June 19, 2019 • 26 mins
These ladies put the fun in funding! Natalie Davison Co-founder of Marrow Marketing and Diane Doucet, Co-founder of Dovico Software share their experience with government programs that helped grow their companies. Government contributions can help startup companies as well as mature companies.
Reference:
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/grants.html
Dovico Software Inc - https://www.dovico.com/
Marrow | Marketing Training - https://www.madeofmarrow.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hi, it's the younger set from Debbie.
Softer year again.
First we can time after doing anSRE needy podcast.
I'm here joined by NatalieDavidson from marrow marketing.
Hi, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I'm good.
How are you?
Good, thank you.
So happy to see you again.
I'm so excited to be here.
This is my second professionalpodcast, but my first one in a
studio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Wow.
And a nice one at that is nice.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Did a great job at setting thisup.
Um, so I'll tell you a littlebit about Nellie.
Uh, we met not very long agoactually.
She knew other members of ourteam before me, but I was happy
to make her acquaintance as sheis very well known in this
(00:49):
region, I believe in because ofher marketing abilities.
She started marrow marketingonly a year,
Speaker 2 (00:57):
just over a year ago.
Yeah.
A year ago.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
And they're doing fantastic.
It's really fun to look to, tosee her go.
Um, and her partner, Kira.
Kira.
That's right.
And, um, so anyways, so Natalie,can you talk to us a little bit
about marrow before we hop intoour discussion topic of
(01:19):
government funding.
She called it government puttingthe fun in funding, putting the
funding, the funding.
Yeah, that's a really, that's akeeper for that.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah.
Right there.
Yeah.
So tell us a little bit aboutyourself and your company before
we start.
Okay, great.
So marrow is a purpose drivencontent marketing agency and we
throw the tagline or that thedescriptor purpose driven into
that because we want people tounderstand that um, we're not
(01:50):
just a transactional get youmore leads type agency.
We really, really want to helporganizations, entrepreneurs and
not for profits dig into theheart of the matter in their
organization.
So if there's not a lot ofpurpose and there's a lot more
transactional work going on, wewant to, um, force you to go,
(02:10):
you know, deeper so that you canfind that purpose and create a
more aligned workspace, a morealigned company so that your
culture, your clients and all ofyour community are really
aligned in a way that createsmore value for everybody that
interacts with yourorganization.
So that's where we come from interms of values and you know,
what's, what's behind ourmessage in terms of services.
(02:33):
We do work with clients oncommunication strategy and
content marketing strategy, butwe primarily focus on education
and speaking.
And so that's where the marrowmarketing lab came in, which is
the program we just completedtogether.
And, uh, we currently do inperson events, in person
programs, and we're working onour first digital program right
(02:54):
now that will be offered onlinefor people regardless of
geography.
Right.
So that,
Speaker 1 (03:00):
that's interesting to you too as you know, as a
company who does marketing, um,g makes sense that you can sort
of help them market theirprogram as well.
In a sense that, you know, ifyou follow, if you applied for
this grant, you can attend our,yeah,
Speaker 2 (03:17):
our marketing course.
Yeah, we were, we were fortunateI think in our province to have
a lot of support from, um, fromthe government, from initiatives
across Atlantic Canada and thenfrom so from the provincial
government and also the federalgovernment in terms of
supporting business growth andeconomic development, which is
fabulous.
Um, my very first experiencehiring a marketing agency before
(03:39):
you ever owned one or worked inone years ago, we were doing a
rebrand in that company that Iwas working for.
I was the marketing manager andat that time that was my first
experience, understanding thatthese opportunities were
available.
I was working for anentrepreneur and we were able to
access learn spheres, exportdevelopment program, which
subsidize some of the work thatwe were doing to try and export
(04:01):
what we were working on.
And um, that's just really, youknow, got kind of my wheels
turning and got me interested inunderstanding what is available
for entrepreneurs to take themkind of to the next level.
Because geographically, I mean,yes, you know, we have access
online to so many people, butlike physically we just don't
have as many people in ourregion.
(04:22):
So it's really, really nice whenwe have these opportunities that
are presented to helporganizations reach more people.
And that's really what a lot ofthese programs are for.
Even when it comes to, you know,training and development, it's
really to encourage theseorganizations to step higher in
step, you know, and step outsideand start exporting and really
(04:43):
seeing beyond the geographicalboundaries or limitations of a
province of our size.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yes.
And you mentioned before we hada little discussion and you
mentioned BDC.
No, I've never used a programset BDC have to offer in terms
of training or starting a tohelp start ups.
Um,
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I actually, uh, I was CBDC that I've worked with in
the past.
Yes.
So what happened and what'sreally interesting is, um, I, my
job was eliminated when I wasworking for somebody else and so
I didn't really know what wasnext for me.
And so I took a couple of monthsto try and figure out where I
was headed and an opportunitycame up that made me realize
(05:24):
that I could do some consultingwork and I could probably make a
go and make a living at that.
And so I contacted our localCBDC and just, I had heard there
were maybe some programsavailable for people like me,
these kind of solopreneurs orsomebody starting a business
from scratch.
And so CBDC was incredible.
So I applied and was acceptedfor their s e B program, which
(05:48):
is the self employment benefitprogram.
That's new Brunswick programs.
So, uh, I have a lot of friendsand associates in Ontario that
wished they could have had a CVCV.
Um, so it's a fantastic programhere in New Brunswick for
anybody who's thinking aboutstarting at business or who's
recently had a loss of work.
And essentially they subsidize awage for your first year of self
(06:08):
employment, which is, I mean,unbelievable.
And within that you also havetraining dollars that are
allocated.
And so I think they give, at themoment, it's 2019.
Right now, I think they give abudget of$1,200 per se be
recipient per training dollars.
