Programs

Innovation U: An Entrepreneurship Series

Edmonton: Unconstrained by traditional definitions of entrepreneurship
Recommended:

N/A

About

The Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Unlimited are working together to help bring your big ideas to life. Through this partnership, those interested in entrepreneurship have access to a four-course series delivered in-person and online and can also seek advice from the first Innovator in Residence, Catherine Warren at the Stanley A. Milner Library.

Innovation U: An Entrepreneurial Series is inspired by all the innovators in our great city. Together we are building a global inclusive innovation capital and through this program, you’ll find everything you’ll need to get your idea to market. Adapted from Edmonton Unlimited’s Startup Foundation series through to Preflight: Market, Sell, Pitch is an inclusive program aimed at all innovators and entrepreneurs. Taught by the Edmonton Unlimited program team, each class can be taken in sequence or as a stand-alone session and is designed to build upon one another.

Details

Idea Generation

The best ideas come from problems we encounter in our day-to-day lives. This is an introduction to ideation—the start of solving any problem. Participants will learn tools and a proven framework to strengthen problem-solving skills and identify ideas to move forward with.

Creating a One-Page Business Plan

The Lean Canvas has been a favourite tool for entrepreneurs around the world for good reason. Designed to capture the critical elements of your idea on one page, the Lean Canvas will help you test and validate your assumptions. This process will ultimately help you create solutions customers are looking for.

Design Thinking

In this introduction to design thinking, participants will learn a problem-solving approach that puts customers’ needs above all else. Participants will develop a toolkit to apply to their ideas, products, or solutions.

Perfecting THE Pitch

An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech that entrepreneurs and innovators use to spark interest in their idea or business. Participants will learn the building blocks in this final session to create a memorable and compelling pitch.

Office Hours

Visit Catherine during her office hours!

Her office is located in the Stollery Wonder Room on the second floor of the Stanley A. Milner Library (located outside the Makerspace).

  • Wednesday, Feb. 1 – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 15 – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 29 – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Similar Programs

Tech-Agnostic Experts On Demand

This pilot program is open to locally-owned companies or non-profits that have some traction and are ready to grow.

Business Model 101

Map out our idea and validate its potential using the Lean Canvas. Whether you're exploring entrepreneurship for the first time or it's your tenth time testing an idea, a strong foundation will set you up for success.

Preflight: Build, Test & Learn

After talking to potential customers, it’s time to start building. In this stage we’ll guide you through assembling and testing your first MVP (minimum viable product) so you can keep learning and validating the parts of your idea you mapped out in the Foundations stage.

Experts On Demand

Growth-stage companies will be matched with one of 100+ experts, with international representation, providing 100 hours of one-to-one and industry-specific business coaching on operational topics. 

Discover & Validate

Once you've mapped everything out with the Lean Canvas, we'll guide you through talking to customers so you can build them something they love in the Discover and Validate Series.

ELITE

The ELITE program provides hands-on learning and entrepreneurship training to help young Black innovators ages 15 to 22 navigate the world of innovation and technology.
Previous
Next
Scroll to Top