Access to Capital Workshop

Essential to most young companies is the ability to obtain funding to grow. Please join us for a workshop that will explore key options for funding your startup.

Participants will get an opportunity to discuss the benefits of raising capital from angel investors and will learn about the deal terms and venture valuation. Recognizing that working with private investors is not for everyone, the session will also explore the funding option of applying for loans from financial institutions and government programs.

Participant will engage with WECAN Investors, as well as with representatives from Community Futures Essex County, Libro Credit Union and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre.

This interactive session is presented by WECAN Investors (Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network), Community Futures Essex County, Libro Credit Union and Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, with funding provided by the Government of Canada under the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy in Windsor-Essex.

Presenters

Deborah Livneh – Executive Director, WECAN Investors (Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network)

Deborah Livneh Eng. MBA connects investors to promising innovative early-stage companies and helps entrepreneurs access capital. Deborah is a mentor of startups. She serves as Mentor-in-Residence at VentureWell Aspire Medtech program USA. She is also a co-founder of the Detroit-Windsor MedHealth Innovation Cluster. Deborah co-founded a medical technology company. She sold it to a publicly traded US medtech company and had led the Canadian plant of the multinational Olympus Medical Corp.

Diane Malenfant – General Manager, Community Futures Essex County

Diane Malenfant has a passion for working with entrepreneurs in all stages of business development to help them meet and exceed their goals. In her role at CFDC she works one-on-one with clients to help them gain access to the capital needed to grow and expand their business. As a lifelong resident of Essex County, she understands the challenges rural businesses face and is committed to providing compassionate client-oriented service in a collaborative way.

Shannon Dyck – Small Business Specialist, Libro Credit Union

Shannon Dyck has been coaching small businesses for 15 years. As Small Business Specialist at Libro Credit Union for the past 2 years, Shannon further assists businesses with their banking and lending needs, and helps build financial resilience in all owners. Coaching through start up and expansions, Shannon enjoys doing her part to help grow prosperity in Windsor-Essex by supporting local small business.

Lee McGrath – Program Director, Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre

A native to Windsor-Essex, Lee McGrath has worked in economic development for the past six years at Invest WindsorEssex and its Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, where she’s had the privilege of assisting businesses and industry to grow their footprint in the region. Lee also has business development experience in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Presenting organizations

Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network is a members-only organization of angel investors seeking investment opportunities in innovative, early-stage businesses. WECAN facilitates the introduction of entrepreneurs to potential investors in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, through business presentations, investment meetings, networking opportunities and more. WECAN has recently partnered with three angel groups in SW Ontario to form a large robust angel network: Equation Angels. Angel investors fund, connect, and mentor early-stage companies.

Community Futures Essex County has been providing flexible business financing to businesses in Essex County for over 25 years. Lending decisions are made by their board of directors who all live or work in Essex County, so they understand the local economy and the nuances of our communities. They are The Unconventional Lender.

Libro Credit Union is a full-service financial institution serving more than 106,000 member-Owners through a network of digital service and 36 physical locations. As a certified B Corporation®, Libro invests 100 per cent of profits into the people, businesses and communities across southwestern Ontario. Libro exists to grow prosperity in southwestern Ontario.

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre has provided thousands of entrepreneurs with the training and support necessary to start and grow successful businesses in Windsor and Essex County for nearly 30 years. They offer guidance and complimentary professional advice from ideation and concept, through start-up and operation, to the early growth and expansion stages of business.

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