Competitive Analysis of Online Communities for Entrepreneurs

Strengthening the Agri-Food Online Community For over 20 years, Bioenterprise Canada has been accelerating agri-food businesses and building a strong network of partners, including accelerators, industry groups, academic institutions, investors, and, most importantly, entrepreneurs. One of the most frequent challenges our entrepreneurs face is: How can I connect with peers, engage with investors, and build meaningful partnerships in the agri-food sector? We believe the solution lies in a thriving online community tailored to the agri-food ecosystem. The Engine: Our Online Community We have taken the first step by launching The Engine —our digital community—on the DISCO platform. (Preview it here: The Engine ). The Engine is more than just a networking community—it also serves as a centralized platform for the Bioenterprise team to efficiently manage memberships, process payments, and seamlessly integrate with our CRM for streamlined data tracking. We now want to refine and expand The Engine by learning from other successful online communities. Project Goals This project will focus on two key areas: 1️⃣ Community Research We want to explore existing online communities designed for entrepreneurs and the agri-food sector. This includes platforms like YODL, CAAIN , and others. We’ll analyze: Their purpose, audience, and engagement strategies How they facilitate networking, deal flow, and collaboration What makes them successful and where there are gaps 2️⃣ Technology & Platform Analysis Beyond the communities themselves, we also want to assess the software platforms they run on. While The Engine is built on DISCO , we want to compare it to other tools to ensure we are using the best solution. This analysis will cover: Features like CRM, integrations, and user experience Costs and accessibility Strengths and weaknesses compared to other platforms

5th Anniversary Marketing Plan and Media Kit for Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine

Project description, scope, and expectations Established in 2020, this year marks the 5th anniversary of Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine. We want to celebrate our milestones and amplify our reach through a strategic marketing plan, backed by a polished and professional media kit. This kit will be used across social media, newsletters, our website, partner outreach, and industry events. We’re seeking organized, creative students to help us develop our marketing strategy and plan and design the marketing assets/materials to amplify this anniversary celebration: showcase our achievements, highlight member success stories, and engage new stakeholders in 2025. Interest in agri-food, technology, or startup ecosystems is beneficial but not required. This project can support up to 4 students in the following roles: 1 – project management and final presentation x 60 hours 2 – marketing strategy and development x 60 hours 3 – copywriting and content creation x 60 hours 4 – graphic design and content creation x 60 hours About Bioenterprise Canada Bioenterprise Canada has been driving the acceleration of food and agri-tech innovation for more than 20 years. We help entrepreneurs transform their cutting-edge innovations into commercial success stories through mentorship, advisory services, funding, business resources, and vital networking connections. Five years ago, we formed The Engine – a community of like-minded industry partners and members working together to support the agri-food ecosystem.  The Engine is built on the principals of fostering collaboration and cooperation throughout the agri-food sector. Our team of industry experts and advisors is dedicated to driving transformative solutions. By embracing that power of collaboration within our own organization, we’re committed to helping Canadian agri-food businesses thrive and scale – regionally, nationally, and globally. Today, The Engine comprises more than 800 partners and members across Canada and continues to grow!

Marketing Plan for 20th Anniversary Celebration - Project 2

The main goal of the project is to create a marketing plan for our 20th anniversary celebration. We are looking for a student who can work with us to develop a successful strategy and promotional plan leading up to our 20th anniversary celebration.

Marketing Plan for 20th Anniversary Celebration - Project 1

The main goal of the project is to create a marketing plan for our 20th anniversary celebration. We are looking for a student who can work with us to develop a successful strategy and promotional plan leading up to our 20th anniversary celebration.