Growth Catalyst

Valentine’s Day Gifts from Local Entrepreneurs Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Consider supporting local businesses from our past and current cohorts—there are plenty of great options to choose from! Here are just a few ideas: 🌸 Amborella Floral – Stunning floral arrangements to make any occasion feel special. 🧁 Crave Cookies and Cupcakes – A delicious selection of cupcakes in a variety of flavors, perfect for sharing or indulging. 🧩 StumpCraft – Laser-cut, heirloom-quality jigsaw puzzles featuring beautiful Canadian fine art—a unique and thoughtful gift. 👗 BLU'S – Elegant fashion from top designer brands, perfect for treating a loved one (or yourself) to something special this Valentine’s Day. These are just a few examples, and there are many more talented entrepreneurs in our community. Supporting them this Valentine’s Day means supporting innovation and local craftsmanship. #ValentinesDay #GiftIdeas #AmbrolleaFlowers #CraveCupcakes #StumpCraft #Blu's #SupportLocal #ScaleUP #Entrepreneurship #GrowthCatalyst

Valentine’s Day Gifts from Local Entrepreneurs Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Consider supporting local businesses from our past and current cohorts—there are plenty of great options to choose from! Here are just a few ideas: 🌸 Amborella Floral – Stunning floral arrangements to make any occasion feel special. 🧁 Crave Cookies and Cupcakes – A delicious selection of cupcakes in a variety of flavors, perfect for sharing or indulging. 🧩 StumpCraft – Laser-cut, heirloom-quality jigsaw puzzles featuring beautiful Canadian fine art—a unique and thoughtful gift. 👗 BLU'S – Elegant fashion from top designer brands, perfect for treating a loved one (or yourself) to something special this Valentine’s Day. These are just a few examples, and there are many more talented entrepreneurs in our community. Supporting them this Valentine’s Day means supporting innovation and local craftsmanship. #ValentinesDay #GiftIdeas #AmbrolleaFlowers #CraveCupcakes #StumpCraft #Blu's #SupportLocal #ScaleUP #Entrepreneurship #GrowthCatalyst

Cohort 7: Wrapping Up with the Capability Module! 🚀 Cohort 7 has just wrapped up the Capability Module, and the results are nothing short of amazing! Here's how we've been helping businesses level up: 🔑 Organizing for Impact – Aligning capabilities to create a value-driven customer chain. ⚙️ Filling Gaps – Deciding whether to build, buy, or partner to strengthen market positions. 🎯 Prioritizing SGOs – Focusing on high-impact, winnable growth opportunities. 🏗️ Structuring for Success – Setting teams up for flawless execution. A huge thank you to our faculty lead, James Levy, for his invaluable leadership and insights, and to our dedicated Growth Catalyst team for their hard work in making this program a success. We can’t wait to see these strategies lead to real growth! A special thank you to our funders— TD: Krystal Van Westerop, Kathryn Gislason, Blake Heynen, Tammy Rea, Shane O'Neill Prairies Economic Development Canada I Développement économique Canada pour les Prairies: John O'Neill & Joya Sauder Alberta Innovates: Carla Otto, Lindsay Spadavecchia, Robert Lai Their support has been key to the program's success. And a huge shout-out to our Cohort 7 teams for their dedication and hard work: Elevation Supplies, StumpCraft, ENFOCOM Cyber, COLLECTIVE Culture + Communication., Risio Institute for Digital Dental Education, RigER, Measurement Sciences Inc., Crave Cookies and Cupcakes, Nor-Alta Environmental Services Ltd., Brightsquid Secure Communications Corp., Earthmaster Environmental Strategies Inc., Alberta Home Services, Wosler., Virtuous Circle Counselling , VizworX Inc., Amplify Advisors., WCD., The Holistic Institute of Health and Fertility (HIHF), Sierra Dental (Calgary & Airdrie) , Holland Licensed Interior Design Inc., VL Energy Ltd. #GrowthCatalyst #CapabilityModule #StrategicGrowth #SGOs #BusinessSuccess #ScaleUp #Teamwork

