s programs.
How to Register
Register now for one or more of the workshops in the Build, Test & Learn series.
Product Development with David Ferris | FEB 18
This workshop covers essential steps in MVP development, from problem identification to execution. This interactive session will provide participants with the following:
- Identify market opportunities and define target audiences with the Value Proposition Canvas
- Map user flows and plan MVP development strategies
- Understand Product Management Fundamentals and feedback loop utilization
David Ferris is aSenior Product Manager at Jobber and currently focuses on AI/LLMs. David has a focus on levelling-up Product Management skills in the city/province to help keep Edmonton’s tech scene competitive.
Intro to Startup Ops with Ken Bautista | FEB 25
An operating system framework provides the backbone to manage rapid cycles of experimentation and growth, ensuring everyone is aligned with the company’s vision. As a startup scales, the complexity of operations grows exponentially.
In this workshop, particpants will learn:
- Shaping Your OS: Differentiating philosophies, frameworks, and methodologies to build a tailored operating system.
- Ops Leadership & Culture: Understanding the evolving role of ops leaders and fostering a growth-oriented culture.
- Building Your Ops Stack: Creating a robust tech stack to enable data-driven decisions, streamlined workflows, and collaboration.
Ken Bautista is the Director of Venture and Growth at Edmonton Unlimited. Ken has over 20 years of insights exploring the intersection of technology startups, talent communities and city building.
Product Vision with Sam Jenkins | MAR 4
Delve into the intricacies of product vision and strategic planning. In this interactive session, participants will learn:
- Develop product vision, customer personas, and journey maps
- Build and prioritize actionable product roadmaps
- Leverage strategic frameworks to align value propositions with business goals
Sam Jenkins is the Managing Partner of Punchcard Systems and CEO & Co-Founder of Standard Field Systems (Launch Party Alumni). Sam has over 25 years of experience in the digital industry, in which he has a passion for creating positive and transformative impact through technology.
Design Thinking with Amal Merali & Allan Waine | MAR 11
Immerse yourself in the transformative power of design thinking with our comprehensive workshop, guided by the principles of human-centered design. Learn more about each stage of the design thinking process:
- Core principles and stages of design thinking
- Skills in user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and user testing
- Techniques for refining sprint processes and prioritizing features
Amal Merali is an Early Stage CleanTech Founder. Amal’s company seeks to empower consumers to make greener choices, further reducing CO2e footprint for generations to come.
Allan Waine is Edmonton Unlimited’s Head of Startup. Allan brings experience in not-for-profit and cross-cultural educational leadership.
Intellectual Property for Founders with Shalon McFarlane | MAR 18
Don’t let your hard work go unprotected. This workshop provides essential knowledge about intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. Discover how to safeguard your creations, avoid pitfalls and build a strong foundation for your business.
Shalon McFarlane is an Executive in Residence and IP Specialist. Shalon is a highly experienced professional in technology commercialization, innovation, and technical communication
Demo Roundtable | MAR 25
Bring your MVPs or prototypes to the subsequent Demo Roundtable for peer and expert feedback, ensuring a continuous refinement process enriched by diverse perspectives by ultimately leading to the development of robust and innovative solutions.
- Comprehensive understanding of the product development process, from ideation to prototyping
- Leveraging key tools and methodologies to refine product concepts, validate ideas with customers, and make informed decisions about ventures
- Networking opportunities with peers, receiving feedback from industry experts, and gaining insights into potential pathways for further growth and engagement with programs like the Alberta Catalyzer
This program is partially funded through the City of Edmonton and offered at no cost, thanks to Alberta Innovates, through the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network.
