Tweakshop & Hub Hang – 5 Things You Should Know About Web Accessibity

by | Jul 14, 2020

Let’s learn how to make digital content that’s accessible to all!

So you have your marketing plan set, your campaign ready but have you assured your design is accessible to everyone?

Join us on a workshop on designing for accessibility! Web accessibility refers to building digital content that can be used by a wide range of people, including individuals with visual, motor, auditory or speech impairment. As designers, we have the power and responsibility to make sure that everyone has access to what we create regardless of ability, context, or situation. I will walk you through a few tips that are easy to implement on your website.

Osamu Wakabayashi has over ten years of web design/digital marketing business working exclusively for the nonprofit industry. He holds over 30 seminars annually and helped 50+ nonprofit organizations, and runs the Ottawa UI/UX Meetup group with over 2,000 members and Web for Nonprofit Meetup group with 200 professionals working for the nonprofit sector.

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What’s a Tweakshop & Hub Hang? We’ve combined a Hubber favourite, our weekly 15-minute Tweakshops, with a brand-new virtual program, the Hub Hang!

11:00-11:15 – Tweakshop: Learn from Hubbers about small tweaks and non-essential life skills that can help you lead a richer and more fulfilled life.

11:15-12:00 – Hub Hang: Stick around for informal conversation with fellow Hubbers & friends. Use this time to catch up, share your remote-working tips and tricks, and update us all on the books, podcasts and shows you can finally binge shame-free. Come and go as you please – no pressure to stick around for the entire hang!

* A link to register via Zoom will be provided once you sign up on Eventbrite!*

Free tickets – Available to Members and anyone for whom cost is a barrier to attending.

We have removed our ‘Helping Hand Donation’ ticketing option and offer the following suggestions should you wish to donate, instead, to an organization working to support anti-racism in Canada:

Brown Bag Lunch – Entrepreneurship as a form of Self-Determination

by | Jul 14, 2020

What might we gain from embracing the discomfort of entrepreneurship?

Success in entrepreneurship often means taking on risk and embracing discomfort.

At this BBL, award-winning Entrepreneur, founder of Tr1be Music Justin “Jah’kota” Holness and business development manager for young Indigenous entrepreneurs for Futurpreneur Canada will speak about his journey, self-determination, and what we might gain from the discomfort of pursuing your goals without a blueprint.

Justin “Jah’kota” Holness is an award-winning entrepreneur receiving the 2018 CBC Trailblazer Award for TR1BE Music. His life purpose is to help young people to find their genius and manifest their dreams through art, music, and entrepreneurship. He currently works as a Business Development Manager for Futurpreneur Canada on the Indigenous Team helping young entrepreneurs launch their business.

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Brown Bag Lunches are Impact Hub Ottawa’s weekly lunch & learns led by Hubbers, for members and non-members alike. Topics vary each week, but you’re always sure to learn something new!

Can’t make it at 12 PM? Register and we’ll email you a recording of the presentation to watch at your convenience.

Tickets are free

We have removed our ‘Helping Hand Donation’ ticketing option and offer the following suggestions should you wish to donate, instead, to an organization working to support anti-racism in Canada:

* A Zoom link will be provided once you sign up via Eventbrite!*

Networking During COVID-19

by | Jul 14, 2020

Getting in front of people is still important, but what if you shift your focus to more online marketing & referrals

There are many motivators for people to get out and network. Whatever your reason, the networking landscape has changed a bit in the last decade and even more so with COVID-19. We can no longer attend in-person networking events. And even if we could, for many of us, large group events can be draining on your energy.

Fortunately, if you are savvy with the internet (or willing to learn), you can minimize your “extroverted” marketing efforts in favor of a more introvert-friendly plan.

Getting in front of people is still important, but instead of attending a three-hour networking event, what if you shift your focus to more online marketing (think: writing, social media engagement, etc.) and referrals.

Katie Kalkman is an entrepreneur, personal branding expert, and business development professional who loves networking but knows traditional networking doesn’t work for everyone. She is passionate about leveraging your natural-born talents to design and reach your goals. She has helped over 100 people to find their best job over the last decade. She is co-founder and Executive Director of Impact Hub MSP and founder of a new Folk School in Warroad Minnesota. She brings over 10 years of experience in delivering business outcomes through business development, client relationship management, consultative selling, marketing and strategic planning.

Designing for Inclusivity in Entrepreneurship

by | Jul 14, 2020

Take action! How to centre inclusion & anti-racism in your businesses & business support programs.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or developing programs to support them, designing for inclusion will invite more people in, and help them to feel welcome once they’re there. It can’t be achieved overnight, and it won’t happen without commitment and some discomfort, but there are steps you can take – straight away.

Join us to hear from inclusion leaders about actionable strategies for building anti-racism and inclusivity into your business and programs.

Speakers

Who should come?

  • Whether you’re a nonprofit professional, program designer, entrepreneur, self-employed or just looking to take a leap into entrepreneurship, you are welcome to join.
  • This event is welcoming of everyone, including BIPoC, transgender, two-spirit and non-binary individuals. We aim to create a ‘brave space‘ to voice and discuss the inclusion challenges your business or organization is facing.