Bell Let's Talk Day  At Growth Catalyst, we believe in the power of conversation to break the stigma around mental health. On Bell Let's Talk Day, we’re reminding everyone that mental health matters and that talking can make a real difference. We also want to take a moment to highlight two incredible organizations that are part of our program and doing amazing work in the mental health space: Assured Psychology – They provide compassionate and knowledgeable counseling to individuals, couples, and families, creating a safe space to work through past challenges and build stronger futures. Assured Psychology was a part of our 5th cohort in Calgary. Virtuous Circle Counselling – They focus on helping clients break free from negative cycles and develop healthier patterns, offering support through individual counseling, couples therapy, CBT, EMDR, and more. Virtuous Circle Counselling is part of our 7th cohort in Calgary. We’re proud to support these organizations and the important work they do to help people thrive. You are not alone. Let’s continue to talk, support one another, and break down the barriers to mental health care. 💬 #BellLetsTalk #MentalHealthMatters #GrowthCatalyst #AssuredPsychology #VirtuousCircleCounselling #EndTheStigma 

🔥 Exciting Milestone for Cohort 7 of The Growth Catalyst Program! 🔥 Last week, our seventh and largest cohort yet hit the halfway point in their Growth Catalyst journey with IGNITE! Here’s a quick look at what they focused on: 💡 Strategic Ideation: Sharing insights behind their Strategic Growth Opportunities (SGOs) for peer learning. 🎯 Ambition Clarity: Refining their growth goals for stronger alignment with their strategy. 🔑 Prioritization: Presenting their SGO funnels and getting valuable feedback. 🚀 Growth Validation: Pressure-testing top SGOs with a growth advisory board for actionable insights. We’re proud of the progress this cohort has made, and we can’t wait to see how they apply these insights to fuel their continued growth! 💪 A big THANK YOU to our advisors Richard C. Gorecki, M.Sc., Kerry Harmer, Tina Mathas BA. MSc., Shauna Thome, Steve Krushelniski Husband, Father, Fractional CGO, Leader, Digital, Ian Macdonald, James Levy, Robert Vander Wees, Peter Fenwick, ICD.D, Doug McPhee plus alumni Judith Virag and Matt Hayles for their invaluable guidance! Huge Shoutout to our Growth Catalyst team for their unwavering support: Peter Fenwick, ICD.D, Dr. Simon Raby, Ph.D., Pablo Garcia, Jack Barnett-Ritcey, James Levy, Emily Robitaille, and Caitlin McCarthy. #GrowthCatalyst #StrategicGrowth #Innovation #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #IGNITE!

🌟 HUGE Congrats to Cohort 6 for Graduating from The Growth Catalyst Program! 🎉 Last week, seven incredible businesses and their leadership teams completed their journey with us, wrapping up the program by pitching their Strategic Growth Opportunities to peers and advisors. We want to take a moment to say congratulations to all the graduates! 👏 Your dedication and hard work have been truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll accomplish moving forward. Thank you to our mentors, partners, and everyone who contributed to making Growth Catalyst such a meaningful experience for all involved. We’re excited to continue supporting these businesses as they move forward in their growth journeys. 🌱🚀 A special THANK YOU to our advisors Hubert Lau and Barbara Engelbart McKenzie, EMBA for their invaluable guidance; and to a special thank you to Antu Chicahuala, Honorary Growth Catalyst and keynote speaker for Cohort 6! A huge shoutout to our Growth Catalyst team for their unwavering support: Peter Fenwick, ICD.D, Dr. Simon Raby, Ph.D., Pablo Garcia, Jack Barnett-Ritcey, James Levy, Emily Robitaille, and Caitlin McCarthy. #TheGrowthCatalyst #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Mentorship #ScaleUp #SuccessStories

