YSpace Northern Entrepreneurship Hub
Entrepreneurship in East Gwillimbury
YSpace Northern York Region Entrepreneurship Hub provides entrepreneurial resources, including mentorship, access to peer-to-peer networks, and coworking space for collaboration. It fosters new business opportunities as well as personal and professional development for new and existing businesses.
A combination of on-demand business support and programming is available in East Gwillimbury and Georgina, both in-person and virtually. Programs are refined and augmented to address the specific needs of each business community.
Schedule an Idea Consultation (in-person or virtual) with our entrepreneurship team to get started.
Digital Skills for Business
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Looking to grow your business and gain confidence using online platforms? YSpace’s Digital Skills for Business is a 10-week workshop series designed to help entrepreneurs build and enhance their online presence.
The program features in-person workshops in East Gwillimbury and Georgina and virtual sessions covering essential topics like AI Marketing, LinkedIn, Introduction to Canva, and more.
This free series is open to entrepreneurs aged 18 and older living in northern York Region, including East Gwillimbury, Georgina, the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations, and surrounding areas.
Workshops run weekly from until Friday, April 11, 2025.
Digital Skills Schedule
| LinkedIn Mastery: Building a Powerful Presence and Leveraging Resources | TechConnex |
| Date and Time: Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. EST
Location: In-person at 19040 Leslie Street, Sharon, ON, L0G 1V0 Description: LinkedIn is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs, and businesses to help expand their networks and establish themselves as thought leaders. Join Ryan Ellis as he shares strategies to optimize your LinkedIn profile, build your personal brand, and engage with the right audience. *Please be aware that our in-person events have limited capacity. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email with event details closer to the event date. Be sure to secure your spot early! |
| eCommerce: What, Where, How | Digital Main Street |
| Date and Time: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. EST
Location: Online, Zoom Description: Welcome to "ECommerce: What, Where, and How" by Digital Main Street! More consumers than ever before are turning to online shopping for greater convenience, safety, and variety. In this webinar, the Toronto Digital Service Squad will teach you the basic steps to setting up an online store. More consumers than ever before are turning to online shopping for greater convenience, safety, and variety. In this webinar, the Digital Main Street’s Toronto Digital Service Squad will teach you the basic steps to setting up an online store. Everything including what you need to prepare before launching a store, choosing an e-commerce platform and providing excellent customer service online will be covered in this workshop. You’ll finish this session feeling excited about how e-commerce can help you reach new customers and expand into different markets. What you will learn: • What is e-commerce, why it’s important and the benefits of selling online • What platforms are available and how to pick the right one for you • The basics of inventory management, choosing the right solution, and streamlining point-of-sale for both in-store and online • Optimizing your website content, choosing the right themes, and the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) • How to set up secure payments and various shipping options and costs • Look at the basics of driving traffic to your store and boost sales through a variety of digital marketing channels • How to provide excellent customer service throughout the e-commerce purchase funnel Join Digital Main Street to learn why you should consider e-commerce for your business and how you can easily get started. Learn more about the facilitator: Digital Main Street was created by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) in 2016 to assist main street businesses in growing their operations through digital transformation with easy-to-use tools and resources. The Digital Service Squad is a team of trained marketers with strong technology and digital marketing skills, offering Toronto businesses free, customized 1-on-1 support to get started online, enhance their digital presence, and grow their business. Learn more by visiting www.digitalmainstreet.ca |
| Hidden Library Gems: Online Resources to Boost Your Business | Georgina Public Library |
| Date and Time: Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. EST
Location: In-person at 1 Market Street, Sutton, ON L0E 1R0 Description: Welcome to Hidden Gems: Library Online Resources to Boost Your Business! In today’s fast-paced business environment, leveraging the right tools can make all the difference. This session is designed to help business professionals harness the power of LinkedIn for professional development and career growth. Whether you are a small business owner, a corporate professional, or an entrepreneur, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to make the most of digital resources. Join us to unlock the full potential of LinkedIn Learning and other online platforms to achieve your business goals. Facilitated by: Ruth Berry, eServices Library Technician at Georgina Public Library Join us at YSpace Georgina for an exciting event. *Please be aware that our in-person events have limited capacity. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email with event details closer to the event date. Be sure to secure your spot early! |
| The Importance of Paid Advertising in a Digital Space | Digital Main Street |
| Date and Time: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. EST
Location: Online, Zoom Description: The Importance of Paid Advertising in a Digital Space by Digital Main Street Welcome to Digital Main Street's online event where you will learn about the world of paid advertising in the digital realm. More consumers than ever before are turning to online shopping for greater convenience, safety, and variety. In this webinar, the Digital Main Street’s Toronto Digital Service Squad will teach you the basic steps to setting up an online store. Everything including what you need to prepare before launching a store, choosing an e-commerce platform and providing excellent customer service online, will be covered in this workshop. You’ll finish this session feeling excited about how e-commerce can help you reach new customers and expand into different markets.