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This event is being hosted in partnership with the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), of which Impact Hub Ottawa is one of ten Regional Hubs.

Led by Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship and the Ted Rogers School of Management with over 50 partner organizations, WEKH is a nation-wide network of researchers, business support organizations, and key stakeholders aiming to reduce barriers and grow women’s entrepreneurship in Canada.

Learn more about WEKH here.

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Dirigé par le Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, le Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship et la Ted Rogers School of Management (ces trois sites sont en anglais seulement) et en partenariat avec plus de 50 organisations, le Portail de connaissances pour les femmes en entrepreneuriat (PCFE) est un réseau national de chercheurs, d’organisations de soutien aux entreprises et d’intervenants clés dont le but est de réduire les barrières et de faire croître l’entrepreneuriat féminin au Canada.

En savoir plus ici.

MEST AFRICA CHALLENGE 2020: SENEGAL

by | Jul 14, 2020

MEST Africa, in partnership with Microsoft, is proud to presents the 2020 MEST Africa Challenge pitch competition (virtual edition!)

Be a part of MEST Africa’s tech startup pitch competition from the comfort of your home!

On July 15th, top startups from Senegal will compete in the African tech startup pitch competition, the 2020 MEST Africa Challenge, for the chance to win $50,000 in equity funding!

The virtual Zoom event will provide a stage for technology start-ups to pitch for funding and gain international visibility in front of the MEST team and renowned judges from the local ecosystem.

The top company from Senegal will go on to compete against those from eight other African countries on a global stage in front of entrepreneurs, investors, corporate partners, and ecosystem players for the ultimate prize of funding.

Competing businesses also stand to win support from MAC partner and leading technology giant, Microsoft, as well as the opportunity to join the MEST’s African-wide incubator community.

Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Time: 3:00-5:30PM GMT

Judges joining us include:

– Yann Le Beux – Co Founder, YUX Design

– Nicolas Synnott – Investor, Hummingbird Impact

– Aziz Sy – Founder and Host, Impact Hub Dakar

Announcing the 2020 Senegalese finalists:

– HoDi HoDi

– Insuris

– Mousso Africa

Register to receive the link to join.

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More about the MEST Africa Challenge:

This MEST Africa Challenge expanded from five markets to nine this year, embracing early-stage companies based in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Sénégal, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, and providing the opportunity for the Challenge organizers – MEST, lead partner – Microsoft, and other ecosystem partners including – VC4A, Afrilabs, LeversInHeels, MoveMeBack, BriterBridges, and YUX Design to support even more startups through funding and resources.

Now in its fourth year, the MEST Africa Challenge has become an establishment in the start-up technology industry, giving an unprecedented global platform to hundreds of local tech entrepreneurs in Africa.

About the organizers:

MEST is an Africa-wide technology entrepreneur training program, internal seed fund, and network of hubs offering incubation for technology startups in Africa. Founded in Ghana in 2008, MEST provides critical skills training, funding, and support in software development, business, and communications to Africa’s tech entrepreneurs. Hubs are located in Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Cape Town, South Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya. MEST is funded by the Meltwater Foundation, the non-profit arm of Meltwater, a global leader in media intelligence and Outside Insight.

Core Conversations: “If Not Us, Then Who?” Working towards Equity & Justice

by | Jun 16, 2020

Join us for this Core Conversation on how individuals and communities can work towards social and economic justice in America, today.

Join a virtual discussion with Phillip Yates, Founder/CEO of Equiliberty, on the impact of race on our current virus + violence crises; followed by best practices from the Impact Hub community’s work on AIDE – Access, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity – to support and empower change-makers of color in the United States.

We will discuss:

1. How COVID-19 threatens African-American communities and community-based businesses; and how social enterprises like Equiliberty can help expand access for underinvested communities to asset-building opportunities through shared ownership.

2. How persistent police violence has inspired a generation of new civil rights leaders that has America re-thinking power structures, long-standing institutions, and governance.

3. How this new movement to end racism and violence against Black Americans and people of color has influenced so many people across the country and around the world to action, that 2020 may turn out to be a pivotal moment in human history.

4. How we can collaboratively envision what our world can look and work like under new systems that offer economic growth and justice for all, and co-create what might be.

Helping spark and lead discussion:

Phillip J. Yates – Attorney (Yates & Associates, PLLC); CEO/Founder of Equiliberty, Inc.; Board Chair of Impact Hub Houston.

Phillip founded Equiliberty to end poverty by helping people learn how to use their existing resources and talents to grow thriving businesses, create jobs, and develop strong local economies that contribute to global prosperity. It leverages technology to democratize access to credit and provides the tools for creators to build infrastructure and self-sustainable revenue models that ultimately promote economic growth and justice for all.