And so that was a great kickofffor me to start my consulting
(06:28):
business and really just tookthat fear off the table to get
me to put one foot in front ofthe other and really gave me a
year of runway to get myselfsome self sustaining.
So then interestingly our veryfirst marrow marketing lab was
about a year ago.
And the reason we started themarketing lab was in the span of
(06:48):
two weeks I had had six peoplereach out, six like independent
people that you know, didn'tknow each other and say I'm on
the Seb, I have this$1,200training budget that I can spend
and I want to learn marketingand I want to learn it from you.
Can you teach?
Can you train me?
And individual training was notsomething that we want to spend
(07:09):
a lot of time doing as anorganization.
Like it's just one to one isjust, it's Ah, it's very
intensive for us and we don'thave the resources or capacity
for that.
So I looked at Kierra and Isaid, I think we should develop
a group program, which was ourmirror marketing labs.
So the very first Merrillmarketing lab came from the fact
that these entrepreneurs arecoming out of that program with
this training budget and reallywanting to put it somewhere that
(07:33):
would make them more effective,um, that aligned with their
values.
And they didn't see enoughanything like that in the
marketplace.
So that's why we designed thelab.
Oh Wow.
So it came out of that, that Ididn't know that.
That's interesting.
Oh Wow.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
And there's a number of other provincial programs as
well as a national programs aswell.
So the, on the provincial level,there's a seed program that I
don't know if people know aboutand the seat program is, um, for
students, for some students tohire summer students.
So the students sort of gets avoucher and then they can go and
(08:09):
apply to a four jobs.
There's also, um, um, you know,people that debt are on e I
unemployment insurance benefitsand, or are under employed.
So work, let's say you want tohire a programmer.
I don't know, somebody to helpyou in marketing, but they're
working at a Tim Horton's.
And so they're sort of, theyhave more skills, but they're
(08:33):
underemployed.
So the, uh, the program underthe, the pedal, yeah.
We'll offer you that opportunityto hire that person.
That's fantastic.
And I think there's no shortageof people who are kind of over
qualified and underemployednowadays.
Yes, exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, um, there's also otherprograms, uh, with the federal
(08:53):
government, and recently I justfound this last week actually,
they did a webpage, uh, that youcan go and try to figure out
which programs apply to yourbusiness.
So whether you're inagriculture, engineering, R and
D, um, marketing.
So you have access to a numberof different programs at the
(09:15):
federal government as well.
And if you go to Canada dot.
Ca and I'm sure there's theequivalent of that in, in other
countries like in us, but, um,you know, because we're in
Canada, we focus on that.
Yeah.
And, uh, uh, Dovecote we've beenfortunate enough to, to get, uh,
to have access to theseprograms.
(09:35):
And I think that, um, startupsespecially may not know all of
these programs that areavailable.
Um, and like you mentioned learnsphere, which is a very good one
for marketing activities.
You can even get, um, a dollarsfor exporting and things like
that.
That's under the Alcoa, um, theECOA umbrella,
Speaker 2 (09:57):
right?
The Atlantic Canadianopportunities agency and they,
um, that's a regional, so learnsphere used to be a provincial
program and now it's a regionalprogram.
So it's actually accessible bypeople all over Atlanta, Canada,
which is, um, makes it morecompetitive for new Brunswickers
now obviously.
But it means that there's moreorganizations across our region
benefiting, which is absolutelyfantastic.
(10:19):
It's a wonderful program throughlearn sphere.
I find through our programs, Iwould say this about 60% of the
people who come through ourprograms have some kind of
funding subsidy from thegovernment because they're
startups and that's who we'reworking with.
Um, and so those are comingfrom, you know, CBDC as I
mentioned, CBDC also has a womenin business program, which is a
(10:42):
really great as well.
And so that one's a little bitmore money for the a training
budget.
Uh, it requires a one to onecomponent.
So we, we work that out and weactually do one on one hours
with the people who receivethat.
But if you are a woman inbusiness, your businesses owned
more than 50% by a woman.
So even if you have a businesspartner but you're, I think
(11:03):
you're 50 or 51% partner, youare eligible for that and you
can access that through CBDC.
It's a really, really goodprogram and they're always
looking for great people toreceive that.
Um, you mentioned theagriculture programs as well
through the federal government.
We've had some of those comethrough the lab.
Uh, really, you know, it'sreally interesting once you
(11:24):
start digging into what'savailable for you.
I know that if you're involvedin tech and innovation here in
New Brunswick, if that'sanybody, we have a ven who can
really direct you that way aswell.
So if you're going to thatwebsite, that Canada dot.
Ca and you're still kind of notsure, um, the people that van
would be happy to direct youaccordingly am certain because
that's what they exist for.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Well that, that's great.
So you see there, I'm learningevery day because those are
things I didn't know.
Of course being with innovationand technology, we, uh, have
access to two different programsthen, you know, other types of
businesses have.
So I've been of course focusingmore on business and he taught
technology and that's what Iknow.
But I didn't know about whatyou, what you mentioned there.
(12:06):
So, well there you go.
There you go.
I don't know about the Ai Cryptoactual scientific research.
Yeah, well I'm sorry, programsare, are business related as
well.
So for example, you mentionedthe Koa.
We've had help from a Koa, uh,on a number of occasions.
(12:27):
They have programs that are, um,grants, non refund,
nonrefundable a, um, money.
Um, and they're very, very goodprograms.
But they also have, um, um,interests or your loans, right?
Programs that are into threeloans and they focus more on
business.
So we've used them.
(12:47):
For example, when we starteddual vico, uh, we needed, um,
money for marketing at thattime.
They had programs for that.
I don't know if they still dotoday, but, uh, now they may go
through learn sphere.
They had, uh, we've used them aswell for quality improvement.
