Ernst & Young &
Startup Canada 2012
Sponsorship Contract
Agreement
February 22, 2012
Ob
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Sponsorship Agreement
February 22, 2012
Victoria Lennox
Executive Director
Startup Canada
1 (613) 316 6203
victoria@startupcan.ca
www.startupcan.ca
Startu
With the vision of building stronger entrepreneurial communities, fostering a more entrepreneurial
culture and creating a strong brand for Canadian entrepreneurs at home and abroad, Startup
Canada – a grassroots, volunteer-run, entrepreneur-led non-profit organization set to launch in
March 2012 as the centerpiece of Canada’s entrepreneurship community – will be focusing on
the underlying conditions for growth through fostering understandings, cooperation and
celebrating Canadian entrepreneurs from all sectors.
To date, Startup Canada has developed an esteemed Governing Board of serial entrepreneurs &
investors; obtained the support of a provincial ambassador in each province supported by
steering committees reflective of the entrepreneurial landscape in each province; is building a
National Advisory Council made up of the leading organizations that make up the Canadian
Entrepreneurship landscape; has the support of Founding Patrons including W. Brett Wilson
(Former Dragon and serial Entrepreneur), Heather Reisman (Founder of Indigo Books & Music),
Dani Reiss (Founder of Canada Goose) and Jim Temerty (Founder of Northland Power), and the
support of national media (Post Media & BNN) and Industry Partners (Ernst & Young, Microsoft,
Dell); is bolstered by more than 200 Founding Community Partners; and, more than 3,000 signed
supporters from the Canadian entrepreneurship community.
2012 Programming – The Vision
In March 2012, Startup Canada intends to launch with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and / or the
Minister of State for Small Business Maxime Bernier with the announcement of the Launch of
Startup Canada in tandem with a related government announcement to take place in a Canadian
small business. The announcement will receive significant coverage nation-wide and will be
followed by a meeting between the Prime Minister, the Minister of State for Small Business,
Startup Canada’s Governing Board and a select group of Canadian entrepreneurs to discuss
Startup Canada’s plans in 2012 and share the 10 areas of focus for the 2012 Town Halls. The
intimate launch will be followed by a reception hosted by the Governor General of Canada, David
Johnston, and will be attended by members of the wider Startup Canada community. The
program for the reception will include a welcome by His Excellency, a keynote address by Startup
Canada’s Founding Chairman, and statements from its Co-Founders and Founding Sponsors.
Later in March, Startup Canada’s Chairman and Executive Director will spend a day meeting with
the leaders of Startup America, Startup Britain and Startup Chile in Liverpool, United Kingdom at
the 2012 World Entrepreneurship Congress, sharing experiences and exploring collaborative
opportunities.
Commencing on March 19th in Halifax, Nova Scotia and finishing on August 31st in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Startup Canada will successfully execute a dynamic national tour and
mainstream / social media campaign in close partnership with its Provincial Ambassadors,
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Provincial Steering Committees, and the Canadian enterprise support community.
The National Tour – consisting of 30 Town Halls, provincial launches with Premiers and
Ministers, fringe networking, training, keynote and mentorship events, engagement in major
conferences, visits to schools and universities, and open houses wherein incubators, accelerators
and research parks will open their facilities to the public for tours and workshops – will directly
engage more than 25,000 Canadian entrepreneurs and members of the enterprise support
community in putting pen to paper, working together to develop concrete action plans around
Startup Canada’s 10 areas of focus. Canadians unable to attend in person will participate live via
the Startup Canada Beta website, where the Tour will be streamed live and viewers will comment
and have questions answered in real-time. Canadians will also contribute their ideas,
perspectives, experiences and expertise through the Startup Canada online iDEASWiki, the
Startup Canada Speakers Corner video blog community, and through our highly active social
media platforms.
Through the Media Campaign – consisting of over 250 entrepreneur and champion spotlight
case studies and video interviews; coverage by and interviews with local and national print and
broadcast media; a daily blog fuelled by Canada’s leading entrepreneur evangelists and
influencers; and, online and Indi media partner coverage – Startup Canada will bring the national
spotlight to each province. In doing so, Startup Canada will provide a narrative of the evolution,
diversity and character of entrepreneurship in the province, highlight best practices and
community strengths, cover key issues and stories, and showcase and celebrate entrepreneurs
across the province (across industries, generations, and stages of development).
