☔✅ Rain check on parent-friendly news, events + opportunities until next weekend: I've been in Mixing Babies And Business startup booth prep mode...

A NOTE  FROM AMY

Things I would tell myself now about attending startup events (as a parent) since 2016:

Even if you're not based in Canada, this information is relevant to ANYONE bringing babies, toddlers and school age kids into startup/business events!

1) 💸 You don't need to buy a full priced ticket if you know someone who has them or a code

Thank you Google for Startups London in 2016 and Impact Hub Ottawa in 2018 for my first tickets to startup events (with our newborn babies) in England and Canada.

And now this is me (!) through Mixing Babies And Business: If you're reading this and want to attend the 2025 Startup Canada Tour* stop this week IRL at Living Arts Centre Mississauga or virtually on Tuesday Oct 21st open 9 AM - 5 PM, I have free and discounted ticket codes for you! ⬇️

*Not an affiliate or getting paid to do this, simply spreading the professional development goodness.

RSVP FOR YOUR TICKET OF CHOICE

Type in the following codes at checkout for IRL event attendees:

MBB100 = FREE tickets for parents and primary caregivers wishing to attend in person with or without their babies, toddlers and/or school age kids - RSVP before 7 AM (ET) TOMORROW October 20th - limited code quantities

STARTUPTOUR20 = If those run out will get you 20% off regular general admission ticket - value around $90 CAD + HST) - unlimited code quantities

Virtual attendees go to the checkout online but no code needed:

FREE = Learn from guest speakers, hear other startup pitches and experience the event from the comfort of your home / local library / baby group / school drop off carpool lane - worldwide attendees, unlimited quantities

FUN FACT: Three of the speakers have also been previous guests on the Mixing Babies And Business Podcast and two at my pop-up events! (Event EMCEE Julie Cole, keynote speakers Jenn Harper, Sarah Pick and Karla Briones, who is also a pitch judge)

2) 🎤 You don't need to pitch yourself, sometimes they will find you and ask to collaborate

This included early outreach and partnerships, programming invitations and a mentorship opportunity, encouragement, ideas and cheering me on, getting asked to be in StartupGov rooms and at roundtables (IRL and virtual), continued support, belief and testimonials.

It's because of these organic connections and our relationships building over the past nearly five years, I've been able to secure sponsorship for three seasons of the podcast and pop-up event catering.

Speak on national virtual stages, redesign and create inclusive business space activations, have met with representatives from Canada's political parties AND was even invited to a private meeting with one of them at Parliament Hill.

And now, this week I'll have the new experience as an Entrepreneur Support Zone exhibitor! Stay tuned for photos/footage and recaps from that, messy details below.

3) 👟 You can wear sneakers, jeans and even your little one if you want/need to...babies = the OG wearables

I haven't always always amongst company in this department but each year it's growing and never did I imagine when we first relocated to Canada as a family in 2017, I'd be collaborating with Startup Canada to produce experiences, spaces, opportunities, visibility and conversations for and featuring parents LIKE YOU.

I started off simply trying to leave the house in London to make it to the Google for Startups campus before 10 AM, speak with other adult humans, work on my business pitch, keep our baby fed, changed and happy, then later doing all of those same things with babies two and three, before the afternoon daycare or school pickups.

My frustrations and lived experiences have become motivation for me, my activism, creations, offerings and now here we are, Mixing Babies And Business is a social impact movement, woman-led and majority owned, incorporated company in Canada.

4) 🔦 Showing up is enough

Even if you can't speak at it, don't feel ready to pitch your business, haven't printed branded merchandise, aren't raising investment (yet), or haven't seen traction (yet)...being in the room, hearing others stories, having others witness you on your journey...can result in all of the above.

Even if it's virtual, it still counts! If you can't attend the event next week because it doesn't make sense with your schedule, time zone or logistics, there is a FREE virtual livestream ticket option.

5) 👀 You'll never know, if you don't go and even if you do...others won't know about it unless you spread the word!