So if we needed to, to gotowards a certain certification,
(13:09):
ISO or whatever it was, so theywill help out with that.
A backoffice things.
So if you need to implement asystem to improve your business
so that your business can grow,yeah, they will help out with
that.
So that's a Coa.
But a Koa is, don't forget it'sCanadian.
So a Koa is with the federalgovernment and they help out
(13:31):
hope, help out the Atlanticprovinces.
But the same, they haveagencies, they have five
agencies, so they have one inOntario, one in Quebec, you
know, in and out in the West aswell, in the north of Canada.
So they have five differentagencies like our Atlantic coin,
but the Atlantic quantities call, uh, like you said, deadline,
(13:53):
tick business, um, yeah,Atlantic Canadian opportunities
agency.
I should know that by heart andI do is just because this is the
average.
Yeah, right.
That's a lot of pressure inhere.
I do.
So my gut, all the equipment[inaudible] fancy.
Yeah.
Um, yeah, I think it's actuallyreally fascinating.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
And super important that those funds are considered
on a regional basis.
So I know that a Coa, thisAtlantic Canadian arm of the
federal government'sopportunities agency, um,
designs training and programsspecifically centered around
what's going on in AtlanticCanada.
So they really do have theirfinger on the pulse of our
(14:34):
economy and what's happening.
And that's so essential.
And if somebody was sitting inoffice in Ottawa, that would be
a lot harder for them to do ifthey weren't on the ground the
way that they are.
So at kind of, you know, anygiven moment, I mean, we'll run
into people from a Koa, add anevent and the networking event
right in
Speaker 1 (14:52):
our city are very small city and they're really,
really integrated in thebusiness community, in the
various communities acrossAtlantic Canada.
And I think that's how they'reable to continue to be so
effective in the programdelivery.
Yes.
And they're actually really easyto work with, even at the
provincial level to all the, allthe government employees that
I've worked with.
I've worked for the federal, uh,federal government and myself.
(15:14):
Did you know that?
I didn't know that.
Oh yeah, I did.
[inaudible][inaudible] quitefancies or, um, anyway, getting
back to that though, I, andthere's another program I like
to mention as well.
He's the National ResearchCouncil.
Now again, being in innovationand research.
(15:35):
Um, the National ResearchCouncil has a number of
different programs in one thatis not well known and easily
accessible is hiring new youth.
So hiring youth, uh, for, foryour business.
That's fantastic.
So it could be somebody to doresearch.
Um, it could be a student, butit could be someone who is
working as well.
And they, it's, it's a 20, theygive, I think one they gave
(15:58):
20,000, and the other one theygave 10,000.
So, and you know the, um, Idon't, I'm putting on the spot
now, but do you know the agerange when they say youth?
I think it's a 35.
So I'd always, I laugh[inaudible] well for me now it
is fun.
Yeah.
I think you're younger than I amabout to enter a new, um, a new
(16:21):
decade next year.
So I'm not here to tell.
I can't tell.
Thank you.
But, but that's sometimes whenwe think all youth funding, you
know, we have these preconceivednotions about what that means
and we forget how large thatdefinition can be when it comes
to these programs.
Yes, exactly.
So we need to encourage them.
We always have students at DoeVico this time of year we're
(16:44):
having going, going to have forthis year.
So these programs for us arevery important because otherwise
it would be difficult to hirethem because they bring a lot of
value.
I have to say that we've hadstudents that started at tobacco
in that we hired right afterwhen they finished and we found
the, they brought a lot ofvalue, but it's still, you know,
(17:06):
an additional cost to yourbusiness and it's not always
easy to, to, you know, take thaton.
And if you don't have access tothose programs, it makes it more
difficult.
So, uh, the National ResearchCouncil, I don't know how long
this program has been in effect,but I only found out about it a
(17:27):
couple of years ago.
Um, there's another program withthe National Research Council is
called Iraq.
Don't ask me, um, what it'sprobably has an innovation
research and I don't know whatthe AAP means.
So I made the P is a program.
Yeah, probably.
But a lot of acronyms, which isfine.
You get used to them, right?
(17:48):
Yeah, I know.
I mean, I know I wrapped, but,uh, not me rapping on the
microphone.
I like this sound to pick.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Thank you.
So, uh, but, but I rap, he'squite a nice program as well.
It does require a little bitmore, um, on, in terms of, um,
(18:09):
preparation to apply for it.
But, uh, the, there's a lot morefunding available.
It's not, you know, it's morethan the 25,000.
You can get 500,000, you canget, you know, even more than
that.
So, um, it does take a biggerplan, bigger planning.
Um, it needs, there needs to bea neat in research.
(18:31):
Yeah.
100%.
So, uh, we've had theopportunity tunity to have that,
but the claiming as well alsohas, um, additional
documentation to it.
So for example, if you havepeople working on that project,
you have to track their time.
And funny enough, that's what wedo.
Oh my goodness.
What a coincidence.
(18:52):
I know.
What is that?
But, um, and I just found out we, we recently signed a contract
with a NRC.
Yay.
For, um, Ai and, and um, youknow, too, well, I can't even
really talk about isconfidential.
Uh, this, this podcast will selfdestructive.
She tells us anymore.
(19:13):
It's secret.
But, um, I was, I was looking atthe, their requirements for a
report and, uh, we have theexact report that they need for
claiming.
So it made my job really easy.
Uh, did you, are there in yourtime and double time sheet?
Yeah, it's like a grid with theemployee names across the top
and all the hours that theyspend on a daily basis.
(19:35):
And it's exactly when she sentit to me by Xcel.
Um, the template, I mean, andwhen I opened it, I thought, oh,
well we have that report.
How Nice is that?
Well, wouldn't it be nice ifthey would just send your link
well to everybody who applied tothe program?