As Startup Canada tours across Canada, it will engage the national community through its Blogs,
weekly eNewsletter, DailyWIRE, and social media discussions, competitions and challenges.
In September and November 2012, Startup Canada will work with its partner community to
consolidate the messages, findings and options coming out of the Town Halls and will undertake
planning exercises at both the national and provincial level, with input from the National Advisory
Council, in planning for the future.
In Global Entrepreneurship Week 2012 (November), Startup Canada will publicly reveal the key
deliverables of the 2012 National Tour and campaign:
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Startup Canada’s 2013-2015 Plan and Priorities (local and national);
White Paper towards a National Entrepreneurship Strategy, which Startup Canada’s
Founding Chairman will submit to the Prime Minister and Minister of State for Small
Business at a special Parliamentary reception;
The Startup Canada Documentary, covering the issues, stories and entrepreneurs of the
Startup Canada 2012 Tour;
Startup Canada Online – Canada’s one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs (incl. personalized
dashboards, national events calendar, startup support marketplace, and job posting site,
etc.); and,
The Startup Canada Catalyst Fund Pilot Project – Funding organizations, projects and
people who contribute to the advancement of Startup Canada’s priorities.
To conclude its first year, Startup Canada will, in partnership with Startup Weekend, run Mega
Startup Weekend, wherein 1,000 Canadian entrepreneurs will launch businesses over the
course of 32-hours in 5 Canadian cities simultaneously, all streamed live with significant
broadcast coverage. Year one will end in an exhilarating celebration with the creation of 1000
new companies and a clear, collective vision for the future.
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Gowlings Value Proposition
In March 2012, Startup Canada will launch as the centerpiece of Canada’s entrepreneurship
community. As Startup Canada’s Founding Legal Sponsor, Gowlings will take its place as the law
firm for Canadian entrepreneurs, helping Canadian entrepreneurs to suceed. Gowlings will
receive:
1. Recognition of Leadership from the Ground Floor as the Founding Legal Sponsor of
Start-p Canada
2. Industry Exclusivity for 3 Years (Platinum level)
3. Engagement in Startup Canada’s work with Government
4. VIP Invitations and Podium Opportunities throughout the Launch, National Tour and
White Paper Reception
5. Branding and Recognition across the Organization, its Programming and Marketing
6. Enhanced exposure and awareness amongst the Canadian entrepreneurship community
– Marketing, Communications, Promotional Support – Directly with more than 25,000
entrepreneurs and more than 200 enterprise support organizations online to more than
250,000 Canadians. Note: This will be amplified through Partnership with Post Media and
op-eds
7. Opportunities to display and engage with Canadian entrepreneurs throughout 30 Town
Halls nation-wide and opportunities to run bespoke programs and events throughout the
Tour
8. Enhanced client offerings by providing clients with access to Startup Canada’s
community and support
9. Naming Opportunities
10. First right of renewal
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Packages
1. Startup Canada Organization
Element
Bronze
($15k)
Silver
($30k)
Gold
($75k)
Platinum
($200k/3
years)
Exclusivity
Website
1. Recognition of Gowlings as the Founding Legal
Sponsor of Startup Canada AND the Startup
Canada National Tour
2. Logo, link and page dedicated to Gowlings on the
New Startup Canada Website
3. Opportunity to contribute blogs and content to the
Startup Canada Website
Press and Marketing Kits
1. Recognition of Gowlings as the Founding Legal
Sponsor of Startup Canada AND the Startup
Canada National Tour on all Press Releases in
2012
2. Inclusion of Gowlings materials and literature in
Startup Canada Marketing Packs
3. Inclusion of Gowligns materials in hard copy
Startup Tool Kits
4. 1-Page Ad space in the Startup Canada 2012 Year
in Review Report
5. Recognition of Gowlings in all written materials
produced
6. Special joint press release announcing the
partnership between Startup Canada and Gowlings
7. Opportunity to join Startup Canada on key
broadcast interview
Online Marketing
1. Gowlings Advertisement on the Startup Canada
Daily WIRE
2. Invite Gowlings to issue a special article for a
Weekly Startup Canada eNewsletter
3. Special video blog profile on Ultima Displays
support of Startup Canada
4. Promotion on a weekly basis through social media
network (Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin)
National Tour
1. Distribute Gowlings literature throughout the 30
Town Halls and more than 100 Fringe events that
are part of the Tour to more than 25,000
entrepreneurs and enterprise support community
members
2. Gowlings can attend, display and engage in
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Startup Canada Programming.
