Small Business Forum 2015 Thursday Octoober 15th

Technology is transforming traditional businesses - whether it be e-commerce on Main Street, or mobile devices and the sharing economy, businesses can no longer afford to ignore technological advances that can alter their business models.  Join 2,500+ small businesses at the 2015 Small Business Forum to learn more about how your business can survive and thrive in the digital economy. Keynote: Re-Born Digital: The Changing Nature of Small Business Ray Reddy, CEO and Co-Founder of Ritual, will provide insights into the changing nature of small businesses and how mobile technologies can be harnessed to operate and grow your business. Ray is currently the CEO and co-founder of Ritual, a mobile app that connects urban professionals with local restaurants. Previously, Ray founded mobile commerce company, PushLife, which was acquired by Google in 2011. At Google, Ray led the product team for mobile commerce and helped launch Google Express to 10 US cities. Business Model Disruption: Adapting in Digital World While technology is creating new industries and new opportunities, it is also forever altering established business models. This panel discussion will delve into how companies cope when technological disruption challenges their business models. Valerie Fox, The Pivotal Point Chris Schafer, Uber Canada Vanessa Cito, Coalition Music Nicolas Gaudreau, Yellow Pages Group Digital Main Street: Making Bricks & Mortar Dynamic Toronto's main streets are the hearts of their neighbourhoods, providing a place to shop, engage neighbours and enjoy the city. This panel discussion will highlight how technology can help main street retailers grow their business, while giving their customers a better experience. Michael LeBlanc, Retail Council of Canada Satish Kanwar, Shopify Andrew Chewenka, Kinetic Cafe Robert Sysak, West Queen West BIA Small Business Tool Box: Technology Tools for Building Your Business The tools available to help build and operate a business have never been more plentiful.  This panel will delve into the range of technologies available to help businesses manage their daily operations and grow their business. Mark Evans, ME Consulting Mike McDerment, Freshbooks Jill Schoolenberg, GoDaddy Fiona Lake Waslander, Vicinity Adrian Barek, Salesforce Digital Marketing: Leveraging the Cloud to Drive Sales The fundamental challenge of every business comes down to acquiring customers and driving sales. This panel will dig into cloud-based technologies to help build revenue and gain traction in the market. Sheila Clark, Metroland Media Adam DiStefano, Yellow Pages Group Lisa Kember, Constant Contact Norman Rohr, Google Canada Geoff Whitlock, Surround Integrated Thursday, October 15, 2015 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Metro Toronto Convention Centre 222 Bremner Boulevard South Building Level 800, Exhibit Halls F & G Registration is FREE - Do It Today! Interested in Showcasing Your Business? Book a Booth Now.