And so that's exactly what Isaid.
I send them an email, you know,can you, can you send this to
(19:57):
your clients?
And they said, no, but Iunderstand.
[inaudible] I tried, I tried andI thought, okay, I'll hire Nally
and see if she can do something.
[inaudible] fantastic.
Yeah.
Oh, that's really interesting.
So those are our really goodprograms that are accessible as
well to small business.
And if you're doing research anddevelopment, uh, you know that
(20:22):
you need, um, you need to hirethose people before sometimes
you even have a product.
So this money really, reallyhelps because you don't have
anything to sell.
Although we do Adobe Echo.
But when we started are we going, RC was there in a co was there
as well and they helped us getour first prototype out, our
(20:43):
first minimum viable product outand they give, gave us money to
do that, to hire those people.
And some of those people arestill with us today.
Yeah.
So 25 years or later, like me,25 years later, 25 years later.
It's funny.
Five didn't want to say my age,but, well you didn't.
(21:04):
No I didn't.
You're only in 25 years old.
Four years old when you startedhere.
Thank you.
So there you go.
I mean, you know, those programsare essential and not only, I
mean, that's a great point aboutstarting up, but now it's going
to allow you to innovate.
So even though you havesomething to sell, you know, you
have to evolve.
And so having access again tocontinue research and
(21:25):
development while you're sellingthe thing you already built to
make that thing better isessential to being able to
survive and thrive.
Right.
There's another programavailable that we didn't touch
on and that's what the province,and it's with the opportunities,
New Brunswick, O, and p.
Are you familiar with them?
I am.
They all have the most wonderfulstaff.
(21:45):
I love everybody who works atOMB.
Yeah, they do.
Yeah, they, yes they do.
And uh, yeah, I think it's thesame.
The same can be said for theother, the other ones as well.
But uh, Oh yeah, I'm not pickingfavorites.
No.
[inaudible] if it sounded likethat.
No, I love it.
But it's really interesting.
(22:06):
I mean, if somebody is in theshoes of an entrepreneur wanting
to start a business and you'rekind of a one or two person show
and you're in New Brunswick, Iwould say, I would personally
say it, start with ONB or if youhave a local economic
development agency that canpoint you accordingly.
So like if you were in Monkton,I would say actually start at
three plus.
Um, but these, these arms allwork together, they know each
(22:30):
other, they work together andthey can tell you where to go.
So if you come in and you say,okay, I'm starting this really
interesting agricultural AI app,let's just say, um, then you
know, somebody in one of thoseorganizations is going to be
able to say, you need to talk toyou, this organization, this
organization, this organizationto help you get the funding that
(22:51):
you need to launch.
So yeah, and it applies to likebusinesses like ours that I've
been 25 years there as well.
So they won't say they won'tturn you around because he's
been around for a little whileeither.
So, um, that's, that's reallygood.
Yeah.
And well, I mean, you knowbetter than I do, but I would
say they don't, they comeknocking on your door every once
(23:13):
in a while too.
All yeah.
Actually they do.
When you know that you're wellestablished and they want to
help you grow.
Yeah.
Um, oh, and B was there for us.
Uh, when we wanted to do that.
So, yeah.
Yeah.
So it was well appreciatedbecause, you know, every growth
per I would call it, I don'tknow how you call it, but it's
difficult because you don'tnecessarily have the funds to go
(23:36):
quickly.
You want to go quickly, you wantto go there, but you can't hire
all those people.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Now.
So the, these fundingopportunities give you the
chance to do that.
Yeah.
Um, and like you said, they'revery helpful.
A lot of these organizations Iwill guide you actually in, so
if you call o and B, if you calla co our in our CE or pedal,
(24:00):
they will give you information,they will help you out and they
will steer you in the rightdirection.
So,
Speaker 2 (24:08):
and I think that's really important because when we
look at the future of work andwe're works headed and actually
did a project with dove echo onthis very topic last year, you
know, we're looking more towardsthe GIG economy.
We're looking more towards aneconomy where people come
together on projects and thendissipate.
So a lot more consultantswalking around on the planet,
essentially in less longterm,lifelong employees of large
(24:30):
organizations.
That's just how things have beenevolving and going.
And so that means each one ofthose people that's a consultant
now has got to figure out how tobe a business owner as well as a
master of their craft.
And so the way that work takesplace has been changing and it
is only going to continue tochange at an accelerated rate
over the next 10 15 years.
(24:51):
And so these programs and therecognition of that is essential
for this to go well for us herein Canada and especially in
Atlantic Canada and uh, I thinkthat, you know, we're, we're
very well supported to that endat the moment.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Yeah.
I think that Lena, AtlanticCanada, it's a little bit more
difficult for us sometimesbecause we are in Atlantic
Canada and there's lesspopulation.
It's more difficult maybe for usto, to, to, to target all of
Canada and these programs reallyhelp in that sense.
Yeah, absolutely.
I think you're right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think for, yeah, so hownice.
(25:28):
It was to, to talk to you.
I think that, I hope that wewere able to give more
information to our listeners.
Visit the canada.ca website.
If you can also the marrowmarketing, uh, with site.
Sure.
If you don't mind and if youneed, um, I think that we're
(25:48):
going to be doing a, um, a blogpost on this.
So if you need more informationI will publish more links about
these, uh, government grants andum, interest free loans.
I am still like the word free inthere.
You do?
Yeah.
I have to
Speaker 2 (26:07):
like before we knew each other, I have to admit that
I don't know who told, whodescribed you this way to me,
but somebody told me Dan is thequeen of finding funding.
I think I am.
Yeah, that's here.
You're known for that.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Oh really?
Yeah.
Oh, I didn't know it was knownfor anything, but yeah, that's
good to know that I'm going forsomething.
