DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair

Plan, launch & grow your business at our annual fair

Held annually in Surrey, BC, during Small Business Month, the free DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair supports diverse entrepreneurs to get the knowledge and tools they need to plan, launch and grow their own business in Canada. Launched in 2016 by DIVERSEcity’s self-employment programs, the fair has helped hundreds of diverse entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Join us for the FREE 2023 DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair!

Date: October 18, 2023
Time: 3–7 pm
Location: Surrey City Hall
13450 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC (Steps from Surrey Central SkyTrain Station)
Everyone welcome!

Event highlights:

3–5 pm:  Small business tradeshow with services and resources
3–5 pm: Diverse marketplace featuring clients from the Diverse Entrepreneurs Business Incubator, presented by CWB
5 pm: DIVERSEtalks panel discussion on “Success in Business: From Launch to Expansion”

Moderated by Nick Noorani, Founder of Immigrant Networks, the panellists include:

  • Viridiana Perez,CEO and Co-Founder of NANOSentinel Technologies
  • Shobna Kannusamy, Founder and Principal Coach at Soirette Coaching & Consulting
  • VJ Terzic, Founder of MOST Connected, a boutique consultancy firm

6 pm: DIVERSEcity Business Pitch Competition, onstage, Dragons’ Den style (6 pm)

*Note: Applications for the Pitch Competition are now closed.

 

Register to attend the free event via Eventbrite here.

Want to exhibit your business at the fair? Contact selfemployment@dcrs.ca.



2023

Silver Sponsors 

 

FEATURED EXHIBITORS

EXHIBITORS & SUPPORTERS


 

 


Be a sponsor or exhibitor!

Want to be a sponsor, exhibitor or partner? Download our sponsorship package here.

Newcomers face countless barriers to employment, so it’s no surprise then that many newcomers turn to self-employment and entrepreneurship after arrival, with higher rates than Canadian-born people. Statistics show that 10.8 per cent of self-employment Canadians are immigrants, versus 7.5 per cent who are born in Canada.

It’s, in fact, a global trend. A study by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that immigrants were more likely to start businesses than native-born populations in most of the 69 countries surveyed. Why is this the case? Immigrants have the education, skills and risk tolerance to succeed as entrepreneurs. However, they lack information on the local context of doing business. That’s why new immigrant entrepreneurs need additional support.

BIPOC and women entrepreneurs also face added barriers in starting their own businesses, including access to funding. Yet they are both growing demographics in self-employment. The DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair is a great starting point for newcomers, BIPOC, women and other diverse community members.

Want to connect with these growing demographics of entrepreneurs? Join the DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur and Small Business Fair as a sponsor.

Download our Sponsorship Package 2023


The 2022 Fair

On October 19, 2022,  the fair was a great success with 300+ attendees, featuring:

  • A tradeshow with information and resources about starting a business and settling in Canada
  • Immigrant business marketplace
  • Sponsor presentations, including from presenting sponsor CWB
  • Our new DIVERSEcity Business Pitch Competition for immigrant and BIPOC entrepreneurs — Dragons’ Den style with prizes of up to $2,000.
  • Presentation of the CWB Women Makers and Creators Award 2022 (prize of $1,000)
  • Keynote Speaker: Avi Arya, founder, Internet Moguls on “How to be a Fearless Entrepreneur”
  • Emcee: Paola Murillo, Founder, Latincouver

Read our story about about the 2022 event and the Business Pitch Competition winners here.


2021 DIVERSEcity Entrepreneur & Small Business Fair

Our 2021 hybrid event was a great success with 150+ attendees, a dozen exhibitors, two inspirational speakers including celebrity chef Vikram Vij and Freshworks CEO Samarth Mod, and the presentation of our Immigrant Entrepreneur Grants. Watch our video below!