General FAQs

 

Q. When will the next SBA Program be offered?

A. The next SBA program will be offered once funding has been secured. The BC Commercial Fishing Caucus, T. Buck Suzuki Foundation, and Coastal Nations Fisheries are actively seeking funding opportunities for the SBA program. 

 

In the meantime, take advantage of the SBA Online Resources and get started on your Innovation Plan today!

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Q. Who do I contact if I have questions about the Seafood Business Accelerator?

A. Please send all enquiries through the Contact Us form on our website. 

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Q. Who do I contact if I am interested in supporting (funding, sponsorship, being a mentor) the SBA program. 

A. We would love to hear from you! Please fill out the Contact Us form on our website and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

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2023 SBA Participant FAQs

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Q. Are businesses or entrepreneurs involved with Farmed Finfish eligible?

A. Yes, providing that they meet the criteria “Only B.C.-based small-scale seafood harvesters that are not subsidiaries of national or international companies are eligible for the Seafood Business Accelerator”.

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Q. How many people from my company or organization can participate?

A. How many people participate depends on the activity.

In-person workshops: Are limited to 1 or 2 people attend from each organization. This is due to space and catering limitations.

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Virtual workshops and Webinars: There are no restrictions – anyone from you organization can watch, however we ask that only 1 person from your group speaks in virtual breakout sessions or discussions.

Coaching and Experts in Residence: To benefit the most from coaching and expert advice it is best to limit the number of people that meet with them to one or two.

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Q. How much time will the SBA take?

A. We generally estimate that it will take 54 hours (plus travel time to the two in-person events) to attend all the SBA activities. However, the more you put into your project, the more you will accomplish.

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Q. Will there be homework?

A. Yes, there will be homework. For instance, you need to prepare prior to meeting with your Business Coach, or Expert in Residence. This may include following up on your coach’s and expert’s recommendations, writing down your questions before meetings and taking notes while speaking with coaches and experts. 

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Q. What do I need in terms of technology? Can I use my cell phone?

A. Possibly. You might be able to do the SBA program on your cell phone, but it would be better if you used a PC or Laptop for the virtual activities, to complete your Innovation Plan and other exercises. You will need a stable Internet connection, and a webcam to participate in the online activities and a word processing program to complete your assignments.

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Q. What kind of assignments will there be?

A. Do not worry, there will only be a few assignments, and all of them will be directly related to your business. Here are some examples of SBA assignments:

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Two-Minute “Commercial”: You will be invited to come to the first workshop prepared to give a two-minute “commercial”  or presentation about yourself. In your presentation you should cover:

1. Personal Background – who you are, where you are from (15 seconds)

2. Career or Life Experiences – related to your business (15-30 seconds)

3. About Your Business – what you do, your successes, your plans (45-60 seconds)

4. Why are you attending the Seafood Business Accelerator – what do you want to accomplish (15-30 seconds)

 

Innovation Plan (see next question) – A one-page, fillable template that will describe what you want to do in one page. You may have additional details to add as attachments to your Innovation Plan.

Your Story: You will participate in an interview with a professional writer who will craft your story. You can use this story for marketing your business, for funding or finance applications and more.

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Communicating Your Project: At the final event you be asked to communicate what you accomplished through the SBA. Your coach and experts will be available to help.

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Q. What is an innovation plan?

A. Your innovation plan is your guide to how you will get to where you want to go with your project.   Think of it as a road map for your project.  Your coach will help you to develop your plan and to help you create a simple project model. This project model will be based on Lean Canvas principles and provides you with a one page living plan that you can modify as circumstances change. You will use your innovation plan to work with Expert(s) in Residence so that you can home in on exactly what you need to work on. You can also present your plan to potential buyers, investors, or financers to quickly help them understand your project.

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Q. What happens if I miss a session?

A. While it is best if you can participate in all activities, we know that you are busy and may need some flexibility. If you absolutely can’t make an in-person event, we will arrange for you to watch and make presentations virtually. All virtual workshops and webinars will be recorded so that you can watch on your own time.

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Q. Are seafood processors eligible? 

A. Yes, providing that they are a B.C. based small-scale seafood processor that is not a subsidiary of a national or international company.  

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