[inaudible] the funding, likethe funding funding, funding,
funding.
Okay.
I like that type.
I'll keep that.
Thank you.
Now you so much for having meand uh, see you soon.
Hi.
Hi, it's the younger set from Debbie.
Softer year again.
First we can time after doing anSRE needy podcast.
I'm here joined by NatalieDavidson from marrow marketing.
Hi, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I'm good.
How are you?
Good, thank you.
So happy to see you again.
I'm so excited to be here.
This is my second professionalpodcast, but my first one in a
studio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Wow.
And a nice one at that is nice.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Did a great job at setting thisup.
Um, so I'll tell you a littlebit about Nellie.
Uh, we met not very long agoactually.
She knew other members of ourteam before me, but I was happy
to make her acquaintance as sheis very well known in this
(00:49):
region, I believe in because ofher marketing abilities.
She started marrow marketingonly a year,
Speaker 2 (00:57):
just over a year ago.
Yeah.
A year ago.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
And they're doing fantastic.
It's really fun to look to, tosee her go.
Um, and her partner, Kira.
Kira.
That's right.
And, um, so anyways, so Natalie,can you talk to us a little bit
about marrow before we hop intoour discussion topic of
(01:19):
government funding.
She called it government puttingthe fun in funding, putting the
funding, the funding.
Yeah, that's a really, that's akeeper for that.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah.
Right there.
Yeah.
So tell us a little bit aboutyourself and your company before
we start.
Okay, great.
So marrow is a purpose drivencontent marketing agency and we
throw the tagline or that thedescriptor purpose driven into
that because we want people tounderstand that um, we're not
(01:50):
just a transactional get youmore leads type agency.
We really, really want to helporganizations, entrepreneurs and
not for profits dig into theheart of the matter in their
organization.
So if there's not a lot ofpurpose and there's a lot more
transactional work going on, wewant to, um, force you to go,
(02:10):
you know, deeper so that you canfind that purpose and create a
more aligned workspace, a morealigned company so that your
culture, your clients and all ofyour community are really
aligned in a way that createsmore value for everybody that
interacts with yourorganization.
So that's where we come from interms of values and you know,
what's, what's behind ourmessage in terms of services.
(02:33):
We do work with clients oncommunication strategy and
content marketing strategy, butwe primarily focus on education
and speaking.
And so that's where the marrowmarketing lab came in, which is
the program we just completedtogether.
And, uh, we currently do inperson events, in person
programs, and we're working onour first digital program right
(02:54):
now that will be offered onlinefor people regardless of
geography.
Right.
So that,
Speaker 1 (03:00):
that's interesting to you too as you know, as a
company who does marketing, um,g makes sense that you can sort
of help them market theirprogram as well.
In a sense that, you know, ifyou follow, if you applied for
this grant, you can attend our,yeah,
Speaker 2 (03:17):
our marketing course.
Yeah, we were, we were fortunateI think in our province to have
a lot of support from, um, fromthe government, from initiatives
across Atlantic Canada and thenfrom so from the provincial
government and also the federalgovernment in terms of
supporting business growth andeconomic development, which is
fabulous.
Um, my very first experiencehiring a marketing agency before
(03:39):
you ever owned one or worked inone years ago, we were doing a
rebrand in that company that Iwas working for.
I was the marketing manager andat that time that was my first
experience, understanding thatthese opportunities were
available.
I was working for anentrepreneur and we were able to
access learn spheres, exportdevelopment program, which
subsidize some of the work thatwe were doing to try and export
(04:01):
what we were working on.
And um, that's just really, youknow, got kind of my wheels
turning and got me interested inunderstanding what is available
for entrepreneurs to take themkind of to the next level.
Because geographically, I mean,yes, you know, we have access
online to so many people, butlike physically we just don't
have as many people in ourregion.
(04:22):
So it's really, really nice whenwe have these opportunities that
are presented to helporganizations reach more people.
And that's really what a lot ofthese programs are for.
Even when it comes to, you know,training and development, it's
really to encourage theseorganizations to step higher in
step, you know, and step outsideand start exporting and really
(04:43):
seeing beyond the geographicalboundaries or limitations of a
province of our size.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yes.
And you mentioned before we hada little discussion and you
mentioned BDC.
No, I've never used a programset BDC have to offer in terms
of training or starting a tohelp start ups.
Um,
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I actually, uh, I was CBDC that I've worked with in
the past.
Yes.
So what happened and what'sreally interesting is, um, I, my
job was eliminated when I wasworking for somebody else and so
I didn't really know what wasnext for me.
And so I took a couple of monthsto try and figure out where I
was headed and an opportunitycame up that made me realize
(05:24):
that I could do some consultingwork and I could probably make a
go and make a living at that.
And so I contacted our localCBDC and just, I had heard there
were maybe some programsavailable for people like me,
these kind of solopreneurs orsomebody starting a business
from scratch.
And so CBDC was incredible.
So I applied and was acceptedfor their s e B program, which
(05:48):
is the self employment benefitprogram.
That's new Brunswick programs.
So, uh, I have a lot of friendsand associates in Ontario that
wished they could have had a CVCV.
Um, so it's a fantastic programhere in New Brunswick for
anybody who's thinking aboutstarting at business or who's
recently had a loss of work.
And essentially they subsidize awage for your first year of self
(06:08):
employment, which is, I mean,unbelievable.
And within that you also havetraining dollars that are
allocated.
And so I think they give, at themoment, it's 2019.
Right now, I think they give abudget of$1,200 per se be
recipient per training dollars.
And so that was a great kickofffor me to start my consulting
(06:28):
business and really just tookthat fear off the table to get
me to put one foot in front ofthe other and really gave me a
year of runway to get myselfsome self sustaining.
