REQUEST FOR SUBMISSIONS

Issue Date: February 7, 2023

Project: Request for Submissions for Business Advisors for the
RINSA Tecconnect Entrepreneur Program in Southern Alberta

Seeking Business Advisor Services:
Economic Development Lethbridge is seeking professional consultants and service providers who can offer their expertise to clients in southwestern Alberta via 1:1 advisory appointments conducted as a Tecconnect Business Advisor. The role of the Tecconnect Business Advisors is to provide direction and options around approaching specific business challenges. They help entrepreneurs to make informed business decisions but do not direct what those decisions should be. Tecconnect, through government funding, pays an hourly rate to provide this free service to entrepreneurs.

Services can include: One-time or multiple sessions that assist entrepreneurs by providing advice on streamlining or improving their business model, addressing a specific business challenge, navigating options and opportunities, connecting with resources, and assisting with planning and goal setting. These advisory services are delivered through programs delivered by Economic Development Lethbridge and the Regional Innovation Network of
Southern Alberta (RINSA).

This project will be contracted from the period of selection to the RINSA Project end date of March 31, 2025. Fulfilling the role of a Tecconnect Business Advisor also requires attendance and inputs at a semi-monthly team scrum and providing 1:1 advisory to clients via Economic Development Lethbridge associated accounts while tracking the coaching sessions on our forms-based client management system. The goal of the project is to continue to assist start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses to successfully navigate the commercialization system through programs, services, and resources through connecting with the Tecconnect Entrepreneur Program and related opportunities. It also promotes and ensures considerations for technology and innovation outlooks while reinforcing entrepreneurial and Startup fundamentals.

About Economic Development Lethbridge
Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL) was created through community consultation in 2003.
EDL is an arms’ length organization, supported by the City of Lethbridge, governed by a 31-member volunteer Board of Directors and managed by a team of professionals dedicated to promoting economic prosperity in the region. EDL Board members are drawn from a diverse cross-section of the community with the intention of best accomplishing the mandate and objectives of the organization. Our mission is the strengthen and diversify the economy by initiating and facilitating proactive economic development strategies and promoting Lethbridge as an excellent place to live, learn, invest, visit, and do business. We are the support system, the community collaborator and proactive advocate for the future evolution, growth, and prosperity of Lethbridge.

Our strategy to build and diversify the economy can be divided into 6 key focus areas for our approved 2022-2025 business plan including:

● Business Retention & Expansion – Help existing businesses to expand and grow
● Investment Attraction – Seek out access to new markets and engage new wealth- generating business to grow our economy
● Entrepreneurship & Innovation – Empowering and enabling small business owners and start-ups to create, experiment and succeed
● Marketing & Advocacy – Elevate Lethbridge in the provincial and national marketplace
● Catalytic Projects – Initiate or support major projects
● Operational Excellence – Ensure an effective organization well positioned to serve the community into the future

About the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA)
RINSA has evolved over the past ten years into a highly functioning, mature network that enjoys a strong well-thought-out collaborative governance model. RINSA’s core structure consists of a strategic advisory group, an extended working group of partners and a cooperative support system of other organizations and community stakeholders. The RINSA Advisory Group consists of senior level members of the main funded partners in the RIN and the Alberta Innovates Technical
Development Advisor for the region.

The extended RINSA working group, which meets monthly, consists of delegates from each of the funded partner organizations, as well as representatives from other support organizations in the area. The members of this group work with clients on a day-to-day basis, providing firsthand experience and perspective on the client journey. The RINSA Working Group members can be found at www.rinsa.ca.

About the Alberta Innovation Network (AIN)
The Alberta Innovation Network, supported by Alberta Innovates, is a cooperative of regional networks across the province. Each Regional Innovation Network (RIN) is made up of like-minded organizations, passionate about growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem both in their region and across Alberta. RINs work to provide support, programming, and networking connections to small and mid-size businesses with a focus on growing and commercializing their technology and innovation. For a listing of all RIN’s in Alberta: https://albertainnovates.ca/programs/regional- innovation-networks/

Objectives of the Project
We value the diversity of the entrepreneurs we serve and endeavour to continually foster a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem in which differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s potential, talents, and strengths.
We are seeking individuals who are looking for an opportunity to give back and share their business acumen and experience with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our region. As a non-profit community-based project, we can offer a stipend of $50.00 per hour for RINSA Tecconnect Business
Advising and guarantee a minimum of 3 billable hours per month via the team scrums and administrative duties. Tecconnect Business Advisors are requested to have a minimum availability of
15 hours per month (Approximately consisting of: 2 hours of team scrum, 1 hour of admin, 12 x 1-hour appointments with clients). While we welcome all areas of expertise, we are currently looking for the following targeted backgrounds and experience:

