Dear BTF Community,
When we launched the very first Business Transitions Forum in 2015, it was driven by one idea: founders needed a better way to prepare for what’s next.
Ten years later, that idea has grown into a national series of events and a trusted place for entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors to gather, learn, and connect.
To mark the 10-year milestone, I sat down to reflect on how BTF started, what we’ve learned along the way, and where we’re headed next.
Key Takeaways:
- BTF started to fill a clear need: real, honest conversations about business transition
- Relationships and resilience have shaped our growth from day one
- We’re just getting started, with more cities, more conversations, and more impact ahead
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Enjoy,
Mark
The Business Transitions Forum didn’t begin with a massive budget or corporate backing; it began with belief.
In 2015, Mark Stephenson and his partner Dave Tyldesley recognized a growing need in the marketplace: baby boomer entrepreneurs preparing for ownership transition needed guidance, community, and actionable insight and no one was filling that gap.
“BTF was started in late 2015 and it truly was started from the back of a napkin… it was all about exit strategy for business owners.”
“BTF was started in late 2015 and it truly was started from the back of a napkin… it was all about exit strategy for business owners.”
What followed was a high-stakes sprint. In just four months, they built the first BTF event in Vancouver. Without a roadmap and armed only with determination and industry intuition, the Cube Business Media Inc. team got to work.
“We were going to do the right things and talk to the right people to ensure that we had success. We believed in the concept.”
That belief carried them through cold calls, rejections, long days, and plenty of unknowns. But the inaugural event proved the idea had legs and a future.
From the very beginning, relationships have been the cornerstone of BTF’s success. Building trust with skeptical industry insiders was no small feat, but it became the differentiator.
“You’re only as good as your last event and you’re only as good as the relationships you have… you have to deliver in order to have the opportunity to grow.”
Deliver they did.
With Vancouver under their belt, the team expanded to Toronto, a critical move that cemented BTF as a national player. From there, the brand continued to grow organically, with the support of partners who valued the forum’s relevance and quality.
Each city brought its own unique flavor, but the mission remained the same: to support entrepreneurs through one of the most complex, emotional, and financially significant phases of their business lives.
Culture & Team: Heart of the Business
It became apparent during the conversation with Mark that behind every successful BTF event is a passionate team committed not only to excellence but to each other. Over the last decade, leadership at Cube has prioritized team growth as much as business growth.
“I’m probably most proud of watching our team grow… When I see team members going to buy their first home or buy their first car… that’s the kind of stuff that resonates with me.”
A culture of learning, mentorship, and shared wins has helped Cube attract and retain entrepreneurial thinkers who care deeply about the impact of their work.
“We’re entrepreneurs at heart. I get excited when I see a team member learning, when I see a team member growing.”
The environment is one of support, ownership, and genuine excitement, not just for what the business achieves, but for how people grow while building it.
Resilience: The Pandemic Pivot
Of all the challenges BTF has faced, none were as existential as the COVID-19 pandemic. With in-person events on hold indefinitely, the team was forced to adapt or risk losing everything.
“There was never a moment I thought we wouldn’t continue coming out of it. Especially, when our customers, big corporate partners and our sponsors didn’t leave. They stayed because they believed in us.”
Those months demanded resilience, creativity, and fast decisions. The team launched virtual conferences, renegotiated deals, and kept delivering value, even under intense uncertainty.
The loyalty of their partners and the team’s ability to pivot became a turning point, reaffirming the strength of the BTF brand.
Innovation & Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, BTF is embracing technology, expanding its footprint, and continuing to evolve with the businesses it serves.
“The speed at which business is changing is truly amazing… We’ve done a very good job of using the growth of technology to help our business.”
Artificial intelligence is one area of particular interest. From marketing to content development, AI is being integrated into both the operations of BTF and the conversations on stage.
“We are the catalyst to help [businesses] grow and transition. We are the community that we’re building to help them grow and transition.”
New cities like Saskatoon and Montreal are on the horizon, and early-stage U.S. growth is underway. The next decade promises greater reach, smarter tools, and deeper impact.
Now, as BTF moves into its second decade, its mission remains focused on delivering value where it counts: to the business owners navigating change and the people supporting them.
“If we can make a difference and help with [business transition] in the business community that we participate in, I think that’s a great reward for us.”
Mark reflects not only on how far they’ve come, but on how much more there is to do.
“We’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve met some wonderful people… We’ve listened a lot to our customers and I think we’ve been very good at making adjustments to continue to help these businesses.”
With the continued support of the BTF community, the best is still ahead.