Breaking barriers to Indigenous Entrepreneurship

Breaking the Barriers to Indigenous Entrepreneurship
October 28th, 2020
12-1pm online
Register at: https://indigenous-entrepreneurship.eventbrite.ca

In this workshop, we will hear from two Indigenous speakers: Brian who has successfully launched his own business and Terry who will provide information on funding support for those looking to start their own business.

Terry Copenace is a member of Big Grassy First Nation and has worked for RBC for eight years. He began his role as a Commercial Account Manager, Indigenous Markets, in 2017. His clientele includes First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations in Northwestern Ontario. His primary purpose is to provide business advice and financing solutions for a wide range of community and organizational needs.

Brian Ritchie is an Indigenous entrepreneur and graduate of Lakehead's Mechanical Engineering program in 1984. He also earned an MBA from Lake Superior State University. Brian is the director of three Indigenous business development corporations and is a trustee on the Chapleau Cree Community Trust. Brian has worked with global technology companies Oracle, Ericsson and ZTE. Brian is the founder, CTO and CEO of Kama.AI, a software company that supplies a patented form of "Designed Emotional Intelligence" to chatbots, smart speakers and other AI platforms.