Local entrepreneurs are in for five days of workshops, panels, and networking events as part of Saskatoon Startup Week, which launched on Monday.

Stephane O’Reilly is the Director of Entrepreneurship for SREDA and Chair of the Saskatoon Startup Week Committee. 

He says the event is about building connections and momentum within Saskatoon’s entrepreneur community. 

“Great things can happen when you bring different types of people from different industries together in a room, as well as connect them with different service organizations. We have about 20 events happening throughout the week.”

A few of them include a luncheon at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Startup Stories on Tap, taking place at 9 Mile Legacy Brewing, and the final event of the week, Fail Fest.

“We’ll be interviewing a stacked lineup of entrepreneurs sharing their story of success, but also those failures along the way. The goal is just to destigmatize the idea of failure. It happens to everyone.”

He adds that this is the event’s second year in action. 

“We have a little bit larger of a lineup this year, with a few different things. There are some pitch sessions to help you if you’re pitching, more workshop type events, and just more organizations from underrepresented demographics.”

Last year saw about 900 people attend over the course of the week, and he’s shooting for 1000 or more this year.