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Keith Ippel keynotes PitchFest3 and #WeAreYQQ Party on Sept 27

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What is PitchFest3?

Throughout the year Vancouver Island entrepreneurs and creatives pitch for help to grow their businesses at 12+ LIFT business development workshops. Every year LIFT invites up to six of these entrepreneurs to pitch at the annual PitchFest event. This is the only annual pitch event that showcases the Islands local, grassroots businesses.

This year’s event features a keynote by Keith Ippel, founder and CEO of global startup school Spring Activator. Spring has a mission to help entrepreneurs change the world through their businesses. That’s a great fit with the LIFT ethos of Island businesses helping each other grow businesses and sustainable local economies.

Who’s pitching?

So much of the startup focus is on “tech.” But while technology is sexy, most Island entrepreneurs are actually working on building businesses in almost every imaginable sector. This year’s PitchFest3 lineup is reflective of this diversity:
Yarrow Willard of Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, Kyrle Symons of Prisym Renewable Developments, Jessica Dorzinsky of Fully Alive, Amie Webster of Motif Music, Sean Elliott of Tap Bike Solutions, and Ryks Davies of Ryks Davies Music.

Who’s judging?

Joining Keith Ippel as PitchFest3 judges are Ramon Ramirez of BDC and Sue Finneron (top Hyundai dealership in Canada in 2016). As well as giving feedback to the pitchers, Keith, Ramon, and Sue’s knowledge of business will inspire participants to up their own business game.

What’s a #WeAreYQQ Party?

LIFT is famous for its parties. Founder Hans Peter Meyer (aka HPM) is no fan of traditional business networking and mixer events. That’s why he asks the #WeAreYQQPartyCrew to make LIFT events more inviting, more useful, and way more fun than your Dad’s business networking event. The result: #WeAreYQQ Parties are considered by some to be the best business mixers on the Island, perhaps anywhere. A big claim. Here’s how that shakes out for September 27.

Music with DJ em.ash. Professional dance instructor Jennifer Walsh, helping participants get their groove on. Social media games with prizes from LIFT member businesses.

Get 50% off tickets when you buy now

Typically over 100 Island entrepreneurs show up for LIFT special events. Often they’re sold out. Use the READERS code to get 50% off.

It’s fun. And your business deserves to connect with the liveliest entrepreneur community on the Island.

I repeat: Do not miss out. Get your tickets now.

 

[picatic-sell-tickets event=203740 title=no description=no theme_options=ptw-light][/picatic-sell-tickets]
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Hans Peter Meyer
Founder and CEO, LIFT and the Vancouver Island Local Business Directory
250-792-1408 / hpm@liftstartups.ca

LIFT news: BizOnDeck sells out. More LIFT VIP benefits. #hustlethehelp

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This morning there was only one ticket left for this evening’s BizOnDeck workshop. That’s because BizOnDeck is the Island’s most dynamic business development workshop series. Wish you were with us? Join LIFT, then check this link and put yourself on the LIFT VIP-only wait list. Who knows? You may get to grow your business with us this evening if someone drops out.

No surprises. Entrepreneurs want to grow their businesses. That’s it.

I’m not surprised that we’re sold out this evening. Entrepreneurs love our workshops because they’re focused on one thing: helping businesses grow. And they get lots of opportunities to do that at a BizOnDeck.

Established businesses – like Investors Group, Presley & Partners, Finneron Hyundai, and more – like our workshops because they’re getting to work with growth-oriented young entrepreneurs. They’re meeting tomorrow’s business leaders today. That’s good for growth into the future.

This evening we’ve got two young entrepreneurs pitching for help to grow their startups. Kyrle Symons of Prisym Renewable Developments and Lauren Dean of New Leaf Marketing. They need to hear from you.

Can’t make it? We have other options to help you grow

Our events are energizing, focused – and fun. But it’s not possible for everyone to make every workshop we host. That’s why we built options to “hustle the help” online (“hustle the help” is an idea I borrowed from Canadian rockstar entrepreneur Dan Martell; see the short video below). LIFT VIPs (LIFT members) have access to our “hustle the help” Slack channel. It means you can network (and grow your business) even when you can’t make an event. Another one of the business-growth benefits of being a LIFT member.

Is your business generating online reviews? We will help!

Another member important way to grow your business is by getting online reviews and testimonials. Our BizOnDeck workshop on November 6 will feature Liz Wootton’s Human Nature Development on deck. We’ll also spend part of the workshop making a different kind of shift happen for LIFT VIPs: we’ll spend part of our time generating online testimonials and reviews for member businesses. For an example of what your business will get from the workshop, see LIFT reviews on Google maps and our Facebook page. Powerful online marketing stuff!

Thanks to LIFT VIPs Leif Jason of Mastermynde Strategy and Pieter Vorster of Pod Creative for suggesting we spend some time on this.

BizOnDeck is just the tip of the LIFT mountain of benefits

My job at LIFT is connecting your business with opportunities to grow. If you’re wanting to know more about the business benefits of being a LIFT VIP, give me a call at 250-792-1408, join us for a LIFT Power Lunch (every week in either the Nanaimo, P/QB, Campbell River, or the Comox Valley) – or visit our “Join us!” website. With over $4K in perks and business development benefits, we’ve got lots of cool stuff happening. I’ll be heading to San Francisco to see how we can connect our members with cool stuff happening there. Watch for it!

hpm

ps. If you like to have fun … there are only 4 “earliest bird” tickets left for Festive Cheer on November 24 (this is our entrepreneur “holiday party” and fundraiser for EDAS: Everybody Deserves A Smile). I strongly encourage you to get your ticket before they’re gone at weareyqqparty.ca

pps. Here’s the Dan Martell video clip I mentioned. Enjoy!