We didn't have childcare for the kids confirmed until this past week. We only booked accommodation Friday night.

I haven't printed collateral since 2019. I needed to redesign and update things, got it all proofed and picked up at two local presses within 72 hours.

I don't have a booth ready to go on a whim. I donated my pop-up event supplies back in 2023. I thrifted and got creative with what I have, as I'll be working with a 6ft table and 1-2 chairs in a busy corridor.

I bootstrap the business and don't have employees.

But thankfully, I do have a network, our kids love to get creative with me (sometimes) and two of the students I've worked with through the Advance Ontario program are based in the GTA...also only confirmed this past Friday, one of them is going to be there with me on the day!

I used to work with a national Australian company who put on an annual conference each year in different cities with the same number of delegates (1K) but we prepped for it over a year in advance and the team would be in all hands on deck mode the weeks prior and all three days of the event.

Stay tuned for future and behind-the-scenes details (and candid footage) from me bringing those things together over the past week, on a verrrry small budget, for a mini booth display, in another city - my first attempt for an event of this size solo.

This is why I've always documented my journey and experiences: Showing up, speaking, advocacy, DIY processes, setup, mistakes, learnings and outcomes. 

Just because you get asked, doesn't mean it will be easy. Just because you can make it happen, doesn't mean it will be successful. But saying yes, giving it a go and trying deserves to be celebrated!

I'm also still in the middle of healing from an incident two years ago, so trying to do all of the above between the kids' schedules, without raising my cortisol too much and dealing with it when I need to lie horizontal and rest.

This past weekend has been one of those moments, working on conserving my energy for the next few days now. I've also packed my Loop earplugs (noise reduction), Theraspecs (bonus: the pink lenses even match my logo 😂), wheelie cases and a pillow for my booth seat.

➡️Now over to you, any thoughts on the above or simply want to share the love? Reply to this email and react/comment on the post on LinkedIn here or listen to my recap of past events in this quick reel on Instagram here.

💻🌏More flexible and remote work with kids sessions

Join me in October for encore sessions of 'Transition To Flexible Work With Kids' my online workshop for parents and primary caregivers.

Choose the date and time which suits you best and join us live!

• Friday October 24th at 11 AM (ET)
• Tuesday October 28th at 1 PM (ET)

I delivered this session last week for parents and team members at the Livit Hub in Bali, Indonesia and received this lovely review:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights with our community – we absolutely loved your session! Your talk was so engaging and inspiring, and we really appreciate the energy and thought you brought to it." – Raymond Hasiholan, Marketing Lead at Livit, Project Getaway and Remote Skills Academy

Despite not sleeping through the night, having a miracle morning or even a coffee before going live at 9 AM! 😱

Catch up on my other BTS updates, imperfect action, messy juggle-is-real moments and micro learning opportunities for you @mixingbabiesandbusiness on Instagram 🎥

As always, thank you for reading, supporting this work and advocating for the needs of parents in business settings!

Have a great mid-October...we don't have any Halloween costumes sorted yet...the kids already think I'm a witch on the daily, no effort required from me.

I'll be back later this week post my Toronto startup exhibitor adventures,

– Amy Lynch (+ Family)

Founder + Podcast Host

Mixing Babies And Business™

P.S. Keep showing up (as and when you can). It all matters.

More from Mixing Babies And Business™:

• Join the Community in 2025 for a $25 CAD flat fee
• Explore the digital resource hub flexible + remote work with kids
• Book me (Amy) for a corporate training session DEI + flexible work skills
• Tune into the podcast on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Website 6 Seasons, listeners in 56 countries
• Connect with me on LinkedIn sharing flexible + remote work with kids, social impact, and the odd farm kid, intuition + creativity related stories

**Thanks for reading, I hope it helps you (share with friends if you think they'd be interested). Please reply if you have feedback or questions about the above! I aim to respond within 72 hours Tuesday–Friday**

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