Propel

Support our Western entrepreneurs and the communities they serve this holiday season by giving a unique gift that not only warms the heart, but supports local t...oo. #ShopPurple and support Western small businesses: https://www.uwo.ca/entrepreneurship/shoppurple/ http://alumni.westernu.ca/purple-perks/business-directory/ #purpleandproud

Introducing Marlow, the team behind the first-ever lubricated tampon. Marlow is one of our Western Angels’ Demo Day finalists. They believe menstrual products should be thoughtfully designed to meet everyone's unspoken needs and are producing them based on real people’s concerns. Think that Marlow is onto something? Want to know more? Check them out at Western Angels' Demo Day, tomorrow at 10 a.m. (ET).

Alumna Andrea Benoit has won the 2020 National Business Book Award for her novel: Viva MAC (AIDS, Fashion, and the Philanthropic Practices of MAC Cosmetics). Congratulations Andrea!

Today's the last day to apply as a vendor for Western's Virtual Winter Market. Any Western University student, alumni or staff entrepreneur can apply to participate. Please fill out our vendor application form by midnight tonight: https://forms.gle/vZt3jL8LJo7keKdPA

Kabo - fresh dog food, delivered! Meet our next Western Angels’ Demo Day finalist that delivers fresh dog food right to their customers' doorsteps every month. Kabo has delivered over 200,000+ meals Canada-wide and offers free contactless delivery. Curious about Kabo, or about any of our other finalists? Be sure to register for Western Angels' Demo Day!

We're proud to present Amplify An event aimed at recognizing, rewarding, and accelerating Western University's investor-ready startups. Founders participating in Amplify have a chance to compete for one of four exclusive spots in our first-ever investor event: Western Angels’ Demo Day. Although Amplify is a closed event, there’s an opportunity for YOU to contribute! YOU can view the startup pitches and vote for your favourite pitch at http://uwo.ca/entrepreneurship/amp...lify/. The startup that receives the most votes will win our People’s Choice Award. A prize valued at $2,500. Public voting closes November 20, 2020 (9:00 a.m. ET). You can vote once per day. Startups competing for Amplify's People’s Choice Award include: Apricotton FLIK: Female Laboratory of Innovative Knowledge Marlow MIXR Resili ROVR Speak Ai SmileShade Thalamus Assistive Technologies Inc. Untangle Money Best of luck to all of our contestants!

From November 16-20, join us in celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week virtually at Western University. The celebration will include a number of virtual gatherings, workshops and speaker events, with Ivey and Western entrepreneurs. This week is your opportunity to make connections, upgrade your skill set, and learn about the free resources available to you as a Western entrepreneur. Today, we're kicking off this week with a fascinating discussion led by Ivey lecturer, Davi...d Simpson at 1:00 p.m. We're thrilled to have sibling entrepreneurs Kelsey Ramsden, (a two-time No. 1 Canadian female entrepreneur) and Trent Kitsch (Founder of SAXX Underwear, DOJA Cannabis, and Kitsch Wines). Together, Kelsey and Trent will talk about their personal journeys and how their family has shaped their philosophy of entrepreneurship. Register below to get the exclusive Zoom link. For a full listing of events, check out: http://go.ivey.ca/GEW2020

Networking. It’s one of the most important things you can do for your career and your startup. Register for our Tuesday webcast to learn how to network effectively. Discover where to start, how to overcome the negative associations with networking, and how to make meaningful connections Ivey Business School FLIK: Female Laboratory of Innovative Knowledge

Applications for the RBC Design Thinking Program close today (Thursday, November 12)! The RBC Design Thinking program at Western University gives second-year Western students the opportunity to learn design thinking and technical skills, and apply them to a real-world challenge. Working in teams on a challenge, studying design thinking and connecting with a faculty mentor and RBC staff in a tutorial setting, you’ll have the chance to complement your academic studies in this exciting co-curricular program. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a $3,500 stipend.

