DISCLAIMER on July 12, 2021: The Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) is no longer in operation and as their website now directs to the general Ontario government’s Business and Economy page. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) – businesses with fewer than 500 employees – represent the overwhelming majority of economic activity in Canada. These businesses…
Innovation Factory (iF) is a Hamilton, Ontario-based Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) that provides startup resources, programming, and mentorship to early-stage companies. Since 2011, it’s helped innovators commercialize their ideas and reach the next level of success while also supporting a more collaborative business community. As a member of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), Innovation…
DISCLAIMER on July 12, 2021: The Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) is no longer in operation and as their website now directs to the general Ontario government’s Business and Economy page. Establishing your tech business in Ontario can be challenging, but there are many startup resources to support entrepreneurship, including the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE)….
Waterloo, Ontario-based social messaging application Kik has become one of three Canadian companies to be valued at $1 billion or more. This valuation comes after the company received an investment of $50 million (USD) from Chinese internet giant Tencent. With over 240 million registered users around the world, Kik has gained a great following and by…
In 2013, the Accelerator Centre (AC) in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario piloted a program, called JumpStart, to mentor startups and entrepreneurs.This year, the program receives a full launch alongside $8M in funding. The AC JumpStart program is a four-year partnership between the Accelerator Centre and three post-secondary institutions: Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier…
MaRS Embark Funding is a wage subsidy offered through MaRS and your local Regional Innovation Centre (RIC). Embark offers up to $20,000 in funding to hire a young professional (between the ages of 22-29) for a business role who will work with the venture to help reach specific goals or milestones. The business is required…
Start-up funding small business grants offered through the new Youth Accelerator Fund offers financial support for youth under 30 to bring their innovative products to market. Youth Accelerator Start-up Funding for Small Businesses Canada The Youth Accelerator Fund is particularly interested in funding opportunities for youth who have participated in college or university based accelerator…
Communitech, located in Kitchener, Ontario is one of Ontario’s Network of Excellence (ONE) Research Innovation Centres (RIC). The Ontario Network of Excellence consists of member organizations with commercialization experts that may include: Tech-savvy advisors Experienced entrepreneurs Sector-specific organizations Colleges and university Specifically, Communitech is an association that represents more than 800 technology companies in the…
The Laurier Innovation & Technology Club’s annual event, Entrepreneur’s Exchange is quickly approaching. This is a free event being held at Communitech, a not-for-profit organization that supports hundreds of technology companies located in the Waterloo Region. Entrepreneurial Event Overview: Entrepreneur’s Exchange The Laurier Innovation & Technology Club, the host of this unique event is an…
The MaRS Cleantech Fund is one of the most recent program additions by the MaRS Organization to provide funding for small business in the clean technologies sector. The program is funded through the highly regarded MaRS Discovery District, which provides equity investments to small business and start-up organizations looking to commercialize new and innovative technologies….