St. Lawrence College / Rise Accounting Hackathon

SLC/Rise Accounting Hackathon
Friday, February 21st 1-4pm
SLC Innovation Hub

This Friday, February 21st, students and entrepreneurs will come together at St. Lawrence College’s Innovation Hub (www.innovationhubslc.ca) to help pave the way for local small business success at an Accounting Hackathon.

Entrepreneurs participating in the event are working with Rise (www.risehelps.ca), the only national charity dedicated to helping people with mental health conditions or addiction achieve financial independence through self-employment or small business ownership. Rise provides resources, mentorship and micro-financing to eliminate barriers, improve life outcomes and strengthen communities. KEYS Job Centre (www.keys.ca) partners with Rise locally to offer the program in the Kingston area.

The entrepreneurs participating in the hackathon are either starting or growing their small businesses and each will spend the afternoon working with a group of third-year accounting students to come up with a solution to a finance-related issue they are facing. The solution could be in the form of an updated business plan, a set of projected financial statements, a cash flow budget, a template to help record day-to-day transactions etc.

This type of hands-on, tailored assistance can be invaluable to an entrepreneur as they grow their business. Says Rise Lending Program Manager Nick Yeo, “Each Rise-supported business is unique, and our entrepreneurs face daily challenges that are critical to their success. The opportunity to step back review what’s working with an objective lends is extremely valuable for any business owner. We’re excited to see the students apply their accounting knowledge to help our clients lay the foundations for future growth.”

The students will have the opportunity to work with and learn from a variety of businesses, from catering to guitar repair to indigenous art. Experiential learning can bring students’ studies to life and help prepare them for the workforce. According to Alynn Boyle, Accounting Professor at SLC’s School of Business, through this event, “students can link theory to practice and increase the effectiveness of learning through collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving in a professional business setting.”

Entrepreneurship can be a solution to barriers to employment faced by Canadians with mental health or addiction challenges, as it offers individuals the opportunity to re-enter the workplace on their own terms. Through Rise, local entrepreneurs can access resources and support to help them succeed. The Accounting Hackathon at Saint-Lawrence College offers students a unique opportunity to bring their learning to life while helping contribute to these successes.

For more information:
Rise contact: Nick Yeo, Lending Program Manager, nyeo@RiseHelps.ca 416-978-5498
KEYS Job Centre contact: Gillian Watters, Director of Programs gillianw@keys.ca 613-546-5559×231
Saint-Lawrence College contact: Alynn Boyle, Accounting Professor, School of Business aboyle@sl.on.ca 613-544-5400 x 1155