OUR BLOG

Innovasion: A Haven for Young Entrepreneurs

Written by Smartt Team on November 20, 2009

Wednesday, November 18th, marked the second annual Innovasion conference and exhibition, an event dedicated to fostering the entrepreneurial spirit and giving new business owners the tools to succeed in a competitive marketplace. While a number of factors contributed to the success of the event, the most encouraging aspect of the day was the enthusiasm of the young attendees – many of whom came with their secondary schools.

Students from all over the Lower Mainland were in attendance. Most were surprisingly eager to engage with exhibitors, and to learn more about the wealth of opportunity that is available to young entrepreneurs in British Columbia. We were happy to hear from several students that they were considering careers in web development and new media. Representatives from post-secondary education institutions were on site to advise the youth on possible career paths, and business owners answered the students’ questions about the job market that awaits them once they join the working world.

Other Highlights

The day was packed with great presentations. The Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robinson, gave an inspiring speech where he outlined Vancouver’s status as one of the most entrepreneurial cities in North America.  Later in the afternoon, SmarttNet’s Martin Wong had the privilege of speaking on the topic of “Monetizing Social Media” in a panel with Rich Patterson and Make It Business magazine’s Victor Chew Wong.

Martin Wong speaks with Rich Patterson and Make it Business magazine's Victor Chew Wong

Thanks go out to the organizers of the Innovasion conference and to all of the attendees and exhibitors that made the event what it was.