So then interestingly our veryfirst marrow marketing lab was
about a year ago.
And the reason we started themarketing lab was in the span of
(06:48):
two weeks I had had six peoplereach out, six like independent
people that you know, didn'tknow each other and say I'm on
the Seb, I have this$1,200training budget that I can spend
and I want to learn marketingand I want to learn it from you.
Can you teach?
Can you train me?
And individual training was notsomething that we want to spend
(07:09):
a lot of time doing as anorganization.
Like it's just one to one isjust, it's Ah, it's very
intensive for us and we don'thave the resources or capacity
for that.
So I looked at Kierra and Isaid, I think we should develop
a group program, which was ourmirror marketing labs.
So the very first Merrillmarketing lab came from the fact
that these entrepreneurs arecoming out of that program with
this training budget and reallywanting to put it somewhere that
(07:33):
would make them more effective,um, that aligned with their
values.
And they didn't see enoughanything like that in the
marketplace.
So that's why we designed thelab.
Oh Wow.
So it came out of that, that Ididn't know that.
That's interesting.
Oh Wow.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
And there's a number of other provincial programs as
well as a national programs aswell.
So the, on the provincial level,there's a seed program that I
don't know if people know aboutand the seat program is, um, for
students, for some students tohire summer students.
So the students sort of gets avoucher and then they can go and
(08:09):
apply to a four jobs.
There's also, um, um, you know,people that debt are on e I
unemployment insurance benefitsand, or are under employed.
So work, let's say you want tohire a programmer.
I don't know, somebody to helpyou in marketing, but they're
working at a Tim Horton's.
And so they're sort of, theyhave more skills, but they're
(08:33):
underemployed.
So the, uh, the program underthe, the pedal, yeah.
We'll offer you that opportunityto hire that person.
That's fantastic.
And I think there's no shortageof people who are kind of over
qualified and underemployednowadays.
Yes, exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, um, there's also otherprograms, uh, with the federal
(08:53):
government, and recently I justfound this last week actually,
they did a webpage, uh, that youcan go and try to figure out
which programs apply to yourbusiness.
So whether you're inagriculture, engineering, R and
D, um, marketing.
So you have access to a numberof different programs at the
(09:15):
federal government as well.
And if you go to Canada dot.
Ca and I'm sure there's theequivalent of that in, in other
countries like in us, but, um,you know, because we're in
Canada, we focus on that.
Yeah.
And, uh, uh, Dovecote we've beenfortunate enough to, to get, uh,
to have access to theseprograms.
(09:35):
And I think that, um, startupsespecially may not know all of
these programs that areavailable.
Um, and like you mentioned learnsphere, which is a very good one
for marketing activities.
You can even get, um, a dollarsfor exporting and things like
that.
That's under the Alcoa, um, theECOA umbrella,
Speaker 2 (09:57):
right?
The Atlantic Canadianopportunities agency and they,
um, that's a regional, so learnsphere used to be a provincial
program and now it's a regionalprogram.
So it's actually accessible bypeople all over Atlanta, Canada,
which is, um, makes it morecompetitive for new Brunswickers
now obviously.
But it means that there's moreorganizations across our region
benefiting, which is absolutelyfantastic.
(10:19):
It's a wonderful program throughlearn sphere.
I find through our programs, Iwould say this about 60% of the
people who come through ourprograms have some kind of
funding subsidy from thegovernment because they're
startups and that's who we'reworking with.
Um, and so those are comingfrom, you know, CBDC as I
mentioned, CBDC also has a womenin business program, which is a
(10:42):
really great as well.
And so that one's a little bitmore money for the a training
budget.
Uh, it requires a one to onecomponent.
So we, we work that out and weactually do one on one hours
with the people who receivethat.
But if you are a woman inbusiness, your businesses owned
more than 50% by a woman.
So even if you have a businesspartner but you're, I think
(11:03):
you're 50 or 51% partner, youare eligible for that and you
can access that through CBDC.
It's a really, really goodprogram and they're always
looking for great people toreceive that.
Um, you mentioned theagriculture programs as well
through the federal government.
We've had some of those comethrough the lab.
Uh, really, you know, it'sreally interesting once you
(11:24):
start digging into what'savailable for you.
I know that if you're involvedin tech and innovation here in
New Brunswick, if that'sanybody, we have a ven who can
really direct you that way aswell.
So if you're going to thatwebsite, that Canada dot.
Ca and you're still kind of notsure, um, the people that van
would be happy to direct youaccordingly am certain because
that's what they exist for.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Well that, that's great.
So you see there, I'm learningevery day because those are
things I didn't know.
Of course being with innovationand technology, we, uh, have
access to two different programsthen, you know, other types of
businesses have.
So I've been of course focusingmore on business and he taught
technology and that's what Iknow.
But I didn't know about whatyou, what you mentioned there.
(12:06):
So, well there you go.
There you go.
I don't know about the Ai Cryptoactual scientific research.
Yeah, well I'm sorry, programsare, are business related as
well.
So for example, you mentionedthe Koa.
We've had help from a Koa, uh,on a number of occasions.
(12:27):
They have programs that are, um,grants, non refund,
nonrefundable a, um, money.
Um, and they're very, very goodprograms.
But they also have, um, um,interests or your loans, right?
Programs that are into threeloans and they focus more on
business.
So we've used them.
(12:47):
For example, when we starteddual vico, uh, we needed, um,
money for marketing at thattime.
They had programs for that.
I don't know if they still dotoday, but, uh, now they may go
through learn sphere.
They had, uh, we've used them aswell for quality improvement.
So if we needed to, to gotowards a certain certification,
(13:09):
ISO or whatever it was, so theywill help out with that.
A backoffice things.
So if you need to implement asystem to improve your business
so that your business can grow,yeah, they will help out with
that.