Phillip Yates is also a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Diversity Fund Houston. The Diversity Fund Houston is a micro venture fund created to invest in black and brown tech founders during the “friends and family” round. Prior to founding Diversity Fund Houston, Phillip helped establish a pre-venture business incubator for minorities at the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL). In this role, he focused on identifying key resources to assist startups and early-stage founders with opportunities to scale . Since its inception, this program has helped over 5,000 minority entrepreneurs join the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Phillip is a licensed attorney in the State of Texas and the Southern District of the United States where he practices Bankruptcy and Corporate law. He also sits on the board for Lone Star Justice Alliance, League of Women Voters Houston, 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, and serves as General Counsel for the Business Angel Minority Association (baMa) and Chairman of Impact Hub Houston, which connects and empowers people working to solve social problems in our city and around the world.

Grace Rodriguez – CEO/Executive Director of Impact Hub Houston

Grace has helped spread ideas, create experiences, and spur action as a speaker, facilitator, producer and community developer for diverse companies and organizations, directly reaching over 296,000 people in the past decade. During Hurricane Harvey, she helped disseminate information to a quarter of a million people throughout Houston, and helped Sketch City’s tech volunteers connect with resources to effectively inform, rescue, shelter and feed people across the region. Grace has promoted Houston;s creative and startup communities to over 17,000 people over seven years of leading “Houston at SXSW;” and was responsible for engaging and energizing 800+ high-profile participants as TED’s “TEDActive” Creative Director.

Grace mentors startups and entrepreneurs at MassChallenge TX, Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (LILIE), Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at UH Bauer College, Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute (TMCx), and Capital Factory. She serves on the boards of Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH) and Writers in the Schools (WITS), and is the lead organizer of Women In Tech: Houston (WIT:H) and TEDxHouston.

Grace is also as an active member of the: Nationswell Council; Kauffman ESHIP Ecosystem Developers community; Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE); City of Houston Women and Minority Business Task Force; Houston Exponential Startup Development Organizations Roundtable; and the Page 30 Coalition.

Political Activism: Part 1 (Green New Deal for Europe)

by | Jun 15, 2020

Our political activism theme kicks off with a discussion with the campaign organisers of the Green New Deal for Europe.

The Green New Deal for Europe is an international campaign for a swift, just, and democratic transition to a sustainable Europe.

Founded in April 2019 by the Democracy in Europe Movement (DiEM25), the Green New Deal for Europe aims to unite Europe’s communities, unions, parties, and activists behind a shared vision of environmental justice. Working with partners from around the world, they aim to advance this vision from aspiration to action.

This will be an online event. We will begin with a talk by our speaker, followed by discussion and a Q&A with you, the audience.

This event is brought to you by the Sustainability Discourse Tribe at Impact Hub Berlin – where change goes to work.

found! 2020 Award Ceremony

by | Jun 15, 2020

The Award Ceremony marks the end of the found! 2020 5-month accelerator program for social entrepreneurs

This Award Ceremony marks the end of the found! 2020 5-month accelerator program for social entrepreneurs whose projects help to prepare refugees for the Austrian labor market! Traditionally, the found! jury event and program finalists announcement is taking place in person. However, due to recent events, we are moving the final event online!

Join us from the comfort of your house to find out which two startups will be the winners of the found! accelerator program and receive 25.000€ in total to further invest in their impactful ideas to help refugees transition into the Austrian labor market!

We look forward to seeing you there!

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About found!

found! is a 5-month accelerator program for social entrepreneurs whose projects help to prepare refugees for the Austrian labor market, creating job opportunities, and helping them to build a life and livelihood in their new country.

It is an established initiative in the Austrian social impact community by the Deloitte Future Fund, executed in cooperation with the Impact Hub Vienna. The 2020 edition of found! marked the 4th round of the program. This year’s cohort participants are:

frida offers free, independent legal counselling for refugees and migrants, combining the two areas of law. We believe everyone must be able to enforce their rights.

FoodStories is a kitchen hub where refugee women are employed as cooks and cooking instructors, cooking their traditional dishes for delivery and catering and running cooking classes for individuals and groups.

The Connection has been helping young migrants integrate and acquire language, school and social skills for 8 years.

The Vienna Hobby Lobby offers free leisure program for children and young people from a disadvantaged social background. For many families leisure courses are very expensive, so that they can’t afford them. We work with ambitious young people with migrant background to give these courses.

ÖkonoWie? is a young start-up from Styria. The team wants to assist refugees and migrants in understanding the basic business and economic knowledge necessary for the Austrian labor market, thus filling knowledge gaps as well as offering additional qualifications.

Ahl@n uses technology and utilizes the untapped capabilities of skilled refugees and migrants to provide affordable translation/interpretation services. This solution helps refugees and migrants overcome language barriers and contributes to their integration in the Austrian society.

The found! 2020 participants

(Top row, left to right) Farah Saad (frida), Ariane Olschak (frida), Petra Aji (FoodStories), Rosa Haltmeyer (Vienna Hobby Lobby), Leila Salehiravesh (Ahl@n), (Bottom row, left to right) Valerie Mühlenburg (the CONNECTION), Diana Reuchlin (the CONNECTION), Denise Diex (ÖkonoWie?), Jasmin Abou Ahmed (ÖkonoWie). Photo by Lea Fabienne