Entrepreneurs’ Forum, the pan-regional not-for-profit that promotes entrepreneurship, has rebranded itself as Entrepreneurs3.0 as a sign of its enhanced mission.

As Entrepreneurs’ Forum, the group was known for bringing together entrepreneurs and mentors in an intimate dinner so they could work together to improve the company’s prospects. The not-for-profit has held 55 to 65 for these meals a year, and they will continue to be a pillar of its product offering.

But CEO Kathleen Rayworth says the organization has been expanding its suite of services, including successful efforts to help companies raise money in Atlantic Canada and in Ontario.

“We’re looking at new service offerings and new ways to help our clients,” said Rayworth in an interview. “At this point we want to utilize the braintrust and expertise of our advisers on a much greater scale.”

Now in its third decade, Entrepreneurs3.0 connects new and growing entrepreneurs with advisers over dinner. The idea is for advisers to speak frankly and candidly about different paths or solutions the entrepreneur can take to grow and diversify. The problems they can discuss range from how to break into a new market or how to save a failing business.  [Disclaimer: Entrepreneurs3.0 is a client of Entrevestor.]

“What I’ve learned over the past couple of months is we’re very unique in our service offering and we’re cost-effective,” said Rayworth. “It’s the quality of the advisers that we have and the actual advisory process. That provides a very comfortable space for people to get to know each other so they can work together very quickly.”

In the last year, Entrepreneurs’ Forum began a new initiative in its P.E.I. branch that expanded into Nova Scotia and will be further enhanced this year. The organization launched missions to take Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to Toronto to help them raise capital. The “Access to Capital” program also provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to meet with industry experts, competitors, potential suppliers and customers as well as seasoned advisors.  A total of 18 companies took part in the missions, and they raised a total of $10 million from investors in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

Entrepreneurs3.0 plans to expand the program this year to include companies from other provinces.

“Any success I’ve had has been in many respects thanks to the advice I received when I was first starting out, said P.E.I. entrepreneur Reagh Ellis, who has become Entrepreneurs3.0’s new board president. “It means so much to me to be able to contribute to other entrepreneurs in the same way and pay it forward.  Entrepreneurs3.0 truly offers invaluable and affordable services to businesses throughout the Atlantic region.”