So that's a Coa.
But a Koa is, don't forget it'sCanadian.
So a Koa is with the federalgovernment and they help out
(13:31):
hope, help out the Atlanticprovinces.
But the same, they haveagencies, they have five
agencies, so they have one inOntario, one in Quebec, you
know, in and out in the West aswell, in the north of Canada.
So they have five differentagencies like our Atlantic coin,
but the Atlantic quantities call, uh, like you said, deadline,
(13:53):
tick business, um, yeah,Atlantic Canadian opportunities
agency.
I should know that by heart andI do is just because this is the
average.
Yeah, right.
That's a lot of pressure inhere.
I do.
So my gut, all the equipment[inaudible] fancy.
Yeah.
Um, yeah, I think it's actuallyreally fascinating.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
And super important that those funds are considered
on a regional basis.
So I know that a Coa, thisAtlantic Canadian arm of the
federal government'sopportunities agency, um,
designs training and programsspecifically centered around
what's going on in AtlanticCanada.
So they really do have theirfinger on the pulse of our
(14:34):
economy and what's happening.
And that's so essential.
And if somebody was sitting inoffice in Ottawa, that would be
a lot harder for them to do ifthey weren't on the ground the
way that they are.
So at kind of, you know, anygiven moment, I mean, we'll run
into people from a Koa, add anevent and the networking event
right in
Speaker 1 (14:52):
our city are very small city and they're really,
really integrated in thebusiness community, in the
various communities acrossAtlantic Canada.
And I think that's how they'reable to continue to be so
effective in the programdelivery.
Yes.
And they're actually really easyto work with, even at the
provincial level to all the, allthe government employees that
I've worked with.
I've worked for the federal, uh,federal government and myself.
(15:14):
Did you know that?
I didn't know that.
Oh yeah, I did.
[inaudible][inaudible] quitefancies or, um, anyway, getting
back to that though, I, andthere's another program I like
to mention as well.
He's the National ResearchCouncil.
Now again, being in innovationand research.
(15:35):
Um, the National ResearchCouncil has a number of
different programs in one thatis not well known and easily
accessible is hiring new youth.
So hiring youth, uh, for, foryour business.
That's fantastic.
So it could be somebody to doresearch.
Um, it could be a student, butit could be someone who is
working as well.
And they, it's, it's a 20, theygive, I think one they gave
(15:58):
20,000, and the other one theygave 10,000.
So, and you know the, um, Idon't, I'm putting on the spot
now, but do you know the agerange when they say youth?
I think it's a 35.
So I'd always, I laugh[inaudible] well for me now it
is fun.
Yeah.
I think you're younger than I amabout to enter a new, um, a new
(16:21):
decade next year.
So I'm not here to tell.
I can't tell.
Thank you.
But, but that's sometimes whenwe think all youth funding, you
know, we have these preconceivednotions about what that means
and we forget how large thatdefinition can be when it comes
to these programs.
Yes, exactly.
So we need to encourage them.
We always have students at DoeVico this time of year we're
(16:44):
having going, going to have forthis year.
So these programs for us arevery important because otherwise
it would be difficult to hirethem because they bring a lot of
value.
I have to say that we've hadstudents that started at tobacco
in that we hired right afterwhen they finished and we found
the, they brought a lot ofvalue, but it's still, you know,
(17:06):
an additional cost to yourbusiness and it's not always
easy to, to, you know, take thaton.
And if you don't have access tothose programs, it makes it more
difficult.
So, uh, the National ResearchCouncil, I don't know how long
this program has been in effect,but I only found out about it a
(17:27):
couple of years ago.
Um, there's another program withthe National Research Council is
called Iraq.
Don't ask me, um, what it'sprobably has an innovation
research and I don't know whatthe AAP means.
So I made the P is a program.
Yeah, probably.
But a lot of acronyms, which isfine.
You get used to them, right?
(17:48):
Yeah, I know.
I mean, I know I wrapped, but,uh, not me rapping on the
microphone.
I like this sound to pick.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Thank you.
So, uh, but, but I rap, he'squite a nice program as well.
It does require a little bitmore, um, on, in terms of, um,
(18:09):
preparation to apply for it.
But, uh, the, there's a lot morefunding available.
It's not, you know, it's morethan the 25,000.
You can get 500,000, you canget, you know, even more than
that.
So, um, it does take a biggerplan, bigger planning.
Um, it needs, there needs to bea neat in research.
(18:31):
Yeah.
100%.
So, uh, we've had theopportunity tunity to have that,
but the claiming as well alsohas, um, additional
documentation to it.
So for example, if you havepeople working on that project,
you have to track their time.
And funny enough, that's what wedo.
Oh my goodness.
What a coincidence.
(18:52):
I know.
What is that?
But, um, and I just found out we, we recently signed a contract
with a NRC.
Yay.
For, um, Ai and, and um, youknow, too, well, I can't even
really talk about isconfidential.
Uh, this, this podcast will selfdestructive.
She tells us anymore.
(19:13):
It's secret.
But, um, I was, I was looking atthe, their requirements for a
report and, uh, we have theexact report that they need for
claiming.
So it made my job really easy.
Uh, did you, are there in yourtime and double time sheet?
Yeah, it's like a grid with theemployee names across the top
and all the hours that theyspend on a daily basis.
(19:35):
And it's exactly when she sentit to me by Xcel.
Um, the template, I mean, andwhen I opened it, I thought, oh,
well we have that report.
How Nice is that?
Well, wouldn't it be nice ifthey would just send your link
well to everybody who applied tothe program?
And so that's exactly what Isaid.
I send them an email, you know,can you, can you send this to
(19:57):
your clients?
And they said, no, but Iunderstand.
