Community Futures Peterborough Announces Expanded Entrepreneurship 101 Series This Fall
Peterborough, ON – September 3, 2025 – The Business Advisory Centre and Community Futures Peterborough are excited to announce the return of the increasingly popular Entrepreneurship 101workshop series this fall, with the addition of three new and exciting free workshops. This seven-part program is designed to give business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs the skills, tools, and confidence to transform their ideas into thriving business ventures.
The series will guide participants through the essentials of starting and growing a business, from developing and validating ideas to building strong brands, securing funding, managing finances, protecting intellectual property, and making smart hiring decisions.
“We are so fortunate to have Community Futures Peterborough and The Business Advisory Centre supporting entrepreneurship in our community. Small businesses are crucial to our local economy, and getting them off the ground isn’t easy,” said Emma Harrison, MP for the Riding of Peterborough. “The Entrepreneurship 101 series is an excellent way for entrepreneurs to gain the experience they need to be successful. Best of luck to the next generation of business owners.”
The Entrepreneurship 101 series is designed for anyone with an interest in starting or growing a business. Each workshop combines expert-led instruction with hands-on learning, ensuring participants leave with practical strategies and valuable insights they can apply immediately, whether they’re still exploring ideas, refining an early concept, or already running a business.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and play a vital role in driving innovation and creating jobs all over Peterborough-Kawartha,” said Dave Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha. “Every small business is backed by an entrepreneur who embodies vision, passion, and purpose, showcasing the best of the Ontario spirit. It’s fantastic to see Community Futures Peterborough providing the essential tools and support to help these entrepreneurs succeed.”
The workshops also showcase entrepreneurship as an exciting and realistic career path. Business services delivered by Community Futures Peterborough show a growing and strong demand for advisory services and lending options to start or grow a business locally. In the past four months, staff at the Business Advisory Centre have already held more than 200 one-on-one, in-depth business consultations with entrepreneurs or those exploring entrepreneurship in our region. Initiatives like the Entrepreneurship 101 series support the work of Community Futures Peterborough by providing front-line, tailored advisory services and practical workshops for every stage of the business journey.
“We’re excited to bring back this popular series with fresh content and new workshops for entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and grow,” said Allison Adam, Entrepreneurship Officer at Community Futures Peterborough. “It’s about giving people the right knowledge and tools at the right time so they can move forward with confidence and clarity in their business journey.”
The Entrepreneurship 101 Series will run throughout the fall on the following dates at the Venture North Building in Peterborough:
- Spark Tank – Brainstorm and Validate Business Ideas with Allison Adam: September 24
- Launch Pad – Business Planning with Rose Terry: October 8
- Funding Fuel – Explore Funding and Financing with Braden Clark: October 22
- Protect It – Intellectual Property for Small Businesses with Marcelo Sarkis: October 29
- Brand Lab – Marketing and Branding with Rose Terry: November 5
- Money Map – Cash Flow Forecasting with Braden Clark: November 19
- Staff Smart – Hiring Your First Employee with Abigail Keenan: December 3
The Entrepreneurship 101 series is open to anyone looking to start a business, grow an existing one, or sharpen their entrepreneurial skill set. Space is limited, and early registration is strongly encouraged.
Registration and additional workshop information are available on the Community Futures Peterborough website at www.cfpeterborough.ca
About Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City and County of Peterborough. It has invested more than $42 million in loan dollars supporting 1,300+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,600 jobs in the City and the County. CFP is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Community Futures Program. In 2024, Community Futures Peterborough began delivery of the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program, funded by the Province of Ontario. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and the County of Peterborough. The Business Advisory Centre provides a full suite of wrap-around business advisory services from launch to exit and currently advises hundreds of local businesses annually.
Media Contacts:
Devon Girard, Executive Director
devon@cfpeterborough.ca
Cell: 705-957-3641
