Sault business event to feature Dragons' Den contestant

An annual business gathering in the Sault will have a definite Dragons' Den vibe this year as the event welcomes a top female entrepreneur to the city.

Erin Bury, CEO and co-founder of Willful, an online will and estate planning service, recently appeared before the Dragons on the popular CBC business pitch show where she secured a deal for her company.

The Bridges to Better Business gathering will also feature pitches from two Sault area businesses vying for a grand prize of $15,000, with audience members voting for the winner.

Bridges to Better Business 2024 takes place at The Machine Shop Oct. 23 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Click here to register.

Find more information in the following news release:

Attention Sault Ste. Marie and area business community.

Registration is now open for Bridges to Better Business 2024. This year’s event take place at The Machine Shop on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. 
  
Bridges to Better Business, hosted by the Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship, is an annual event that unites local professionals for an evening of learning and networking.

This year’s event will feature a keynote presentation by Erin Bury, one of Canada’s top female entrepreneurs, as the CEO and co-founder of Willful.

Bury recently went head-to-head with the panel on CBC’s Dragons Den, securing a deal for her company.

Named one of the “2021 Women of the Year” and one of Marketing Magazine’s “Top 30 Under 30, " Bury is a startup advisor, former marketer, and technology journalist.  

Another highlight will be the pitch-off finale between entrepreneurs from two local businesses. After a competitive process involving over a dozen submissions, Sunnd Nordic Eco Resort and Zoli’s Kleaners made it to the final round.

The business owners will present their ideas to the audience, and a judges' panel live at the event. The audience will then have an opportunity to vote for their favourite pitch.

The winner will receive a grand prize valued at up to $15,000, and the runner-up will receive a prize valued at $5,000. 
  
The event occurs during Small Business Week, an annual campaign facilitated by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Tickets are $50 plus HST or $375 plus HST for a table of eight. Click here for more information and to register.
  
The organizing partners for Bridges to Better Business 2024 are BDC, Community Development Corp. of Sault Ste. Marie and Area (CDC), Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, and Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

The event is made possible by the support of sponsorship from Accretive Studios, BDC, CDC, Compass Imaging Group, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Northern Credit Union, Northern Ontario Angels, SooToday, Stefanizzi Professional Corporation, TD Bank Group, and Wishart Law Firm.