SASKATOON — Business leaders and entrepreneurs gathered for the Saskatoon Startup Week,highlighting the resources and support available to Saskatchewan startups.
The event opened on Monday at Nutrien Tower, with Saskatchewan Startup Institute Entrepreneurship Director Stephane O’Reilly leading the ceremonies, also attended by Mayor Cynthia Block and McKercher LLP Saskatoon partner Joe Gill.
SK Startup Institute is the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority’s free support hub program, which offers business advice, training, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses across the province.
The Saskatoon Startup Week is a five-day celebration of entrepreneurship from Monday to Friday, June 15 to June 19, featuring workshops, panel discussions, and other networking events that connect startup ecosystem leaders across Saskatchewan with one another and industry partners.
The event also highlights the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and organizations such as SSI that help founders turn their ideas into real, sustainable businesses. SSI works with entrepreneurs and their partners to provide mentorship, education, networking, and support for emerging companies.
For startup founders like Conor Phillips and Katerina German, access to resources makes the difference between a promising idea and a scalable business, as entrepreneurs often face challenges ranging from raising capital and finding customers to navigating new technologies and expanding into larger markets.
Phillips, who founded Saskatchewan-based startup Roamlii, said building a startup in a smaller centre presents unique opportunities and challenges, as entrepreneurs are constantly building their demand and supply while trying to get them equally engaged.
Roamlii develops technology solutions for the tourism industry, and Phillips said they are currently seeking investment to fuel their growth and plans to connect with a broader network of investors and entrepreneurs through a trip to California's Silicon Valley later this month.
Phillips said that connecting with and being exposed to a larger startup ecosystem can provide valuable lessons that can be brought back to Saskatchewan, as she has no plans to leave the province because of the different ecosystem it offers.
Despite those challenges, Phillips believes Saskatchewan startups can compete nationally and internationally with the right support. He said his long-term goal is to establish a successful model in Canada before eventually expanding globally.
"It [Saskatchewan] is a different ecosystem to build a startup in, though, and that's just going to be a challenge of being a smaller centre. What we need is participation, we need curiosity, we need people to lean in and say, 'This is interesting.' That's really all we need," said Phillips.
Ethical Digital founder Katrina German, meanwhile, believes startup communities are full of innovators willing to take risks and create opportunities, citing her company as an example that focuses on digital marketing and the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence technologies.
"I've been very supported by the ecosystem here. As AI has become important, it's one of those things where I jumped right on to try to figure out how to do these things as quickly as possible to be an advantage for businesses," German said.
German said entrepreneurship offers tremendous flexibility and fulfillment. Still, it also comes with significant uncertainty, and success often requires founders like her to adapt as they constantly balance opportunities and setbacks.
"Entrepreneurs often say every day is one of their best and one of their worst. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely one of those things that can be so fulfilling and really makes life worth living,” said German.
She added that events such as Startup Week celebrate innovators, a mix of people needed in any society, who try to make things happen and help recognize the effort entrepreneurs invest in building companies and strengthening the local economy.
O’Reilly, meanwhile, said the Startup Week was created because local entrepreneurs deserved a dedicated opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate their achievements, after realizing the pool of great entrepreneurs in the city.
"The future is bigger and better. We're really proud of the strides we've made so far."
For Saskatchewan's startup founders, that continued support may prove invaluable as they work to transform local ideas into businesses capable of competing on a global stage, he said.
He added that the event reflects the collaborative nature of Saskatoon's startup ecosystem, bringing together organizations including the Saskatoon Startup Institute, the Saskatchewan Research Council startup team, Opus, Co.Labs, and the Food Centre, among others.
