Building a startup rarely follows a straight line. A founder refining an initial idea needs different guidance than one developing a minimum viable product or preparing to raise capital.
Platform Labs is designed around those differences.
The recurring workshop series from Platform Calgary offers hands-on training for aspiring and experienced founders as they ideate, validate, launch and scale technology-enabled businesses. Rather than requiring entrepreneurs to join a single cohort, Platform Labs lets them select workshops that align with their company’s current stage and immediate challenges.
Workshops are organized across three levels. Foundational 101 sessions serve pre-MVP founders who may not yet have a product or customers. Application-focused 201 workshops are intended for entrepreneurs building or refining a proof of concept, while advanced 301 programming supports companies already in market, generating early sales or scaling operations.
Topics span several of the most consequential parts of building a company, including customer discovery, product development, sales and fundraising.
The next scheduled session, Raising Capital 201, takes place August 25 at the Platform Innovation Centre. Designed for founders already speaking with investors, the three-hour workshop will cover due diligence preparation, cap tables and company valuation.
A broader slate of programming follows this fall.
Startup 101, scheduled online for September 16, will introduce participants to entrepreneurship and Alberta’s startup ecosystem. Sales 101 follows on September 23, helping founders turn customer insights into outreach and early sales conversations.
Discover 101 will run across two virtual sessions on September 24 and October 1, guiding participants through the process of determining whether they are solving a meaningful customer problem. Participants will also complete two short accountability check-ins after the workshop.
The series moves into more advanced territory in October. Sales 201 on October 7 will focus on developing a repeatable go-to-market strategy and sales pipeline. Discover 201, taking place October 22 and 29, will help founders define an ideal customer profile using evidence gathered through validation work.
An MVP 201 workshop is also planned, with dates still to be announced. That session will focus on turning a proof of concept into a focused product that can support real users and future growth.
Most Platform Labs workshops cost $25 plus GST for non-members and $10 plus GST for Platform Calgary members. Sessions are delivered either virtually or in person at the Platform Innovation Centre.
By offering practical programming throughout the year, Platform Labs gives Calgary founders a place to address specific gaps as they arise—whether that means testing an idea, finding a first customer, sharpening a product or walking into an investor meeting better prepared.
Founders can review upcoming sessions and register through the Platform Labs workshop calendar.
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