Second Annual Modern Entrepreneur Experience Returns to Peterborough with Heavy-Hitting Speaker Lineup

September 25, 2025 – Peterborough, ON – The successful event, Modern Entrepreneur Experience, is back for its second year, bringing together entrepreneurs and small business owners for an inspiring, choose-your-own-adventure event designed to tackle modern-day challenges and opportunities in celebration of Small Business Week 2025.

Taking place on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at El P Event Space in downtown Peterborough, this half-day experience will feature three dynamic workshops, a catered lunch, networking opportunities, and expert insights focused on sales, branding, and working with influencers to grow your business.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They play a vital role in driving innovation and creating jobs throughout Peterborough-Kawartha. Behind every small business is an entrepreneur with vision, passion, and purpose, representing the best of the Ontario Spirit. I encourage everyone to celebrate small businesses and thank them for all they do for our communities,” said Dave Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha.

This year’s event highlights include:

• Keynote Speaker: Megan Patterson, a marketing expert and social media influencer with over 22,000 Instagram followers. Megan has collaborated with major global brands, including Volkswagen, and will share strategies on how businesses of all sizes can harness the power of influencers to expand their reach.
• Two other workshops with leading experts include Jason Fiorotto, sales and business development strategies from a marketing leader with 25+ years of experience, and Shelby Leonard-Watt & Mike Watt on building a personal brand and storytelling insights from the two local entrepreneurs who’ve built multiple thriving businesses in Peterborough, Ontario.

Participants can register for one, two, or all three workshops, tailoring the day to their business needs and goals.

“We know that running a business today comes with unique challenges, from building a strong brand to navigating sales and digital marketing,” says Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications. “The Modern Entrepreneur Experience is about giving business owners a peek behind the curtain of influencer marketing, being inspired, and walking away with actionable tools to help them not just survive but thrive in the modern world.”

The Modern Entrepreneur event is presented in partnership between the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) and Community Futures Peterborough, with support from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.

“When we say modern entrepreneur, we are talking about more than just technology; it’s about agility, creativity, and the ability to adapt to challenges that look very different from how they did a decade ago. Being a modern entrepreneur means constantly rethinking how to brand, market, and connect with clients in ways that resonate today,” says Nour Mazloum, Executive Director, Peterborough Downtown Business Area. “This event gives entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experts, explore fresh strategies, and connect while celebrating the resiliency and creativity that drive our community forward. We are proud to support this event because when we support our entrepreneurs, we strengthen not only individual businesses but also the vibrancy and future of our community.”

Interested entrepreneurs and business owners can register for free sessions of interest to them by following this link

The Modern Entrepreneur Event

Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Location: El P Event Space, Downtown Peterborough

Format: Three workshops + catered lunch + networking

Registration: Register here

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 in partnership with the Government 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.