Entrepreneurs will now be able to access the support they need. Supports like funding, networking, programs and workshops will be available in a new interactive tool, Entrepreneurial Journey Map. The initiative was launched by the Town of Innisfil’s Economic Development Office in partnership with various local organizations that support businesses like the Sandbox Centre and the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. It is designed from the perspective of an entrepreneur in order to help other entrepreneurs across Simcoe County. The Entrepreneurial Journey map uses a board-game style format leading entrepreneurs through the different stages of putting together a business. Some of the key features of the tool are how to start, grow and scale a business. The tool will also connect the entrepreneurs to relevant support that will assist them in these tasks. “We are so fortunate to have so many resourceful and collaborative business support organizations in Simcoe County,” says Town of Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin. “We learned that new founders still have trouble knowing who to call when starting their entrepreneurial journey and our team saw an opportunity to add clarity.” Andrew de Jong, entrepreneur and founder of Just Simcoe, an online marketplace connecting local businesses, and graduate of DMZ Innisfil, a business accelerator and incubator program run by the Town, says the entrepreneurship can be a lonely venture. “The entrepreneurial journey can be a very hard landscape to navigate and can feel lonely at times,” says de Jong. “There are so many great resources out there, but until now, there hasn’t been a consolidated place to find them all. A tool like this can give entrepreneurs confidence that there is support out there and they are not alone.” The new tool is expected to be updated on a regular basis. To access the Entrepreneurial Journey Map, go to the Town’s website.
