Category: AC News

Waterloo Accelerator Centre  Chief Executive Officer

We’re a dynamic business accelerator focused on building tomorrow’s technology superstars. And we’re looking for a leader to spearhead our next phase of growth.

The Accelerator Centre, the gold standard for accelerating the growth and commercial success of early-stage technology companies, is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

As CEO, you will lead the Accelerator Centre (AC) in its next phase of growth by identifying new opportunities for sustainable revenue generation and building on existing opportunities within and beyond the Waterloo Region. Externally, you will be the public face of the AC, developing collaborative relationships with numerous partners including regional education institutions, Communitech, provincial, federal and municipal governments and their agencies, as well as private sector companies. Internally, you will lead a strong and experienced team that is focused on operational excellence and service delivery to the AC’s Clients. You will work with a Board of Directors that represents a cross section of the AC’s stakeholders and is committed to a growth strategy and the success of the organization in achieving its mission.

As the ideal candidate, you will be an entrepreneurial oriented bold visionary who thinks outside of the box. You understand the challenges faced by early-stage technology companies and their founders and are passionate about their success. Your experience includes success in obtaining funding from both public and private sources. Exceptional relationship skills that enable you to deal with multiple stakeholders and partners are essential. You are a mentor who empowers your team and understands the culture of a small, efficient organization.

About the Accelerator Centre

Established in 2006, the Waterloo Accelerator Centre is a world-renowned nonprofit corporation headquartered at the David Johnston Research + Technology Park in Waterloo, Ontario. The AC generates economic benefit and enhances the strategic importance of the Waterloo Region within the provincial, national and global economy by:

• Accelerating the creation, growth, and scale-up of globally competitive and sustainable new technology companies; and
• Promoting the commercialization of research and technology emerging from academic institutions, helping these entrepreneurs to develop viable and robust firms.

The AC has developed an internationally recognized education and mentorship program for start-up technology businesses and their founders. It provides highpotential technology companies with the resources and support required to overcome their most significant barriers to commercial success.

Drawing on its rigorous selection criteria, the AC provides the highest potential firms with an intensive curriculum that features education, processes, tools and services. These include access to office facilities; business coaching and mentorship; education; facilitated investment opportunities; networking; R&D support; talent recruitment; technology transfer and commercialization knowledge. These services enable start-ups to move to market faster, create new jobs and stimulate economic activity in the Waterloo Region. Since 2006, more than 120 early-stage companies in Waterloo Region have benefited from the AC’s programs. The AC currently has 41 Client companies.

This is an opportunity for someone to have a direct impact on the regional innovation system and economy by leading an organization that is an important contributor to its success and prosperity.

Please reply in confidence to ceoapplications@acceleratorcentre.com prior to May 9, 2014.
For additional information, contact Gary Pooley at 519-342-3119.

Click here for a PDF of this posting.

Waterloo (Ontario), CANADA, March 20, 2014 – World renowned for its cultivation of technology entrepreneurship, Waterloo’s Accelerator Centre today celebrated the latest two technology start-ups to graduate from its award-winning Accelerator Program.

TrustPoint Innovation Technologies, founded by world-renowned cryptographer and University of Waterloo distinguished professor emeritus, the late Dr. Scott Vanstone, and Sherry Shannon-Vanstone, specializes in secure machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. As a Certificate Authority, TrustPoint creates, manages and distributes the vital credentials that establish secure authentication between wired and wireless products and services that operate within the Internet of Things including Vehicle-to-Vehicle, Broadband Wireless and NFC tags. TrustPoint is leveraging its extensive knowledge and pedigree in Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) to provide the M2M market with the most efficient form of secure authentication.

blueRover is a company in relentless pursuit of intelligence. The company, founded by long time entrepreneur and businessman Loreto Saccucci, provides a technically advanced platform that helps companies in the transportation, food, cosmetic and pharmaceuticals industries monitor, track asset data and resources around the globe and react to business critical changes in real-time.

Accelerator Centre graduates, current clients, and key stakeholders gathered to celebrate the graduation, which centered around the theme ‘learning from the community.’ The morning event also featured a presentation from Ryan Gariepy, CTO of Clearpath Robotics, a highly successful Accelerator Centre graduate. Clearpath is this year celebrating its fifth year in business and was recently featured on Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet.

