Your complete digital resource for keeping up with
everything that's going on this month at EPICentre
VOLUME 83
May 2021
EPICentre Virtual Events
Check our EVENTS page for updates
Message From
The Director
May was a very eventful month, we graduated six amazing social enterprises from the Libro-EPIC Social Enterprise program! The cohort concluded the program with the Final Pitch Competition on May 6th. Congratulations to Community Family Fitness Centre and The Working Class for winning the Top Pitch Award and the Peoples’ Choice Award, respectively.

We also hosted the Flourishing Social Enterprise Summit – a full-day virtual event focusing on social entrepreneurship. Thank you to all speakers and attendees for spending such a meaningful day with us!

Last week, we officially welcomed the 2021 RBC EPIC Founders Cohort consisting of eight enthusiastic teams. They will be working diligently over the next 12-weeks learning how to turn their early-stage ideas into viable businesses.

Finally, we are excited to announce that the EPIC Nimble Program will be opened for application on June 1st. Funded by FedDev Ontario, the EPIC Nimble Program aims to provide support to existing businesses facing challenges due to COVID-19.
Although we are starting the see the light at the end of the tunnel, many businesses still need help creating new revenue streams or pivoting to a new business model so that they can stay competitive beyond the pandemic. We are delighted to help them through this program.

That is all for this issue. “See” you all in summer!
EPIC NEWS
EPIC Nimble Accepting Applications!
We will be accepting applications for the EPIC Nimble Program on Tuesday, June 1. This program supports existing traditional small businesses currently facing challenges in their businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Welcome Sophia Haber, Intellectual Property & Business Law Research Assistant
We're thrilled to have Sophia on our team, check out her blog post to learn more about her!
Welcome Spencer Briguglio,
EPIC Outreach Student
We're thrilled to have Spencer on our team, check out his blog post to learn more about him!
Congratulations to The Grove Hotel!
Congratulations to former EPIC Nimble members The Grove Hotel Kingsville for winning the 2021 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award for Small Hotels in Canada!
Meet Our EPIC Co-op Students!
EPICentre is pleased to announce that we have two new high school co-op students working with us! Each of them has written a blog post so you can get to know them a little better. Check them out below!
Congratulations to Dane Fader of GreenerFarms!
Congratulations to Dane Fader of GreenerFarms for Winning the Green Innovation Award (Sponsored by the University of Windsor Alumni Association) at the 2021 Business Excellence Awards! Dane is a former member of the EPIC Discovery, RBC EPIC Founders and Libro EPIC Social Enterprise programs.
2021 RBC EPIC Founders Program
On Wednesday May 26th, we welcomed our newest cohort to the RBC EPIC Founders Program; an intensive 12-week startup accelerator program for recent post-secondary graduates and current students. Learn more about the cohort here!
Flourishing Social Enterprise Summit Blog Post
Check out our recap of this years Flourishing Social Enterprise Summit written by our EPIC Outreach Student, Spencer Briguglio.
Libro-EPIC Social Enterprise Final Pitch Competition
Read about our virtual final pitch competition with our Libro-EPIC Social Enterprise Cohort!
VentureWomen Networking Night
Our EPIC VentureWomen cohort took part in an EPIC Networking night this past month. Learn all about it here!
EPIC OPPORTUNIEIS
MY EPIC IDEA
Have a great idea? A solution to a newfound problem? The next big thing? We want to hear about it!
We're taking our EPIC Idea sessions virtual. email [email protected] to get set up with one of our EPIC Program Leads. You'll have the opportunity to discuss your idea and find out the next steps to make your dreams a reality.
EXTERNAL OPPORTUNIEIS
TAKE YOUR SHOT!
If you had one opportunity to pitch your business idea for the chance to make your dream a reality, would you take it?
Windsor-Essex 2021 Vital Signs Survey
Vital Signs® is a community report that combines national, provincial, and local data with residents’ views on important local issues.
Certificate in E-Commerce
Designed for business leaders and owners who want to establish or improve their digital presence and professionals who wish to become more well-versed in digital marketing, the Digital Marketing and e-commerce module is delivered through six consecutive three-hour sessions.
Produced by the Entrepreneurship, Practice & Innovation Centre (EPICentre) at the University of Windsor
Contact: [email protected]
Learn More about EPICentre: https://youtu.be/_0oUPfJh8CM