What you will learn: • What is e-commerce, why it’s important and the benefits of selling online • What platforms are available and how to pick the right one for you • The basics of inventory management, choosing the right solution, and streamlining point-of-sale for both in-store and online • Optimizing your website content, choosing the right themes, and the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) • How to set up secure payments and various shipping options and costs • Look at the basics of driving traffic to your store and boost sales through a variety of digital marketing channels • How to provide excellent customer service throughout the e-commerce purchase funnel Learn more about the facilitator: Digital Main Street was created by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) in 2016 to assist main street businesses in growing their operations through digital transformation with easy-to-use tools and resources. The Digital Service Squad is a team of trained marketers with strong technology and digital marketing skills, offering Toronto businesses free, customized 1-on-1 support to get started online, enhance their digital presence, and grow their business. Learn more by visiting www.digitalmainstreet.ca |
| AI and Small Business | South Lake Futures |
| Date and Time: Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST
Location: Online, Zoom Description: As the business world embraces digital transformation, “AI for small business” is not just a trend but a necessity. Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a complex tech jargon into an invaluable asset for businesses of all sizes. In this workshop, Calumet Media, in partnership with SADC Pontiac and the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce, will delve into demystifying AI and offer straightforward insights into harnessing this technology for growth and efficiency. We will discuss: · Evolution and overview of AI – From the Turing Test to Terminator and smart speakers, we discussed how we got here and where we’re going. · What AI is – and isn’t! – Although we call it “artificial intelligence” modern AI is still just regurgitation text it’s been fed. Machine learning is a key step in the development of “artificial general intelligence. · Tools for AI Content – including text, image, and video generation that can be used to improve the content on your website, social media, and newsletters. · Improving your prompts – identifying the 6 components of a good prompt to get better output from AI tools like ChatGPT. · Business examples – We revisit Pontiac Fitness, our fictitious business who uses AI technology to improve it’s business operations. Don't miss out on this learning opportunity with Jon Stewart, Calumet Media and South Lake Futures to stay ahead of the curve and take your business to the next level with AI. |
Ongoing Programs
Idea Consultations are your entry-point into the YSpace program. This one-on-one consultation connects you with the YSpace entrepreneurship team who will learn about your aspirations and how our programs can support your business growth or bring your ideas to life.
Join TechConnex, local entrepreneurs, and business owners in-person for a monthly peer-to-peer session. Peer-to-peer is where fast-growth business leaders and entrepreneurs can come together to exchange information that will help expand your businesses.
The Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) program offers an 8-session, one-on-one mentorship experience. Our industry-leading mentors will work closely with you, providing guidance to accelerate your business growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is YSpace Northern York Region? |
| YSpace is York University’s pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startups and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors and communities. YSpace programming spans scaling innovative technologies through customer and investor capital to scaling agri-food businesses into mass retail to diversity-focused initiatives like ELLA for women-led businesses and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses.
YSpace Northern York Region in an entrepreneurship hub in East Gwillimbury and Georgina. YSpace offers an ecosystem of entrepreneurial resources, including mentorship, peer-to-peer networks, and co-working space. It fosters new business opportunities as well as personal and professional development for new and existing entrepreneurs. A combination of on-demand business support and programming is available in East Gwillimbury and Georgina, both in-person and virtually at no cost to your business. |
| Who is eligible to join YSpace Northern York Region? |
| YSpace Northern York Region is open to entrepreneurs 18+ who reside in northern York Region, primarily in East Gwillimbury, Georgina, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations. |
| Is there a cost to access mentorship or enroll in a program? |
| No, there is no cost to join a YSpace Northern York Region workshop, networking group, or to use the coworking space in Georgina. YSpace Northern York Region is made possible through a partnership and funding between the Town of East Gwillimbury, the Town of Georgina, and York University's YSpace, with additional funding from the Rural Economic Development (RED) program from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). As a result of this funding and collaboration, the program is available to businesses at no cost. You can find more details in the full press release. |
| How do I enroll into YSpace Northern York Region? |
| Enrolling in the program starts with an Idea Consultation. During this session, you'll receive one-on-one consultation services connecting you with YSpace's entrepreneurship team. Together, you'll explore how the program and its resources can support the realization of your idea.
Idea Consultations provide:
To schedule your Idea Consultation and embark on your entrepreneurial journey, book a meeting with the entrepreneurship coordinator here. |
| Is there working space available for entrepreneurs? |
| Yes, there is a physical entrepreneurship hub in Georgina (YSpace Georgina) which is open to entrepreneurs from East Gwillimbury and Georgina. YSpace Georgina is located at 1 Market Street, Georgina, ON L0E 1R0. You can find more details about YSpace Georgina on their website.
Study Rooms are available as working space at the East Gwillimbury Public Library. Private study rooms are in the Mount Albert and Holland Landing library branches and are free to use if you are a library card holder. You can find more details about the East Gwillimbury public library and study rooms on their website. |
| How do I become a program mentor or workshop facilitator? |
| YSpace Northern York Region has an ongoing intake process for individuals interested in mentorship or facilitator roles. The specific responsibilities and time commitments can vary depending on the program and the needs of the businesses involved.
If you're interested in becoming involved, please fill out an application form. This will help us understand your background and match you with the appropriate program. Once you've completed the application, a YSpace representative will reach out to schedule an introductory call. |
| Where can I find more information on YSpace? |
| YSpace is York University’s pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startups and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors and communities. Our programming spans scaling innovative technologies through customer and investor capital to scaling agri-food businesses into mass retail to diversity-focused initiatives like ELLA for women-led businesses and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses. You can find more details about YSpace on their website. |
Meet with EG's Economic Development team to learn how YSpace can help your business.