● App Development
● Data Analysis
● eCommerce
● Fundraising (Venture Capital & Rural Investment Grant Writing)
● Indigenous Business
● Intellectual Property (Patent, Trademark, Copyright)
● Internet of Things
● Negotiation Skills
● Search Engine Optimization
● Systems Integration & Optimization
● Supply Chain Management
● Web Development
● Enterprise Architecture
● Food Production
● Health
● Real Estate

What we’re looking for
● Amazing contractors with a passion for entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation
● Contractors with a passion for, and who possess expertise and experience outlined in the ‘ Objectives of the Project ’ section above
● If you are a Business Generalist, please detail thoroughly your core areas of expertise that you would like to advise entrepreneurs on in your cover letter i.e.,
HR, Finance, Tax, Marketing, Software Development etc.

Activities Required – ~February 28, 2023 – March 31, 2025:
The target audiences of these free support services include the following:

1. Entrepreneurs in southwestern Alberta – Aspiring or current entrepreneurs interested in exploring supports for using and developing their ideas to include, utilize, or create technology and innovations while strengthening entrepreneurial fundamentals across a wide variety of business operation topics

2. Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in southwestern Alberta – current SMEs who are interested in accessing local networking, mentorship, and education/training focused on strengthening entrepreneurial fundamentals and exploring emerging technologies for pivot, innovation, etc.

3. Under-represented Stakeholders in southwestern Alberta – inclusive of women, immigrant,
Indigenous, BIPOC, and rural/remote stakeholders, as well as other underrepresented groups, who are aspiring, current, or established entrepreneurs that are interested in accessing local networking, mentorship, and training in current and emerging technologies

Business Advisors enable the provision of our 1:1 business advisory service offering via the
Tecconnect Entrepreneur Program on behalf of EDL, Tecconnect, and RINSA programs and have an important role in the continued delivery of high standards of guidance and advising around specific business challenges to entrepreneurs in our target audience. The goal is to help entrepreneurs to make informed business decisions while not directing what those decisions should be. Our current
Tecconnect Business Advisors showcase expertise in over 30 different skills and 25 different industries. Through this project, our goals are to build out the Tecconnect Business Advisor team who will proceed to demonstrate that we value the diversity of the entrepreneurs we serve and our community. Our endeavour is to continually foster a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem in which differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s potential talents and strengths. We are looking for additional advisors who can meet the following requirements:

● Be available for a minimum of 12 appointments per month (12 x 1-hour appointments) to meet Fall & Winter client demand for advisory services

● Contribute to the overall visibility and awareness of EDL, Tecconnect, and RINSA programs through assisting in word-of-mouth promotion, inbound referrals (where appropriate), and sharing our RINSA offerings with current and potential entrepreneur clients

● Communicate with the RINSA Entrepreneur Program Manager to ensure that any gaps in service are identified and that consistent advising provision and records are maintained using advising forms, processes, and systems

● Communicate with the RINSA Entrepreneur Program Manager to further the uptake of our 3 pillars of service: Education, 1:1 Advisory Services, and the RINSA Referral Network by existing clients or those coming onto the program

● Provide a great impression to all entrepreneurs by demonstrating a deep sense of care, compassion, and respect

● Support entrepreneurs from various industry sectors by providing highly relevant information regarding government funding and mentoring programs while also helping them to access, navigate, and further understand this information

● Help entrepreneurs establish and operate a business by providing them with options on how to approach and consider next steps and connecting them with the appropriate resources from within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, provincial regional innovation networks, and Tecconnect’s provincial and federal partners

● Maintain up-to-date metrics as agreed to in orientation (i.e., Airtable) and directly following the culmination of the client meeting

● Provide written and verbal reports or items stemming from the 1:1 advisory appointments to the Client, with such other information as may be reasonably requested from time to time, within 2-3 business days of agreement or request

● Legal Corporation with $2 million in coverage for professional liability and errors & omissions, as well as a recommended $2 million commercial insurance coverage

● Appropriate Business license
● Demonstrated experience, education, or certification in the areas of focus and skill you are proposing on satisfying the project requirements with

Billables are invoiced each month and based on advising activity, with the 3 hours per month guaranteed for the team scrum and administrative tasks. This will be in place to March 31, 2022, and is billed per advisor with payment to complete the monthly project scope:

