Innovation Rodeo - 2023
The 8th Annual Innovation Rodeo is five afternoons of speeches, panels, innovation challenges and pitch competitions designed to connect and upskill Alberta's startup community and tech ecosystem that is available in person and virtually via Zoom.
See the available discount codes for startups, online-only (via Zoom) and students in the ticket section below.
This year's event awards over $75,000 in cash and prize, and all the ticket proceeds in a crowd favourite pitch competition for high-school students.
Our kick-off speaker is Mike Michalowicz, the author of seven business books, including the best-selling books Fix This Next, Profit First and Clockwork.
100 copies of Mike's book Fix This Next will be given to those who purchase tickets for the entire week and attend his Monday afternoon session in person.
Each day features a different theme based on the levels of Mike's "Business Hierarch of Needs."
While the event is designed as an in-person event - held at Bow Valley College - to benefit the rest of the province, this event is also made available online via Zoom at a 50% discount so those who can't attend in person can still benefit.
All those who register will have access to the recordings after the event.
TICKETS
All funds generated from ticket sales are awarded to the winners of the high school student Crowd Favourite Pitch Competition held on Friday afternoon.
Tickets for the entire week are only $100 per person, and day tickets are $25 per person, with the following discounts (coupon codes) available.
The following codes can be used to get a discount - PLEASE BE HONEST and only use a coupon code if it actually applies to you:
Online-Only: 50% off for those attending online only
Startup: 40% off for individuals working for companies with 5 or fewer employees
HSS: 100% off for High School students
PSS: 100% off for Post-Secondary School students or very recent alumni
Members of equity-seeking groups can call or text Craig Elias (+1.403.874.2998) to receive a coupon code to participate either in person or virtually at no charge.
Coupon codes are entered in the payment box that appears on the right when purchasing a ticket. Click on the word 'Redeem' - as shown in the orange box in the image below to enter a coupon code.
SCHEDULE
Monday
Mike Michalowicz will go through the 5 levels of The Business Hierarchy of Needs from his book Fix This Next.
Mike Michalowicz knows that every business has a hierarchy of needs, and if you can understand where you are in that hierarchy, you can identify what needs immediate attention. Simply fix that one thing next, and your business will naturally and effortlessly level up.
Tuesday
Led by Marti Evans, this panel will feature four entrepreneurs who will share what they fixed and how to establish predictable Sales in their organization to create Cash.
Next, the Innovation Challenge has in-Person and online participants form teams of up to four (4) to compete for $2,000. The prize will be awarded to the team selected as having done the best job applying the sales component from Mike’s Hierarchy of Needs content to a local early-stage company.
The day ends with a regional pitch competition that has the top two proceeding to the finals held at the end of the final day.
Wednesday
Led by James Pettigrew, this panel will feature four entrepreneurs who will share what they fixed and how to grow Profits in order to create financial Stability and keep the organization healthy and secure a safe environment.
Next, the Innovation Challenge has in-Person and online participants form teams of up to four (4) to compete for $2,000. The prize will be awarded to the team selected as having done the best job applying the profit component from Mike’s Hierarchy of Needs content to a local early-stage company.
The day ends with a regional pitch competition that results in the top two proceeding to the finals, to be held at the end of the final day.
Thursday
Led by Wilson Acton, this panel will feature four entrepreneurs who will share what they fixed and how to Organize their companies to create Efficient organizations and what the needs are to ensure that companies can run -and grow- no matter who is on the team.
Next, the Innovation Challenge has in-Person and online participants form teams of up to four (4) to compete for $2,000.The prize will be awarded to the team selected as having done the best job in applying the profit component from Mike’s Hierarchy of Needs content to a local early-stage company.
The day ends with a regional pitch competition that results in the top two proceeding to the finals, to be held at the end of the final day.
Friday
In this Fireside chat Brianna Blaney, CEO & Co-Founder of Pocketed and serial entrepreneur will share her vision and what are her organizations doing to create an Impact and build a Legacy.
That session will be followed by a crowd favourite pitch competition where six high school students will compete for all the ticket proceeds from the event.
Once the crowd favourite pitch competition is over, we’ll have the finals of the 150 Startups pitch competition, where six first-time entrepreneurs from Alberta’s publicly funded post-secondary schools compete for an additional $17,500 in cash and $36,000 US in scholarships to the Draper University
PRIZES
$7,500 cash to the winners of the regional pitch competitions
$17,500 cash to the winners of the provincial pitch competition
$50,000 ($36,000 USD) in scholarships to Draper University to the winners of the provincial pitch competition
$6,000 cash to the winners of the innovation challenges held Tuesday - Thursday afternoon
Ticket sales proceeds to the winners of the high school student crowd favourite pitch competition