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Client Services
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FAQ’s

Become a Client

Become a Client

We support entrepreneurs and businesses throughout all stages of innovation.

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You have an idea or working prototype for an innovative product or technology. You need support for product design, development and/or testing, and guidance on developing your business model and value proposition as you move toward commercialization and business start-up.

The questionnaire below will help Link North staff assess how we can support the development of your business in our initial consultation with you. Don’t worry, this form is confidential and for internal use only.

Step 1 of 5

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SECTION 1: CONTACT INFORMATION
Primary Contact Person
Name*
First Last
Company Name*
Position
Email Address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Personal Telephone Number*
Alternate Telephone Number
Secondary Contact Person (if applicable)
Name
First Last
Email Address
Enter Email Confirm Email
Personal Telephone Number
Alternate Telephone Number
Q1a. Number of founders/shareholders involved in developing the product, technology or business?*
Q1b. How many are francophone?*
Q1c. How many are indigenous?*

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SECTION 2: PRODUCT, TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS INFORMATION
Q2. Which of the following scenarios best describes where you’re at with developing your product or technology:*
- I have an idea for a product or technology, with very limited research and development completed
- I have a rudimentary design or prototype of my product or technology, with little to no research, development or testing completed
- I have a working prototype of my product or technology, and have completed some lab or field testing and redesign work.
- I have a prototype that's at or near the desired configuration, and need support with developing the business model and commercialization.
Q3a. Please indicate any organization that you have, or are currently working with on the product/technology design, prototyping, testing and/or certification.*
- Community College - Northern College Innovation Hub, Collège Boréal, etc
- Materials Joining Innovation Centre (MaJIC)
- Regional Innovation Centre – IION, NorCat Innovation Mill, etc
- I have not yet worked with an organization
- Other, please specify below
Q3a. If you chose "other", please specify here:
Q3b. Describe the completed/ongoing work with each organization(s) indicated in Q3a.*
Q4a. Have you started, or are you looking to start the process for obtaining intellectual property for your product or technology?*
- Yes
- No
Q4b. Describe ongoing and completed work related to intellectual property.*
Q4c. What organizations have you worked with on intellectual property?*
Q5. What is most likely your intention for commercializing your product or technology?*
- I plan to create and operate a business that manufactures and sells the product or technology that I’m developing
- I plan to outsource the manufacturing but start a business that would sell and distribute the product or technology that I’m developing
- I plan to create licensing agreements with one or more companies that would manufacture/sell the product or technology I’m developing
- Undecided
Q6. In your opinion, how close are you to commercialization and business operations?*
- Within 6 months
- 6-12 months
- 1-2 years
- 2+ years

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SECTION 3: PRODUCT, TECHNOLOGY OR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES AND GOALS
Q7a. What are the top challenges you’re facing, that you’re looking for Link North to provide guidance on?*
- Research for product and technology development
- Funding for product and technology development
- Support for design, prototyping, testing and MVP
- Legal/intellectual property
- Developing the business model, strategies for commercialization and business start-up
- Marketing and branding
- Early-stage customer acquisition
- Other
Q7b. Elaborate on these challenges:*
Q8a. What are your goals for product and business development over the next 12 months? Identify your top five.*
- Prototype design and laboratory/field testing
- Find business or organization to partner and/or assist with product or technology development
- Funding for product or technology development and testing
- Start process for, secure intellectual property
- Develop and test business model or customer value proposition
- Product/industry certification
- Minimum viable product (MVP), attract early-adopter customers
- Business/strategic alliances and partnerships
- Develop business, marketing and/or branding strategies
- Funding for commercialization and product or business launch
- Apply for and/or secure venture capital or angel investment to commercialize and scale
- Secure funding/financing from other sources
Q8b. Elaborate on your goals*

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SECTION 4: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Q9a. How much have you raised and/or invested in your product or technology development to date?*
Q9b. How much raised/invested is personal money or from family/friends?*
Q9c. How much raised/invested is from government funding?*
Q9d. How much raised/invested is from private sources (angel, venture capital and other)?*
Q9e. How much raised/invested is from financial institutions?*
Q10a. Discuss your current financial situation as it relates to your product or technology development.*
Q10b. What financial requirements, constraints and other challenges do you anticipate over the next 3-6 months? 12 months?*

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SECTION 5: BUSINESS MODEL AND VALUE PROPOSITION
The next series of questions will help us better understand your business model and value proposition. Link North’s programming and service centre around the Business Model Canvas, which is a popular one-page tool that visually communicates the feasibility, desirability, and viability of your business model. Among other things, the business model communicates how your product/technology offering will create and deliver value to your target customers, and how the business will generate revenues and profit.
Q11. Describe the products and services that you offer, or plan on offering:*
Q12. Which customer needs will your product, technology or business satisfy? What customer problems are you trying to resolve?*
Q13. Provide a profile of your target customer(s). Consider their age, income levels, interests, location, etc. Describe what your interactions and relationship with them will be.*
Q14. What value will you create and deliver to the customer? Consider different values such as price, risk reduction, convenience, accessibility, performance, brand and newness.*
Q15. What value is your customer willing to pay for and why?*
Q16. What are the potential different revenue streams for your business? Which revenue streams are likely to contribute most to your overall revenue and profitability?*
Q17. What key factors are likely to drive your operational and production costs?*
SECTION 6: ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSESSMENT
Link North collaborates with innovation ecosystem organizations across the region and province to develop and deliver workshops, seminars and events that build business knowledge and create networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. The next series of questions will provide us with a basic understanding of your business knowledge and experience, so we can identify opportunities for you to build your business capacity.
Q18. In the past year, have you attended any of the following Link North workshops or events? (check all that apply)*
- Investor Ready/Venture Timmins
- Building your business model
- Understanding your customer
- Financial fundamentals
- Perfecting your pitch
- Other - please specify below
Q18. If you chose "other", please specify here:*
Q19. Provide details on business workshops and events you’ve attended from other organizations in the past year:*
Q20. How much experience do you have managing or operating a business?*
- No experience
- < 1 year
- 1+ years
Q21: What areas of operating a business do you feel most confident in? (select up to 3)*
- Marketing and social media
- Customer service and interaction
- Sales and business pitch
- Financial – bookkeeping, planning and forecasting, margins and profitability
- Human Resources – employee recruitment, retention and management
- Purchasing and inventory management, dealing with suppliers and distributors
- Managing day-to-day business operations
- R&D, product and market development
- Information technologies, work processes and work flow
Q22: What areas of operating a business do you need to strengthen? (check all that apply)*
- Marketing and social media
- Customer service and interaction
- Sales and business pitch
- Financial – bookkeeping, planning and forecasting, margins and profitability
- Human Resources – employee recruitment, retention and management
- Purchasing and inventory management, dealing with suppliers and distributors
- Managing day-to-day business operations
- R&D, product and market development
- Information technologies, work processes and work flow
Before you submit the questionnaire, please provide any additional information you feel is relevant
Consent
Were you referred to Link North?*
- Yes
- No
Please specify which organization or channels.
Agreement*
- I have read and agree to Link North's Terms of Service.
View terms here
Stay Updated
- Keep me updated on the latest news, events and workshops from Link North and the TEDC

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About
Client Services
Programming
FAQ’s

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T 705-269-1354
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E info@linknorth-nord.ca

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