Launchpad for Backing Canadian Small Businesses is a complimentary web-based skills development platform available to all eligible applicants of the Backing Canadian Small Businesses grant and mentorship program—created to support business growth with self-paced learning. The platform includes modules on leadership, strategic planning, operations management, financial modelling, and goal setting through a series of instructional videos, quizzes and interactive surveys designed to help track progress.

By submitting to register for the platform, I confirm that I applied with this email address for Backing Canadian Small Businesses.

Launchpad for Backing Canadian Small Businesses content is created and delivered by DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University. By submitting to register for Launchpad for Backing Canadian Small Businesses, I acknowledge that American Express assumes no responsibility or liability for any content provided.

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Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Chapter 1: Starting Up

    • Welcome to Backing Canadian Small Businesses

    • Launchpad for Backing Canadian Small Businesses: Pre-Course Survey

    • How to Start a Business

    • Quiz: How to Start a Business

    • The Canvases

    • What is Design Thinking?

    • Quiz: What is Design Thinking?

    • Business Name Registry

    • Quiz: Business Name Registry

    • Goal Setting

    • Quiz: Goal Setting
  • 2

    Chapter 2: Finance Basics

    • Basics of Finance

    • Debt vs. Equity

    • Quiz: Debt vs. Equity

    • Bootstrapping

    • Fundraising

    • Grants and Where to Find Them

    • Quiz: Grants and Where to Find Them
  • 3

    Chapter 3: Talent

    • Hiring First Team Members

    • Quiz: Hiring First Team Members

    • Talent in a Business

    • Leading Through Uncertain Times

    • How to Manage Remote Teams
  • 4

    Chapter 4: Sales and Marketing

    • Introduction to Sales

    • Introduction to Product

    • Building an MVP for Businesses

    • Quiz: Building an MVP for Business

    • Marketing Fundamentals

    • Personal Branding

    • How to Pitch Your Business

    • Self- Assessment on Pitching your Business

    • What is Your Pitch?

    • Question: What is your Pitch?

    • Quiz: Final Quiz for Launchpad for Blueprint: Backing Businesses

    • Congratulations!

    • Launchpad for Blueprint:Backing Businesses Post-Course Survey

Access to Launchpad for Backing Canadian Small Businesses

Email addresses that register for Launchpad for Backing Canadian Small Businesses will be cross-referenced with the applicant list. Any emails that do not match the existing application list will receive a follow-up to confirm application details, if applicable. 

If an individual registering for Launchpad for Backing Canadian Small Businesses has not previously applied to the program, unfortunately, access to the platform will be removed.