The Innovation Centre has developed a portfolio of online tools, “How To” guides and other valuable resources to help entrepreneurs with their market entry challenges.
Online Tools
CFA Snapshot
A free online tool for entrepreneurs that lets you self-assess your venture against the 8 overall factors for venture success. This is ideal for those who just want a quick feedback on their venture to see how it compares. The feedback can be the basis for re-thinking your original idea or progressing it to the next stage.
CFA Snapshot Plus
A small fee-based online tool where CIC experts assesses your venture against the 8 overall factors for venture success. This assessment takes one to two weeks to complete and differs from the Snapshot in that you receive 3rd party feedback; the Snapshot is a self-assessment whose outcome is wholly dependent on how well you answer the question.
CFA Full Assessment
A fee based comprehensive assessment report of more than 40 critical factors which determine the weaknesses and strengths of the technology, business issues, market options and challenging implementation barriers. Specific feedback from this report helps plan your path forward. The CFA Full Assessment takes between four to six weeks to complete.
Practical experience in an easy-to-use form
How To Guides
First Steps for Entrepreneurs and Innovator (Presentation) – Got an idea for a new product or service, but don’t know what to do about it? Start here.
Business Plan Basics (Presentation) – Every new venture needs a business plan to get off the ground. Here’s how to get started.
Financing Your New Venture (Presentation) – Does your new business needs money to grow? Learn how to find the funding you need.
Validating the Market for Your New Venture (Presentation) – Objective market research is critical to understanding your customers and your competitors. Learn how to get cost-effective access to the information you need.
Managing Innovation (Presentation) – An introduction to the process of generating, evaluating and implementing innovations in an organization
Additional Available Guides
Pitcher’s Guide: Why Dragons don’t Invest (document)
Pitching your idea to potential investors is a nerve racking experience for most new entrepreneurs. Nobody likes rejection, but the statistics say that most investment pitches are rejected many times before they finally find a buyer. However, if you look at each session as a learning opportunitiy, you can find ways to make your pitch stronger every time out. One of the most important items to learn is why your pitch was rejected and what would have had to be different for it to be accepted.
Prepared as part of the Canadian Innovation Centre’s work with CBC’s popular Dragons’ Den TV show, this guide identifies the primary reasons that potential investors reject a pitch and provides suggestions on how to overcome them.
Pitcher’s Guide: What should I include in my pitch? (document)
One of the most important success factors when making a pitch for investment is the ability to communicate your proposal in a concise and effective way. To be successful, you need to convince your investor of the merits of your proposal in a way that is both factual and compelling. One of the keys to success is to be well prepared, presenting enough information to inspire confidence without overloading the listener with excessive detail.
Prepared as part of the Canadian Innovation Centre’s work with CBC’s popular Dragons’ Den TV show, this guide identifies the most important items to include in your pitch and how to prepare for the discussions with your potential investors.
Pitcher’s Guide: How much money should I ask for and what should I give up? (document)
How much is enough? When preparing a pitch to potential investors, this is a critical question. Ask for too much capital and they will reject your proposal. Ask for too little and you reduce the likelihood of your business suceeding. And even if you agree on an investment figure, how much equity and control should you be willing to give in exchange?
Prepared as part of the Canadian Innovation Centre’s work with CBC’s popular Dragons’ Den TV show, this guide looks at how to determine the right amount to ask for and how to prepare for negotiations with potential investors.