Smart Start Your Business - Entrepreneurial Training Program

SMARTstart not only is a training program – it's a community builder
Entrepreneurs that are set-up with local resources have a better chance to succeed and thrive in your community.
Forge stronger collaborative relationships and help form a robust business community.

Our Communities

Lakeland

Bow Valley Pride Network

Canmore

Cochrane

Grande Prairie

Leduc-Wetaskiwin

Lethbridge

Red Deer

What People Are Saying

My business was less than three years old, so I qualified and was accepted. People suddenly seemed to know me when I joined – I had tapped into a wide pool of support and mentors I didn’t know existed.

Dr Melanie B, Blessingways Wellness, Airdrie

When my husband, self-employed for years, said he wished there had been a program like this for new businesses when he first started, I knew we were on to a good thing.

Nathalie Hahn, the SMARTstart Coordinator at Community Futures West Yellowhead

The cost is minimal, and the benefits are huge. It gives you a good foundation and a base of knowledge to build on. Best of all, you make connections and interact with others. Both things are needed to grow a business. Many entrepreneurs miss this, and SMARTstart helps you to understand what it takes to add up to success.

Jessica H, Mentor, Hinton

We incorporated the uniqueness that is Canmore into the program. An extra workshop corporate responsibility was important to us, plus we covered the importance of considering the values of the community, including environmentalism.

Caylee, SMARTstart Canmore coordinator

SMARTstart gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed in order to assess, and execute my business idea. It helped me to take betters decisions and avoid common pitfalls. The mentorship part is an amazing value added to the program!

Vladimir G., Maxi Foods, Airdrie