Third Annual Modern Entrepreneur Experience Returns to Peterborough with Heavy-Hitting Speaker Lineup
PETERBOROUGH, ON – September 28, 2026 – The twice sold-out, free event, Modern Entrepreneur Experience, is back for its third 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 2026.
Taking place on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at The Roy (formerly the 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 storytelling, e-commerce, the local advantage, and marketing to grow your business.
“Empowering local entrepreneurs is essential to building a thriving, resilient economy in Peterborough and Peterborough County,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “Events like the Modern Entrepreneur Experience provide our local business owners and innovators with the practical tools, digital strategies, and mentorship needed to adapt and succeed in today’s market. Our government is proud to champion initiatives that empower entrepreneurs and build a stronger, more resilient community.”
This year’s event speakers include:
- Keynote Speaker: Susan Tung, a serial entrepreneur who has built multiple successful hospitality businesses in Peterborough, including Mei Mei, Hanoi House and Electric City Catering combining entrepreneurial grit with a deep understanding of people, community, and customer experience. Susan has found viral success and gained a strong social media following. Her keynote explores how being local can become your greatest competitive advantage.
- Megan Murphy: With 20+ years spanning acting, radio, filmmaking and performing arts, Megan Murphy knows what makes people listen, connect, and remember. She’ll show entrepreneurs how to harness the power of storytelling to build connection, differentiate their business and make their brand memorable.
- Jesse Bateson: After over two decades working with leather and eight years running Solid Leather full-time, Jesse has built a business designed around the life he wants to live. His workshop explores building an e-commerce business, with a simple message: being rich and being wealthy aren’t the same thing, you get to choose what rich looks like.
Participants can register for one, two, or all three workshops and a catered lunch, tailoring the day to their business needs and goals.
“We know that running a successful business today requires mastering the modern landscape, especially when it comes to e-commerce and building a powerful brand,” says Rose Terry, Manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications. “The Modern Entrepreneur Experience 2026 is about giving business owners the skills needed for digital growth, learning to tell unforgettable stories to build brand loyalty and actionable tools to thrive in a modern marketplace.”
The Modern Entrepreneur Experience is a free event, presented in partnership between the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) and Community Futures Peterborough, with support from the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.
“Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy, and no two businesses look the same. That’s what makes events like the Modern Entrepreneur Experience so valuable. It gives local business owners a chance to learn from people who have built successful businesses here, connect with each other, and walk away with ideas they can actually put into practice,” says Nour Mazloum, Executive Director, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area. “We’re proud to support an event that celebrates our local entrepreneurs and the energy, creativity and resilience they bring to our community every day.”
The event will celebrate entrepreneurs in the region, encourage networking and feature prizes for attendees to win.
“Small businesses are the heart of our communities. They create jobs, drive innovation, and bring people together. Events like the Modern Entrepreneur Experience provide entrepreneurs with valuable opportunities to learn, connect, and grow in today’s evolving economy. I’m excited to see such a strong lineup of local business leaders sharing their experiences and helping the next generation of entrepreneurs succeed,” said Emma Harrison, Member of Parliament for the riding of Peterborough.
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 20, 2026
Location: The Roy, Downtown Peterborough
Format: Three workshops + catered lunch + networking
About Community Futures Peterborough
Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County. It has invested more than $44 million in 1,900+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,900 jobs in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough 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. The Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program is delivered locally by Community Futures Peterborough and funded in partnership with the Province of Ontario. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.
Media Contact:
Devon Girard, Executive Director
devon@cfpeterborough.ca
Cell: 705-957-3641
