FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, MARCH 17, 2015 – Startup Canada and Intuit Canada aim to reduce startup failure in the country through a national, grassroots initiative to secure integration in local startup networks of high calibre tools, technology, and accredited advisors needed for financial success.
“Startup success and failure hinges on an entrepreneur’s ability to make sound financial decisions,” said Victoria Lennox, CEO and Co-Founder of Startup Canada. “This new, nation-wide program will give Startup Canada Communities and similar enterprise support hubs the necessary resources to ensure entrepreneurs have local access to key financial literacy needs.”
Intuit and Startup Canada will provide Startup Canada Communities and like-groups with Financial Literacy Toolkits, capacity to run Startup Finance Bootcamps, and drop-in mentorship opportunities for entrepreneurs to access expert advice, mentorship and assistance from Chartered Professional Accountants.
“Intuit has a longstanding commitment to helping entrepreneurs achieve financial independence and success,” said Jeff Cates, President of Intuit Canada. “This partnership allows us to reach entrepreneurs where it makes an impact – in the local communities they call home. Our goal is to ensure they scale-up with financial health.”
“Intuit is the first private sector partner to invest in, and beyond, each of Startup Canada’s 18 official communities,” said Lennox. “It exemplifies a genuine commitment to startup success in entrepreneurship ecosystems both large and small.”
The Financial Literacy Toolkits are created and curated by entrepreneurs themselves to include a mixture of online and offline content. Videos, podcasts, and locally co-branded promotional components to build awareness of financial literacy will be included. The toolkits will be made available to Startup Canada Communities, as well as incubators, accelerators and enterprise support hubs across Canada to strengthen support for their clients.
“People don”t need to have business degrees to start a business and in many cases, entrepreneurs don”t,” said Camille McInnis, entrepreneur and Chief Operating Officer of Startup Calgary. “But successful entrepreneurs have acknowledged they needed tools and education, specifically around financial literacy and marketing, when they first started. Providing these tools in non-traditional ways is essential for the success of early stage entrepreneurs.”
The Startup Finance Bootcamps will take place in 50 locations across Canada and will engage 2,500 entrepreneurs between April and August 2015. The bootcamps will feature CPA learning sessions, QuickBooks Crash Course training, networking opportunities, keynote speakers, and peer mentorship.
Intuit also supports entrepreneurs through Startup Canada as co-chair of the Startup Canada Financial Literacy Task Force, as a presenting sponsor of the upcoming Startup Canada Awards, and by engaging in finance-themed monthly #StartupChats on Twitter, and live Google Hangouts.
Further information on the program can be found at www.startupcan.ca/finance.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Forrest
Communications & Marketing Manager, Startup Canada
1-844-782-7801 ext. 106
Michael Thomson
Spokesperson, Intuit Canada
416-849-8937
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is a grassroots, entrepreneur-led movement founded in May 2012 that has become the most recognized, energized and active entrepreneurship organization in Canada. Startup Canada’s programs have mentored more than 20,000 Canadians, grown to represent more than 80,000 entrepreneurs, and increased entrepreneurial momentum, wealth and jobs in Canada while promoting Canada’s diversified economy and high quality of life.
Startup Canada is recognized globally as the benchmark for fuelling grassroots entrepreneurship. It has educated the leaders of peer organizations in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, South Korea, South America and the United States.
About Intuit Inc.
Founded in 1983, Intuit had revenue of $4.5 billion in its fiscal year 2014. The company has approximately 8,000 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found atwww.intuit.com.
Its flagship products and services include QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, which make it easier to manage small businesses and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. Mint.com provides a fresh, easy and intelligent way for people to manage their money, while Demandforce® offers marketing and communication tools for small businesses. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit’s leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants.
Intuit Inc. creates business and financial management solutions that simplify the business of life for small businesses, consumers and accounting professionals.