● Within monthly project hours, you will be responsible to complete:
o 1 administrative hour – internal emails, reviewing updates, client emails
o 2 team scrum hours – semi-monthly meeting via Microsoft Teams
o 12 client advisory hours monthly (or more)
o Must input and submit Client Coaching Form immediately after advisory appointment
o Share information and opportunities with clients and community to further awareness and visibility of RINSA, Tecconnect, and Economic Development Lethbridge
o Take direction from the Entrepreneur Program Manager to assist in coordinating, maintaining, and enhancing the quality and standard of care during 1:1 advisory appointments and information provision.

o Take direction from the RINSA Entrepreneur Program Manager to assist EDL,
Tecconnect, and RINSA with reaching project milestones relating to:

▪ Community Building – one of our objectives is to have a community of experts as a foundation to the Tecconnect Entrepreneur Program. Joining the team puts you in a position to facilitate community growth and supports that strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. There are entrepreneurs in our region who have yet to discover our services and resources – this project looks to further generate awareness as well as maintain the current community of entrepreneurs and experts interacting via RINSA programs.

▪ Information Dissemination – we receive notice of various opportunities and resources that are available through the innovation and technology networked ecosystem. The RINSA Entrepreneur Program Manager will share regular updates, with the newly announced and featured offerings, to ensure entrepreneurs receive the most current information that will help them achieve their unique commercialization goals customized to their entrepreneur journey.

▪ Client Advisory Services – Business Advisors take direction from the

RINSA Entrepreneur Program Manager throughout the project in order to connect with new client assignments, provide 1:1 advisory services based on entrepreneur need and advisor fit, as well as maintain ongoing client assignments to ensure engagement levels are maintained and services, programs, and opportunities are highlighted on a regular basis. The objective is to meet the clients needs for advisory services and provide them with the expertise, guidance, and insights, and resources around specific business challenges.

Skills and Know-How
● Strong familiarity with Lethbridge, regional and provincial entrepreneurial ecosystem and major industry sectors would be considered an asset
● Demonstrated experience and knowledge of consulting practices in a professional setting.
● Familiarity with:

o Zoom – Video Conferencing Software – working with the Zoom account provided to conduct 1:1 advisory meetings via video conferencing while being able to schedule and provide clients with links for appointments at the time of scheduling

o Microsoft Office, Teams & Airtable – for responding to requests via
Microsoft Outlook Portal and attending team scrums via Microsoft Teams.
Also submitting and reviewing client data in Airtable through various forms
& views

● Experience working as a consultant or in business supports as a Business Generalist or a
Domain Specialist with a proven track record well-outlined within the proposal to demonstrate a focused capacity with entrepreneurs and innovation ecosystems with an understanding of the Lethbridge region landscape

● Experience establishing and maintaining good working relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders

● Understanding of government funding systems, program design and delivery
● Exceptional verbal, written, listening and interpersonal skills to convey concepts and information
● Additional experience and interest in business, entrepreneurship, technology and/or innovation is considered an asset
● Highly organized and able to coordinate and deliver advisory services to clients on schedule to a high-quality standard

Evaluation Criteria
EDL will evaluate your proposal against the Qualifications, Experience and Preferences outlined above. This may also include factors such as proposal presentation, key skills and industry knowledge outlined, key qualifications, past performance, familiarity with Lethbridge region, experience working with government funded programs and ability to commit services to end of
March 2025.

The proposed schedule of events subject to the RFP are outlined below:

Public Notice: Date: Friday, Feb. 3, 2023

Questions Due: Date: Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023 (4:00 p.m.)

Response to Questions (not later than): Date: Friday, Mar. 10, 2023 (4:00 p.m.)

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals: Date: Friday, Mar. 17, 2023 (4:00 p.m.)

Contract and Effective Date of Award: Date: by Monday, Mar. 27, 2023

Notification to all submitters: Date: Immediately following a signed agreement

All questions should be directed to Charlee Sereda by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
March 8, 2023. Responses will be emailed no later than Friday, March 10, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as a bcc to all who have submitted questions.

Interested parties responding to this RFP should submit the following no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023, to Charlee Sereda with “RFP Response – Advisors for the RINSA Tecconnect Entrepreneur Program” in the subject line.

● A cover letter, not to exceed 1 page in PDF file format, that expresses your interest in the opportunity and a summary of your key applicable experience that demonstrates and explains how you will fulfill the proposed activities.

● Resume
● 3 references
● Company contact information

Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months

Salary: $50.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Work from home

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Lethbridge, AB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Lethbridge, AB

Application deadline: 2023-03-17

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