“Today’s graduates are both focused on providing solutions within the M2M realm, a market estimated to exceed $86 billion by 2017,” says Tim Ellis, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre. “Once again, we are seeing a tremendous diversity of tech companies flowing through our doors addressing a wide range of business challenges and industries. We are exceptionally proud of Blue Rover and TrustPoint’s commercialization efforts – aided of course by the Accelerator Program’s team of business advisors, mentors and educational programming. Both companies are graduating on a very solid footing and are destined to be significant players within their markets and economic contributors within Waterloo Region.”

About the Accelerator Centre
The Accelerator Centre is the gold standard for accelerating the growth and commercial success of early-stage technology companies. Our proven formula, The Accelerator Program®, delivers an essential combination of mentorship, education, facilities, funding and networking to the highest potential firms. Our in-house programming provides expertise, resources and support when needed to accelerate time to market, customers, and investment.
Since 2006, The Accelerator Program has developed and nurtured over 120 early-stage technology start-ups, creating 1000+ new jobs, generating over $110 million in revenue, and attracting over $170 million in investment. Thirty-six companies have graduated from The Accelerator Program, and more than 85 percent of these companies have remained in Waterloo Region. For more information visit our website at www.acceleratorcentre.com

Social Media Links

Follow us on Twitter @AC_Waterloo
Join us on LinkedIn

For further information, please contact:
Ellyn Winters-Robinson
Communications Advisor
Accelerator Centre
Phone: 519-624-2402
Email: ewinters-robinson@acceleratorcentre.com
@ellynjane

Waterloo (Ontario), CANADA, March 6, 2014 – Waterloo Accelerator Centre is celebrating the launch of 30 technology start-ups from its JumpStart program, a unique six-month mentorship and business acceleration program aimed at assisting engineers and scientists commercialize new products and develop new businesses.

Attendees at the launch ceremony heard the pitches from seven of the JumpStart companies, including Milao Language, an educational technology start-up radically changing the way people learn a new language; Kite, a productivity tool that accelerates building web applications; Deep Trekker, a creator of fully portable, highly manoeuvrable, affordable video submarines; iNotForProfit, a provider of mobile application solutions for the non-profit sector; Wriber, a blogger’s best friend; TrendyMED, a medical device company developing a groundbreaking line of intravenous (IV) infusion products, and Plasticity, a start-up combining neuroscience and technology to make people happier at work.

Since the JumpStart program kicked off in January 2013, 30 technology start-ups each received $5K in mentorship from the Accelerator Centre’s team of in-house advisors along with $25K in matching seed financing. As a direct result of the JumpStart program, participating start-ups have created 180+ new jobs in the Waterloo Region, generated $3.2 million in combined revenue, and are expected to raise approximately $5 million in private investment.

The Accelerator Centre JumpStart program was made possible through a $945K investment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

“FedDev Ontario’s investment in the Jumpstart program is helping science and technology entrepreneurs bring their innovative ideas to market,” said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario. “I would like to congratulate all of the finalists and winners and wish them luck with their start-up companies. These new creative ideas will help benefit the Waterloo Region and all of southern Ontario.”

“For early-stage companies seeking to bring their technologies to market, access to funding and mentorship at this formative stage is often a significant hurdle,” says Tim Ellis, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre. “Our JumpStart program solves both of these challenges, providing essential seed funding and access to experts who can provide the critical guidance and mentorship geared to helping these young companies realize their business goals.”

“JumpStart has been instrumental in our company’s growth in the last four months,” says Jim Moss, CEO of Plasticity. “It has not only given us the critical early-stage funding that is so hard to come by, but allowed us to tap into incredibly valuable advice and mentorship from seasoned experts who have been at our shoulder to guide us. We have now successfully raised $500K from angel and private investors and our sales are ramping up. We would never have been able to get this far so quickly without JumpStart.”

The Accelerator Centre’s JumpStart program was recently honoured with a 2014 Business Excellence Award for Innovation by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. For a full list of companies that participated in JumpStart, click here.

About the Accelerator Centre

The Accelerator Centre is the gold standard for accelerating the growth and commercial success of early-stage technology companies. Our proven formula, The Accelerator Program®, delivers an essential combination of mentorship, education, facilities, funding and networking to the highest potential firms. Our in-house programming provides expertise, resources and support when needed to accelerate time to market, customers, and investment.

