ABOUT
The WIFT+ Toronto Business Booster Series is a two-day workshop designed to provide practical information and instruction around building a business plan from an entrepreneurial perspective.
Each session will build the participants knowledge and understanding of the importance and process of building an effective and impressive business plan. Topics include: Understanding and Building Documentation; Understanding and Building Financial Components; Understanding and Building Marketing Components; Business Affairs.
ELIGIBILITY
The WIFT+ Toronto Business Booster series is recommended for those who have some experience in the industry, but are new to producing, or are starting up a company for the first time.
This workshop is open to ALL; WIFT+ Toronto members and non-members, regardless of gender expression.
DATES
Scholarship Close: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Registration Close: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Program Runs:
Friday, October 2, 2026 (9:30am - 4:30pm)
Saturday, October 3, 2026 (9:30am - 4:30pm)
FEES
WIFT Toronto Members: $350 + hst
Non Members: $475 + hst
Two (2) scholarships will be available to cover program fees for two participants for this program and are made available through the Foundation for Women in Film & Television – Toronto.
2026 SESSIONS
DAY 1
Session One: Introduction/Building Your Basic Documentation
This session will provide participants with an overview of the series as a whole (Basic Documentation, Financial Components, Marketing Components, Business Affairs/Agreements), describing the overall process of working towards a successful business plan by explaining the traditional elements of said plan. They will then dive into basic documentation whose purpose is to explain the participant's proposed business: the Executive Summary, the Company Description, and the Production/Outcome Description. This session will address how to effectively describe the goals of the business, and why its creation is timely - the "unique-ness" of the business and its goals, and its ability to fill a void.
Instructor: Sasha Boersma
Sasha Boersma is Co-Founder/Producer at Sticky Brain Studios where she leads business affairs, including human resources, accounting, and funding proposals. Since 2013, Sticky Brain Studios has created original games and apps, and developed over 70 others with partners like TVOntario and the Responsible Gambling Council.
Sasha applies her lived and professional experience with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility advocacy to every aspect of her work, including user experience design, marketing, teaching, and business strategy. She uses strategic foresight to identify patterns and develop a humanistic, inclusive approach to her business practices. She understands the nuance of individual experiences for players, users, students, and employees alike, examines systems and processes, and analyzes human behaviour to build happy and effective teams.
Sasha is an ambassador for Women in Games and a member of the Board of Directors of the Disability Screen Office, a national, not-for-profit organization that works with the Canadian screen industry to eliminate accessibility barriers and foster authentic and meaningful disability representation throughout the sector. She also served on various industry advisory committees for Ontario Creates, Canada Media Fund, Women in Film and Television – Toronto, Interactive Ontario, and the City of Toronto. Sasha also works as contract faculty at Centennial College's Story Arts Centre, where she has developed and taught post-graduate-level business courses for creative professionals for over ten years.
Session Two: Financial Components
Building on the previous session, this session will deal specifically with the financial components of the business plan: identifying financial resources, developing strategic relationships, financial projections, effective financial "asks".
Instructor: Sasha Boersma (see above for bio)
DAY 2
Session Three: Company Structure and Organization
Building on the previous sessions, this session will deal with the legal structure of the business. How will the company be structured, and who will lead it? How does each party in the company service the overall goals of the business?
Instructor: Cheryl Grossman
Session Four: Marketing Components
Building on the previous sessions, this session will deal specifically with the marketing components of the business plan: results of market research, identifying target markets, understanding competition, developing a budget, marketing goals, and marketing strategies.
Instructor: Marina Cordoni
Following various senior level positions at global entertainment companies, Marina launched MCE in 2015 to bring studio style production services to the independent sector.
Her passion for storytelling coupled with her corporate understanding of the content marketplace, makes her an ideal partner to work with.
From Berlin to the Cannes Film Festival she is inspired to build global content partnerships and co-productions.
Her work with various organizations including Women In Film & Television -Toronto allows her to share her experience and success building via mentoring emerging female and underrepresented professionals.