Photo: AREA 81 Coffee Chat in Owen Sound, Ontario. Research: Conventional Cybersecurity Won’t Protect Your AI HBR’s point lands especially hard for small businesses because many already run their operations on Microsoft 365—and Microsoft is now actively pushing Microsoft 365 Copilot Business into the SMB market (under 300 users), embedded right inside Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams at an “SMB-friendly” price.   The risk: Copilot isn’t just another app to “secure with antivir

An Mi6 series on next-generation entrepreneurs and ventures We believe the next generation of ventures will not be built by working harder, moving faster, or sacrificing more of the founder. They will be designed . Designed to create, deliver, and capture value without burning human capacity. Designed to compound economic, social, and cultural capital over time. Designed to use technology and AI as leverage — not as substitutes for judgment . In a world where execution is ab

Epistemic Discipline Before Speed In a world where execution is abundant and speed is cheap, the real constraint is decision quality . The founders and ventures that endure will be those that practice discipline before momentum, clarity before commitment, and value exchange before growth. These ventures are not built to consume their creators, but to serve them — as vehicles for learning , freedom , and long-term prosperity for themselves and others . Explainer Video The

Ian Burgess explains why AI fluency, apprenticeship, and systems thinking will shape the future of rural entrepreneurship and workforce development.

Being an entrepreneur in November 2025

Picture: AREA 81 Coffee Chat, Port Elgin | Join AREA 81 Covered in this Round Up: FUNDING | DEMOGRAPHICS | INDIGENOUS Why Standard Productivity Advice Doesn’t Work for ADHD Entrepreneurs Many productivity strategies assume steady focus, structured routines and the ability to power through less‑engaging tasks—but those assumptions don’t align with how ADHD brains operate. ADHD often involves inconsistent executive function, shifting energy levels, and a stronger drive for i

Discover how private capital is reshaping Canada beyond the billionaire myth. Learn how AREA 81 wants to empower rural communities with private capital.

But, we’ve lost 100,000 entrepreneurs—and 350,000 can’t get the financing they need. This raises the question: is BDC doing a good job? Rural entrepreneurs power Canada’s real economy—jobs, exports, main‑street vitality, and community pride. Yet we have 100,000 fewer entrepreneurs than 20 years ago and an estimated 350,000 who can’t access the financing they need. That gap is widest outside big cities, where distance, thin credit files, and unconventional models collide with

Brandon Forder, co-owner of Harbour Hound Pet Supplies (formerly Candian Pet Connection) a family-run pet business, joined the Rural Entrepreneur Podcast to discuss his family transformed their brand from a brick-and-mortar store in the GTA into a leading Canadian e-commerce presence rooted in Meaford, Ontario.

Discover insights on health and safety for small business in rural areas. Learn from Janice Campbell's entrepreneurial journey and safety expertise.

Picture: AREA 81 Coffee Chat, Owen Sound | Join AREA 81 Covered in this Round Up: TECHNOLOGY | MUSIC | INDIGENOUS Powerlink’s Evolution: From Office to Community Hub Powerlink in Saugeen Shores has reimagined its role—from being purely office space to becoming a full‑on community hub. Now it offers coworking, flexible office rentals, event hosting (like Loft 1020), and experiences that draw together entrepreneurs, non‑profits, local charities, and residents. Through the AR

Ryan Harris turned a high school passion for music into Artie Music—a full-scale audio/video production hub based in Hanover, Ontario. From DIY recordings to formal training and mentorship in Toronto, Ryan pivoted from carpentry during the pandemic to build a creative ecosystem in Grey-Bruce.

Smart Trees: How Korotu Technology is Empowering Farmers to Reforest Without Compromise TL;DR On this episode of The Rural Entrepreneur Podcast  ( listen here ) , host Chris Herbert sits down with Sean Rudd of Korotu Technology. They explore how integrating trees into Canadian farms can deliver ecological and economic benefits — and how Korotu’s platform helps farmers overcome the real-world challenges of tree placement, funding access, and long-term maintenance. The conversa

We get it—you're busy. That's why we've put together these quick article roundups, updated weekly(ish), here's what we cover: UN SDGs , entrepreneurship , marketing , and local news for Grey and Bruce Counties . Get the key takeaways and actionable advice you need, fast. UPDATED Aug 24 UN SDGs Nestlé Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Impact Nestlé Nigeria aligns its CSR with SDGs—Zero Hunger, Health, Clean Water, Responsible Consumption, and Climate Action—training over 41,00

Discover why angel investing in Canada is broken and how it impacts early-stage startups. Learn more about the challenges in angel investing in Canada.

Are Silicon Valley's Tech Giants Building a New Colonial Power Structure? Artificial intelligence evokes futuristic innovation, streamlined efficiency, and boundless progress. Yet beneath the polished interfaces and groundbreaking algorithms lurks a troubling question: has, or is AI becoming a form of modern colonialism, driven by resource exploitation, labor abuses, and environmental harm? As AI companies achieve trillion-dollar valuations and their technologies infiltrate e

Buying Local is an Act of Belief A Personal Introduction At AREA 81 , we’re building something rooted in belief — belief that rural entrepreneurship not only matters, but holds the key to our region’s future. We’re not fully established yet, but the vision is clear: a thriving, collaborative entrepreneurship and venture development ecosystem that turns bold ideas into enduring businesses, right here in Grey and Bruce (to start). Our Belief Capital campaign, and this blog pos

This is a photo of Inglis Falls in Grey County | Credit: @robertkmackey1987 Click here to see Grey Bruce news. We get it—you're busy. That's why we've put together these quick article roundups, updated weekly(ish), click on the links over there => to see what we're covering on: UN SDGs , entrepreneurship , marketing , and local news for Grey and Bruce Counties . Get the key takeaways and actionable advice you need, fast. NEW = Jul 26 update UN SDGs Forest Cuts Undermine UN S

Learn what a Mafia Offer is, why jargon like this matters in startups, and how to choose the right offer type to gain traction with real-world examples.

Explore the latest tech boom with insights on QSBS expansion and startup exits. Discover how QSBS is reshaping investment strategies today.