3. Verbal and visual recognition of Gowlings at
EVERY event.
4. Opportunity to send delegates to events
5. Opportunity to receive VIP invitations to events
6. Opportunity to co-brand events
7. A range of podium opportunities at the event
Government
1. Invitation to attend and engage in specific
government events
some
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2. Program Title Sponsors
Full naming rights – e.g. Gowlings Startup Canada 2012 Tour or Startup Canada 2012 Tour
powered by Gowlings
Headline Title Sponsorship – Financial Investment
Amount
Startup Canada Launch Event (March 2012)
$15k
National Tour - Includes all 30 Town Halls and 300 Fringe Events (engaging more
then 50,000 Canadians) (March – November 2012)
$250k
Campaign
TBA
iDEASWiKi (March 2012- March 2013)
$10k
Speakers Corner (March 2012 – November 2013)
$10k
Startup Canada LIVE (March 2012 – November 2013)
$10k
DailyWIRE (March 2012-2013)
$20k
Documentary (November 2012)
$30k
Global Entrepreneurship Week Parliamentary Reception (November 2012)
$25k
Mega Startup Weekend (November 2012)
$200k
Startup Canada Online & App (November 2012)
$200k
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Proposal to Gowlings to become the Founding Legal Sponsor of
Startup Canada. Grow together
Platinum Founding Sponsor
As a Platinum Founding Sponsor of Startup Canada, Gowlings would invest $200k over 3 years
through a combination of in-kind support and financial investment.
Bespoke Support valued at $100k
First six months (Bespoke Support)
Legal Support
 Advise on corporate structure
 Support Startup Canada i
 n securing non-profit and charitable status
 Support the development of a robust legal governance framework
 Provide ongoing legal advice, council and service
 Protect Startup Canada’s copyright and IP
 Leverage the Gowlings executive network to support the sustainability and growth of
Startup Canada
National Tour
 Consider developing bespoke programming alongside National Tour to provide legal
clinics / workshops to entrepreneurs across Canada
 Provide venues for Startup Canada events
 Partner with Startup Canada on a particular marketing element that will be distributed
throughout the Tour to more than 25,000 Canadians – e.g. T-shirts, pins, bags, banners,
flash drive USB pins equip with a Startup Toolkit etc.
Media Campaign
 Leverage PR Capacities to further promote the relationship between Gowlings and
Startup Canada
 Provide expert content to the Startup Canada blog, DailyWIRE, eNewsletter, etc.
 Develop a Gowlings Prize Package that can be delivered as prize for the National Tour
July 2012 Onwards (Bespoke Support)
Legal Support
 Advise on the development of the Catalyst Fund and input into 2013-2015 plans
 Ongoing legal advice, council and service
Startup Canada Online
 Promote and syndicate Gowlings guidance documents, learning tools, content and blog
to the Startup Canada Online
 Consider creating a special Startup Canada offer whereby any Canadian entrepreneur
starting out can get 30min – 1 hour free legal advice.
Mega Startup Weekend
 Provide Mentors for Mega Startup Weekend event
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Partner on co-branded T-shirts and USB Startup Toolkits for all participants.
Provide special Gowlings Startup Offering to all entrepreneurs
Platinum Financial Investment of $100k
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$50k Year 1
$35k Year 2
$35k Year 3
Headline Sponsor
As Startup Canada’s Platinum Founding Legal Sponsor, Gowlings would also be invited to
additionally consider taking Headline Sponsorship of one of 11 Startup Canada Programs above,
such that Gowlings would co-brand that particular program alongside Startup Canada.
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