Emma Van Dyk baked a cake the other week because, for the first time ever, she was able to read a recipe card. She can admire this year’s fall foliage like n...ever before because she sees trees in high-definition colour, not as indistinct fuzzy forms. And when she studies, she can now read directly from a textbook without it first being projected in large print on a screen. Western nursing student, Emma Van Dyk, is the recipient of a CNIB Foundation scholarship for new high-tech goggles called eSight, which magnifies images to ‘correct’ her 20/200 vision to 20/20. At age six, Emma was diagnosed with Kjers optic atrophy, a degenerative eye disorder where the optic nerve deteriorates and the eye stops sending messages to the brain. About two years ago, she was classified as legally blind. Her high grades, along with encouragement from her parents Michelle and Jeremie and her sister Ava, earned her a spot in Western’s highly competitive nursing program. Then, this summer, CNIB and eSight Eyewear teamed up to offer five eSight goggles to students across Canada. Resembling virtual reality goggles, the device enhances the wearer’s existing sight: a high-speed, high-resolution camera captures everything the wearer is looking at, while algorithms optimize and enhance the footage, which is relayed in real time to near-to-eye screens. When Emma first began wearing the device, her sister Ava held up an eye chart at optometrist’s-office distance and Emma could read every letter of every line. I started crying. I looked outside and could see other people’s yards. I saw pink flamingos in our backyard that I didn’t really know were there. I could see construction in front of our house that I couldn’t see before. Attending Western has made her more comfortable about explaining her vision loss and her abilities when the subject arises. She has encouraged classmates’ questions, whether it’s about her eSight goggles, whether she can read tiny numbers on a vial (with magnification, yes) and whether she can see emojis in an email (also yes). Before, I would be really, really reluctant to talk about it and if someone asked me about what I could and couldn’t see, I would change the subject. Now I welcome their questions. Way to go, Emma! #purpleandproud

Colin Chrysler always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur and build a business in his hometown of Chatham, Ontario. With a passion for craft beer and his community, Colin teamed up with three friends to launch the Sons of Kent Brewing Co. Episode 31 of the Ivey Entrepreneur Podcast has cofounders Colin and Doug discussing beer, business and the impact their brewery has had on Chatham’s community.

2020 has been a year of "left turns" for so many businesses. While the pandemic halted their first startup, Jenessa Olson (MSc’18, BA’14) and Madison Olson (BMOS’21) quickly turned their disappointment into an opportunity by pivoting their business model and launching In The ClearZone. Check out the Ivey Business School article on how these sisters successfully pivoted their business from fashion-sharing to disinfecting!

Huge announcement from Maple. This telemedicine startup has raised a $75-million investment from Shoppers Drug Mart. Congratulations to Dr. Brett Belchetz (BSc’96), Stuart Starr (HBA'99) and team on this fantastic milestone. We’re excited to see how this strategic partnership develops new programs to improve Canadians in-person and virtual healthcare.

Talking menstruation isn’t an easy or comfortable discussion, but six Western University grads are opening up the narrative and bringing much-needed innovation to menstrual products with their startup Marlow. After researching consumer struggles around the use of tampons, the issue of insertion anxiety became apparent and a major pain point for many consumers. Passionate about producing menstrual products that are driven by real people's concerns, Marlow's founders developed the first-ever lubricated tampon kit. Looking to support this startup? Visit Marlow’s @Indiegogo campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com//marlow-the-lubricated-tampon-ex

Interested in entrepreneurship, but don’t know where to start? Consider joining one of the many entrepreneurial clubs here at Western University. Whether you are in your first year, or your last, being involved in clubs on campus is a great way to develop your network, foster friendships, learn new skills, launch a business or bump up your resume. Next Tuesday we will be hosting a webcast to introduce you to the top entrepreneurial clubs here at Western. Discover what each club leader has planned for this school year and how you can get involved. Register today to receive the exclusive Zoom link.