Ottawa marketing firm providing entrepreneurship support to Ukrainian refugees

With nearly 3 million people having fled Ukraine following Russia's invasion, a growing list of Ottawa organizations are offering help to those coming to Canada, including one company that's offering a different kind of support.

Ottawa marketing firm, Danger Co Marketing Services is offering free marketing support to Ukrainian refugees looking to start over in North America as entrepreneurs.

Founder and CEO Jordan Danger Stalker, tells The Rob Snow Show she has seen many organizations offering the basic needs of life such as food, clothing and shelter. The next step is how to help them rebuild their lives.

“We'll see people who had businesses in Ukraine coming over to North America and wanting to restart their businesses,” she says. “I think we'll also see people coming over and looking to start a business because, for the various reasons that we all are familiar with, they may not be able to move directly into their previous profession.

“The next step is, 'How do they rebuild a life?' Our hope is that the Danger program for Ukrainians will be effective in that. You come here to a new country, [but] how you ran your business in your own country might be very different, the style of community that you're used to. Making sure that when you come here, you have the support you need to start off on the right foot, get rolling really well.”

Stalker says while it will be challenging for many trying to restart their lives in a new country, it is an interesting time to start a business and pivot into entrepreneurship.

“The pandemic took out a lot of small businesses — that doesn't really bode well,” she says. “However, if we are in the recovery period with that, then now there is an opportunity because there are open storefronts. There are gaps in the marketplace now from businesses that they closed down. So it is possible that this could be a really great time to start a small business.”

The program, which is entirely free, includes marketing coaching sessions and opportunities to connect people with other skills they need to get their businesses up and running.

People can find more information about the program on Danger Co's website.