Startup Learning

If you are curious about starting something — or you already have a job in tech and want to understand the business side — this is the map. Pick the row that sounds like you and start there. Everything is written plainly and points to real people in Central Alberta, then Alberta and beyond.

“I’m just curious what this startup thing is”

• Startup 101 — What a startup is and is not.
• Startup Myths — The advice you hear, checked against reality.
• Great Startup Reads — The best free things to read and watch.

“I think I have an idea”

• Ideal Customers (ICP) — Who exactly is this for?
• Customer Interviews — How to talk to real people without leading them.
• Testing Hypotheses — Turn assumptions into cheap experiments.
• Lean Canvas & Business Planning — A one-page plan you can actually keep using.

“I want to build the thing”

• Product Development (MVP) — The smallest version that teaches you something.
• Technology & Innovation — Build vs buy, tools, and using AI well.
• Remote Work & Distributed Teams — You can build from Red Deer and hire anywhere.

“I need customers and money”

• Marketing & Messaging — Say it clearly to the right people.
• Content Marketing — Earn attention without a big budget.
• Sales & Revenue — The first sales and how to price.
• Funding & Investment — Non-dilutive first, then investors.
• SR&ED & NRC-IRAP — Two Canadian programs worth real money.

“I’m running it now”

• Legal & Compliance — Structure, registration, contracts, privacy.
• Human Resources — First hires, contractors and culture.
• Product-Led Growth — When the product can sell itself.
• Networking & Community — Build the relationships that carry you.

Take the next step

Reading is cheap; doing one small thing and talking it through with someone is what moves it forward. Come to a meetup and bring whatever you are stuck on. No pitch, no sign-up, no sales — peers over beers.