We are creating pathways for early-stage founders and creative teams to gain clarity, confidence, and traction through expert-led, hands-on workshops.
Our Workshops
Empowering Sessions for Visionaries in Motion
We design our workshops with one goal in mind: to meet early-stage founders, creatives, and startup teams exactly where they are. Whether you're shaping your first pitch, validating your product, or learning how to navigate the innovation ecosystems, our workshops offer practical tools and real-time insights to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
A Collaborative Learning Space
These aren’t passive sessions. Our online workshops are interactive, mentor-led experiences where ideas are stress-tested, pitches are sharpened, and lightbulb moments are encouraged. Expect honest feedback, supportive peers, and facilitators who know how to help you unlock your next step.
Our workshops are part of a broader commitment to supporting emerging innovators with the knowledge, networks, and execution support needed to thrive.
Our Approach
We design workshops as intentional, high-impact online spaces where early-stage founders and entrepreneurs don’t just learn, they build, refine, and gain traction. Our workshops are shaped by real startup journeys and grounded in what actually moves ventures forward: clarity, adaptability, and momentum.
The first of our series, Master Your Startup Pitch: Stand Out Anywhere, is a reflection of this ethos. It's more than just pitch practice, it’s a strategic session designed to help founders communicate their value in any setting, build investor confidence, and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth. Whether you’re gearing up for Web Summit, a VC meeting, or your next customer conversation, ISM Workshops are here to help you show up ready.
Clarity
Adaptability
Momentum
Join Our Upcoming Workshop
Join ISM’s hands-on, expert-led workshop designed to help early-stage startups craft a winning pitch that adapts to any environment, from formal presentations to informal networking.
As significant Tech events like the Web Summit Vancouver and Vancouver Startup Week are right around the corner, this workshop will equip you with the skills to clearly articulate your problem statement, highlight your traction, and avoid funding roadblocks so you stand out in every conversation. Click here to register!
Why Attend?
-
Refine your pitch to make it work in any setting—elevator pitches, investor meetings, startup competitions and other important tech events in Canada like the Web Summit.
-
Showcase traction effectively, even if you’re in the early stage
-
Learn what investors want to hear (and what turns them off)
-
Get expert feedback on YOUR pitch (for the first 10 registrants who opt-in)
By the end of this session, you’ll have the tools to develop a clear, compelling pitch that makes investors, partners, customers, and network connections take notice.
Who Should Attend?
-
Founders and early-stage startups looking to refine their pitch.
-
Entrepreneurs refining their pitch for funding & partnerships
-
Founders and startups gearing up to attend events like Web Summit or the Vancouver Startup Week who want to make the most of networking opportunities.
-
Anyone looking to better communicate their business idea and improve their storytelling.
What You Will Learn?
-
How to structure your pitch for maximum impact in any setting
-
How to highlight traction even if you’re pre-revenue
-
How to confidently answer tough investor questions
How ISM’s Workshop Directly Helps Startups
-
Adapt Your Pitch for Any Setting → Whether you have 30 seconds or 3 minutes, learn how to make every word count.
-
Showcase Your Traction → Even if you’re in the early stages, highlight your progress in a compelling way.
-
Clearly Articulate the Problem You Solve → Make investors understand why your startup matters.
-
Avoid Common Funding Mistakes → Learn what turns investors off and how to ask for funding.
About the Speaker
ISM Strategy Consultant Hashir Safi is a strategic leader at the intersection of technology, innovation, and sustainable growth. He specializes in developing ecosystems that drive entrepreneurship, managing large-scale economic initiatives, and advising organizations and startups on strategy and scalability. Committed to leveraging technology to solve complex challenges, he works to shape the future of innovation.
At the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC), Hashir spearheaded one of the region’s largest innovation-focused collaborations, bringing together Foresight Canada, Volition, Spring Activator, and VEC to drive meaningful impact. He also played a key role in launching Innovation Fest’s Startup Series in collaboration with Foresight and ISM Creative. Now, at the City of Richmond, he leads major economic development initiatives, fostering innovation and growth.
Driven by a passion for transformative change, Hashir continues to shape the future of innovation and economic transformation.