🚀 Growth Catalyst C6 Update: Mastering Capital Strategy! 🌟 Cohort C6 has successfully completed the Capital Module of the Growth Catalyst program, led by Robert Vanderwees! This module equipped the group with key tools to strengthen their financial strategy and drive long-term growth. Here’s what they’ve achieved: Evaluated Financial Health 📊: Learned to analyze financial statements to assess their company’s well-being. Mastered Capital Raises 💰: Gained insights on timing and aligning funding with key business milestones. Explored Capital Sources 🔍: Weighed the pros and cons of debt vs. equity funding. Built Financial Models 📉: Created foundational models to forecast performance and guide decisions. Perfected the Pitch 🎯: Developed and tested strong pitches for raising capital. Strengthened Negotiation Skills 🤝: Improved strategies for negotiating with financial partners, some of whom were in the room. Committed to Making a Difference 🌟: Ready to scale and make an impact. A heartfelt thank you to our distinguished panelists for sharing their expertise on Accounting & Legal Implications and Financing for Growth: Sierra Heisler, MLT Aikins LLP Mark Regehr, MNP Kristen Martin Hrabec, CA, MNP Mitchell Kerklaan, CFA, TD Anuj Arora, Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada Bhavnish Bilimoria, CPA Bilimoria, BDC Lisa Adam , TD Joben Lopez, Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada Your insights were invaluable in helping our cohort navigate the complexities of business finance! A special thank you to our Growth Catalyst team for their unwavering support: Peter Fenwick, ICD.D, Dr. Simon Raby, Ph.D., Pablo Garcia, Jack Barnett-Ritcey, James Levy, Emily Robitaille, and Caitlin McCarthy. Congratulations, Cohort C6! We can’t wait to see what you pitch as your big Strategic Growth Opportunities at your December Graduation! 🚀 #GrowthCatalyst #CapitalModule #BusinessGrowth #FinancialStrategy #RaiseCapital #Entrepreneurship #InvestInYourBusiness #Accounting #LegalImplications #FinancingForGrowth

🚀 Ready to Scale Up? 🚀 Are you a founder or leader navigating the growing pains of evolving from startup to scaleup? Growth Catalyst invites you to Scaling Up: Evolving Your Team, Company, and Leadership, where we’ll explore insights, strategies, and real talk on overcoming the toughest challenges and achieving breakthroughs in scaling. At this event, we’ll tackle essential questions like:  🔹 What’s the difference between startup and scaleup? Learn how scaling demands new approaches in strategy, team dynamics, and leadership. 🔹 How do I empower my team? Discover how to shift from founder-led decision-making to a culture of autonomy and accountability. 🔹 What’s stalling our growth? Explore common hurdles in scaling, from team alignment to evolving your leadership style. 🔹 When do I need more support—and where can I find it? Hear about practical, results-driven resources like Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta, Growth Catalyst, and the CDL-Rockies 📅 Date: 7:30-9:30 am, Tuesday, November 19th 📍 Location: Platform Innovation Centre - East Annex 🔗 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/gp3QdZVy

🚀 Transitioning from startup to scaleup? Join us at Scaling Up: Evolving Your Team, Company, and Leadership for practical strategies on building a high-performing team. Hosted by Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta, CDL-Rockies, and Growth Catalyst, this event is designed to help founders navigate the complexities of scaling and adapt to the evolving demands of business growth. 📅 Date: 7:30-9:30 am, Tuesday, November 19th 📍 Location: Platform Innovation Centre - East Annex Don't miss your chance to attend this valuable session! Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gp3QdZVy We look forward to seeing you there!

🚀 Transitioning from startup to scaleup? Join us at Scaling Up: Evolving Your Team, Company, and Leadership for practical strategies on building a high-performing team. Hosted by Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta, CDL-Rockies, and Growth Catalyst, this event is designed to help founders navigate the complexities of scaling and adapt to the evolving demands of business growth. 📅 Date: 7:30-9:30 am, Tuesday, November 19th 📍 Location: Platform Innovation Centre - East Annex Don't miss your chance to attend this valuable session! Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gp3QdZVy We look forward to seeing you there!