[inaudible] I tried, I tried andI thought, okay, I'll hire Nally
and see if she can do something.
[inaudible] fantastic.
Yeah.
Oh, that's really interesting.
So those are our really goodprograms that are accessible as
well to small business.
And if you're doing research anddevelopment, uh, you know that
(20:22):
you need, um, you need to hirethose people before sometimes
you even have a product.
So this money really, reallyhelps because you don't have
anything to sell.
Although we do Adobe Echo.
But when we started are we going, RC was there in a co was there
as well and they helped us getour first prototype out, our
(20:43):
first minimum viable product outand they give, gave us money to
do that, to hire those people.
And some of those people arestill with us today.
Yeah.
So 25 years or later, like me,25 years later, 25 years later.
It's funny.
Five didn't want to say my age,but, well you didn't.
(21:04):
No I didn't.
You're only in 25 years old.
Four years old when you startedhere.
Thank you.
So there you go.
I mean, you know, those programsare essential and not only, I
mean, that's a great point aboutstarting up, but now it's going
to allow you to innovate.
So even though you havesomething to sell, you know, you
have to evolve.
And so having access again tocontinue research and
(21:25):
development while you're sellingthe thing you already built to
make that thing better isessential to being able to
survive and thrive.
Right.
There's another programavailable that we didn't touch
on and that's what the province,and it's with the opportunities,
New Brunswick, O, and p.
Are you familiar with them?
I am.
They all have the most wonderfulstaff.
(21:45):
I love everybody who works atOMB.
Yeah, they do.
Yeah, they, yes they do.
And uh, yeah, I think it's thesame.
The same can be said for theother, the other ones as well.
But uh, Oh yeah, I'm not pickingfavorites.
No.
[inaudible] if it sounded likethat.
No, I love it.
But it's really interesting.
(22:06):
I mean, if somebody is in theshoes of an entrepreneur wanting
to start a business and you'rekind of a one or two person show
and you're in New Brunswick, Iwould say, I would personally
say it, start with ONB or if youhave a local economic
development agency that canpoint you accordingly.
So like if you were in Monkton,I would say actually start at
three plus.
Um, but these, these arms allwork together, they know each
(22:30):
other, they work together andthey can tell you where to go.
So if you come in and you say,okay, I'm starting this really
interesting agricultural AI app,let's just say, um, then you
know, somebody in one of thoseorganizations is going to be
able to say, you need to talk toyou, this organization, this
organization, this organizationto help you get the funding that
(22:51):
you need to launch.
So yeah, and it applies to likebusinesses like ours that I've
been 25 years there as well.
So they won't say they won'tturn you around because he's
been around for a little whileeither.
So, um, that's, that's reallygood.
Yeah.
And well, I mean, you knowbetter than I do, but I would
say they don't, they comeknocking on your door every once
(23:13):
in a while too.
All yeah.
Actually they do.
When you know that you're wellestablished and they want to
help you grow.
Yeah.
Um, oh, and B was there for us.
Uh, when we wanted to do that.
So, yeah.
Yeah.
So it was well appreciatedbecause, you know, every growth
per I would call it, I don'tknow how you call it, but it's
difficult because you don'tnecessarily have the funds to go
(23:36):
quickly.
You want to go quickly, you wantto go there, but you can't hire
all those people.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Now.
So the, these fundingopportunities give you the
chance to do that.
Yeah.
Um, and like you said, they'revery helpful.
A lot of these organizations Iwill guide you actually in, so
if you call o and B, if you calla co our in our CE or pedal,
(24:00):
they will give you information,they will help you out and they
will steer you in the rightdirection.
So,
Speaker 2 (24:08):
and I think that's really important because when we
look at the future of work andwe're works headed and actually
did a project with dove echo onthis very topic last year, you
know, we're looking more towardsthe GIG economy.
We're looking more towards aneconomy where people come
together on projects and thendissipate.
So a lot more consultantswalking around on the planet,
essentially in less longterm,lifelong employees of large
(24:30):
organizations.
That's just how things have beenevolving and going.
And so that means each one ofthose people that's a consultant
now has got to figure out how tobe a business owner as well as a
master of their craft.
And so the way that work takesplace has been changing and it
is only going to continue tochange at an accelerated rate
over the next 10 15 years.
(24:51):
And so these programs and therecognition of that is essential
for this to go well for us herein Canada and especially in
Atlantic Canada and uh, I thinkthat, you know, we're, we're
very well supported to that endat the moment.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Yeah.
I think that Lena, AtlanticCanada, it's a little bit more
difficult for us sometimesbecause we are in Atlantic
Canada and there's lesspopulation.
It's more difficult maybe for usto, to, to, to target all of
Canada and these programs reallyhelp in that sense.
Yeah, absolutely.
I think you're right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think for, yeah, so hownice.
(25:28):
It was to, to talk to you.
I think that, I hope that wewere able to give more
information to our listeners.
Visit the canada.ca website.
If you can also the marrowmarketing, uh, with site.
Sure.
If you don't mind and if youneed, um, I think that we're
(25:48):
going to be doing a, um, a blogpost on this.
So if you need more informationI will publish more links about
these, uh, government grants andum, interest free loans.
I am still like the word free inthere.
You do?
Yeah.
I have to
Speaker 2 (26:07):
like before we knew each other, I have to admit that
I don't know who told, whodescribed you this way to me,
but somebody told me Dan is thequeen of finding funding.
I think I am.
Yeah, that's here.
You're known for that.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Oh really?
Yeah.
Oh, I didn't know it was knownfor anything, but yeah, that's
good to know that I'm going forsomething.
[inaudible] the funding, likethe funding funding, funding,
funding.
Okay.
I like that type.
I'll keep that.
Thank you.
Now you so much for having meand uh, see you soon.
Hi.
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