Since 2006, The Accelerator Program has developed and nurtured over 120 early-stage technology start-ups, creating 1000+ new jobs, generating over $100 million in revenue, and attracting over $160 million in investment. Thirty-four companies have graduated from The Accelerator Program, and more than 90 percent of these companies have remained in Waterloo Region. For more information visit our website at www.acceleratorcentre.com

Social Media Links

Follow us on Twitter @AC_Waterloo
Join us on LinkedIn

For further information, please contact:

Ellyn Winters-Robinson
Communications Advisor
Accelerator Centre
Phone: 519-624-2402
Email: ewinters-robinson@acceleratorcentre.com
@ellynjane

 

Waterloo (Ontario), CANADA, February 21, 2014 – Waterloo’s Accelerator Centre has taken home a 2013 Business Excellence Award for Innovation. The award, presented by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce at its annual Business Excellence Gala evening, recognizes Chamber members who have made exceptional contributions through their involvement and leadership, making a clear difference and who act as role models in the community.

The Accelerator Centre was recognized by the Chamber for its JumpStart program, a unique six-month mentorship and business acceleration program aimed at assisting engineers and scientists commercialize new products and develop new businesses.  Since it’s kick off in January 2013, 30 technology start-ups each received $5K in mentorship from the Accelerator Centre’s team of in-house advisors along with $25K in matching seed financing.  As a direct result of the JumpStart program, participating start-ups have created 100+ full time jobs in Waterloo Region and are expected to raise more than $5 million in private investment.

The Accelerator Centre JumpStart program was made possible through a $945K investment from the Federal Economic Development Agency.

“We are honoured to have JumpStart recognized by the Chamber, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this Business Excellence award with the start-ups who have directly benefited from the program,” says Tim Ellis, CEO of the Accelerator Centre.  “With its flexible combination of non-residency support and focused mentoring over a six month timeframe, the JumpStart program has allowed us to support many more start-ups, nearly doubling the reach of The Accelerator Program®, our in-house program. As a result we have been able to equip 30 additional companies with the knowledge, network and tools to  take a step closer to realize their business goals.”

One of the initial companies funded by the JumpStart program is ESL Explorer, a trusted online marketplace for students to research and buy promotions on English language courses around the world. In less than one year, the company has grown from 2 to 10 full time employees, is already cash flow positive, and now attracts clients from all over the world.

About the Accelerator Centre

The Accelerator Centre is the gold standard for accelerating the growth and commercial success of early-stage technology companies. Our proven formula, The Accelerator Program®, delivers an essential combination of mentorship, education, facilities, funding and networking to the highest potential firms.  Our in-house programming provides expertise, resources and support when needed to accelerate time to market, customers, and investment.

Since 2006, the Accelerator Program has developed and nurtured over 120 early-stage technology start-ups, creating 1000+ new jobs, generating over $100 million in revenue, and attracting over $160 million in investment. Thirty-four companies have graduated from The Accelerator Program, and more than 90 percent of these companies have remained in Waterloo Region.  For more information visit our website at www.acceleratorcentre.com

Social Media Links
Follow us on Twitter @AC_Waterloo
Join us on LinkedIn

For further information, please contact:

Ellyn Winters-Robinson
Communications Advisor
Accelerator Centre
Phone: 519-624-2402
Email: ewinters-robinson@acceleratorcentre.com
@ellynjane

By Suzanne Bowness
Communications and Public Affairs
University of Waterloo

After many years of teaching Spanish to Waterloo students, Camelia Nunez knows beginners learn best by engaging in meaningful conversations.  She also knows undergrads spend a lot of time chatting on their smartphones.

So she came up with an idea:  Why not use smartphones as a platform for students to receive and respond to messages in their new language?

With a solid concept, Nunez began a Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) at the Conrad centre at University of Waterloo. Support from MBET mentors and professors helped her launch Milao, a language learning chat tool for smartphones.

“My experience shows that you don’t necessarily have to be an engineer to have a good idea. Great ideas do come from arts and humanities—and when you combine them with science, great things can happen,” says Nunez, who is also a PhD student of Hispanic linguistics.”

Milao, which is Modern Greek for “to communicate,” is an on-demand chat program aligned with university curriculum for beginner language courses. It lets users chat about typical beginner language topics with an avatar – topics like ordering food or asking for directions.

Click here to read the full article.

