Interactive Ontario (IO) Entrepreneur Program – SmartStart Seed
Fund Training Partner
The IO Entrepreneur program advances the success of new and emerging interactive digital
content companies. Recognizing the needs of entrepreneurs in this sector, IO offers a program
that includes pre-commercial planning/activities through to product life-cycle management for
program participants.
This program includes a one year Level One Membership in Interactive Ontario.
Program Definition
This program will provide participants with one full year of training opportunities aimed at
developing knowledge and contacts within the field of interactive digital media.
Participants may join at any time – their year in the program will commence at the time of sign
up. Since it is not a cohort-style program, there is no minimum number of participants required.
This program includes:
• A one year membership with Interactive Ontario
• A maximum of two professional services consulting sessions of your choice
• Consulting time with an Interactive Ontario staff member on an as-required basis
(minimum of 2 hours, with additional time available throughout the program)
• 6 1x1 meetings with IDM professionals to be arranged by Interactive Ontario
• Guaranteed access and passes to all Interactive Ontario events during the year.
Interactive Ontario membership
Membership to Interactive Ontario provides participants with access to our bi-weekly
members-only newsletter, which offers exclusive information on business development
opportunities (trade missions, speaking engagements) and discounts on partner events.
Interactive Ontario strives to connect members directly to targeted opportunities and new
connections and will send personalized emails to individual members when opportunities in
their area of focus arise.
Membership also offers participants a voice in shaping our IDM advocacy efforts through voting
rights at our Annual General Meeting and the chance to provide feedback to our Research &
Advocacy Committee.
Professional services consulting session
Participants will choose a consulting session with an experienced professional service provider
with a digital media specialization in one of the following areas:
• Executive coaching
• Financial services
• Legal services
• Grants & business plans
• Tax credits (Scientific Research & Experimental Development or Ontario Interactive
Digital Media Tax Credits)
•
Marketing
The length of these sessions will be dependent on the provider and topic. For example, a
finance or legal session would be 1 hour, while an HR session may require 2-4 hours.
Consulting time with Interactive Ontario
Participants will choose a minimum of two hours of consulting time (with additional time
available throughout the duration of the program) with a senior Interactive Ontario staff
member of their choice, from the following:
• Executive Director - Christa Dickenson (IDM thought leadership)
• Senior Manager of Operations – Carly Beath (IDM industry connections and tools)
• Senior Advisor – Michelle McIver (Targeted research and connections)
• Facilitated meeting with mentors
Based on the discussions in the consultation session with Interactive Ontario, participants in
this program will receive tailored “mentor matchmaking.” IO will set up 6 1x1 meetings for each
participant with experienced industry professionals in the participant’s area of interest. For
example, if a participant was most interested in innovative hardware, we would arrange a
meeting with a leader in that field. Meeting space will be provided.
Mentors will be drawn from Interactive Ontario’s extensive networks, including board
members, past event speakers, members and other contacts.
Potential mentors include professionals with expertise in areas such as:
• Gaming
• eLearning
• Web series
• International Co-production
• Alternate and/or Virtual Reality
• App development
• IDM products for export
• Academia
• IDM-related fields (partner associations)
Access to Interactive Ontario events, www.interactiveontario.com/events