2SLGBTQIA+ Inspire and Innovate Entrepreneurship Program
Inspire and Innovate connects current business leaders with the future of 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurship for a ten month program focused on supporting start-ups.

The Alberta 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce invites you to apply to Inspire and Innovate, a mentorship program designed to prepare aspiring and early-career entrepreneurs who are members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community for the next steps in their business journey.
Mentors can expect to:
- Give back to the next generation of leaders in our community.
- Participate in the growth of a new startup with a talented 2SLGBTQIA+ founder.
- Provide critical professional development to a new or aspiring entrepreneur.
- Support the next generation of Albertan innovation.
- Grow their network of 2SLGBTQIA+ business owners.
Mentees can expect to:
- Get matched with an established business leader for mentorship tailored to their professional needs.
- Learn how to design, found, or scale their startup.
- Attend seminars provided by industry champions on marketing fundamentals, accounting fundamentals, and more.
- Get invited to in-person networking events located in Calgary and Edmonton.
- Gain assistance in navigating existing support and resources for entrepreneurs provided by the Government of Alberta, the Government of Canada, and non-profit organizations.
- Join a network of 2SLGBTQIA+ business owners.
Mentorship Program Timeline (2024-2025)
September 13th to October 14th: Registration will be open for Mentors and Mentees into the Alberta 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce’s Mentorship Program.
October 15th to October 21st: Prospective Mentors and Mentees will be juried and informed as to whether they have been admitted to the program.
October 21st: The program will be launched online and all Mentors and Mentees will receive their assigned pairings based on overlapping interests and expected fit.
October 22nd – August 15th: Mentors and Mentees will meet a minimum of eight times to fulfill the program graduation requirements. Mentees will be required to attend a minimum of four of the online six provided seminars during this time period. Mentors will not be required to attend the seminars. 2 optional in-person events with networking opportunities will also be made available in both Calgary and Edmonton respectively.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Chris Beasley, at Chris.Beasley@ab-lgbt.com.

We are proud that Inspire and Innovate was made possible by funding from Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Government of Canada, through the Ecosystem Fund.