Start-ups for start-ups

By Rhiannon Lotze/Converged Citizen Staff

The popularity of entrepreneurship is on the rise and many businesses and programs are being developed to help these start-ups be successful.

Canada is second in the world in terms of levels of entrepreneurial activity, right after the U.S., according to a study conducted by the Centre for Innovation Studies in Calgary. Around 13 per cent of working-age Canadians are trying to start or have already started their own businesses. However, many of them need help from social programs and business accelerators.

There are several programs offered in Windsor, including the Genesis Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre and the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator that provide information, workshops and guidance to start-up companies.

Siddique Sheikh is a project manager at the Accelerator and has seen first-hand the benefits of being an entrepreneur.

“Being an entrepreneur now, you get that autonomy,” said Sheikh. “But you also get to work with every aspect of the business and hand off the parts you don’t like.”

The Accelerator has helped dozens of businesses get on their feet, according to Sheikh, including WeTech Alliance, Devine Personnel and Noxtrom Digital Media.

Many businesses and programs are offered nationwide as well, such as the Futurpreneur Canada Start-Up Program and Startup Canada. Precision Drafting is a business that started about a year ago through these programs and is now partnered with the Accelerator in Windsor.

“Owning your own business is a lot of work but it’s very rewarding,” said Jen Levitt, owner of Precision Drafting.

She said people wanting to start up a business should just go for it, regardless of money or time.

According to a study conducted by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Alberta has the highest level of early-stage entrepreneurs while Nova Scotia has the lowest. Females make up two-thirds of all the entrepreneurs in Canada and the most common age range of entrepreneurs is 45-64.

Windsor’s unemployment rate was reportedly 7.7 per cent in February and the growing number of entrepreneurs may be the best way to lower it.