Seven companies each awarded $25,000 in funding through pitch competition.

Waterloo Region – August 28, 2013 – The Waterloo Accelerator Centre (AC), a world-renowned, award-winning facility dedicated to developing and commercializing technology start-ups announced today it has handed out $25,000 in JumpStart funding to seven young companies, following a highly competitive pitch competition held at the AC’s Waterloo facility. Twelve finalists pitched their company’s story for 5-minutes each before a panel of expert judges, including Dave Caputo, CEO of Sandvine, Chris Howlett, Technology Mentor at the Waterloo Accelerator Centre, Steve McCartney, VP Startup Services at Communitech, and Tim Ellis, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre.

The winning companies now receive $25,000 in matching seed funds and the right to participate in the AC’s extensive mentoring program, which provides start-ups with access to experts in marketing and sales, HR, PR/communications, technology, and finance.

The funding is being provided through the JumpStart program, which received an investment of up to $945,000 by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s (FedDev Ontario) Scientists and Engineers in Business initiative.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, congratulations to all the finalists and winners in the Waterloo Accelerator Centre’s JumpStart program,” said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario. “Our investment in the program is helping the region’s science and technology entrepreneurs develop their business and management skills and launch promising start-up companies. This will help bring innovative ideas to market, creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for our region and all of southern Ontario.”

The seven JumpStart winners are:

• USB Hub – a company designing the world’s best USB Hub
• SoundBrush (www.getsoundbrush.com) – a tech-based company that promises to revolutionize the way people create and discover music.
• TrendyMED (www.trendymed.com)- a medical devices company developing a ground-breaking line of intravenous (IV) infusion products.
• SciGit (www.scigit.com) – a Waterloo-based company whose collaboration software is used by over a hundred institutions.
• Concertninja (www.concertninja.com) – a platform for live music fans to crowd fund events in their city. Think KickStarter, but for concerts.
• Kite (www.runkite.com) – a productivity tool that accelerates building web applications.
• Milao Language (www.milaolanguage.com) – a Waterloo based educational technology start-up that will radically change the way people learn a new language.

In addition to its $25,000 seed funding, Milao Language’s CEO Camelia Nunez also took home the $1,250 People’s Choice award from the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN). The Accelerator Centre is a member of the CDMN.

This group of seven companies is the third cohort of JumpStart program beneficiaries. The program was launched in June 2013, benefitting from $945,000 in support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (www.feddevontario.gc.ca) through its Scientists and Engineers in Business Program. The third cohort will wrap up at the end of March, 2014.

“For early-stage companies seeking to bring their technologies to market, access to funding and mentorship at this formative stage can be a significant hurdle,” said Tim Ellis, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre and Accelerator Program Inc. “The JumpStart program addresses both of these challenges for start-ups. It provides essential funding, and through our Accelerator Program, offers these companies access to experts who can provide business guidance and mentorship. ”

“The JumpStart program not only provides us with critical funding at a very vital stage in our company’s growth. It also gave us an opportunity to practice our pitch in front of an audience of our peers and industry experts. We were delighted to be selected as one of the seven companies to enter the JumpStart third cohort, and to bring home the People’s Choice prize for our pitch. It is terrific validation we are on the right path. Thanks FedDev and to the Waterloo Accelerator Centre for providing us with this amazing opportunity,” says Camelia Nunez, CEO Milao Language.

About the Waterloo Accelerator Centre

The Accelerator Centre, located within Waterloo’s David Johnston Research and Technology Park, is a world-renowned, award-winning facility dedicated to developing and commercializing technology start-ups. Through its Accelerator Program, early-stage companies benefit from in-depth business coaching and seamless support services, including access to office facilities, coaching and mentoring, education, connections to capital, networking, R&D support and outreach, talent recruitment, technology transfer assistance, and commercialization expertise, enabling technology start-ups to move to market faster, create jobs and stimulate economic activity. For information visit us on the web at www.acceleratorcentre.com

For more information, contact:

Shane Pegg, Director of Strategic Initiatives
519-342-2400 or spegg@acceleratorcentre.com

Accelerator Centre puts pedal to the metal

True to its name, the new Stratford Accelerator Centre is off to a quick start.

Even before it had officially launched at its downtown home, the centre – which is an offsboot of the successful Waterloo Accelerator Centre – already received 10 applications for its award-winning program that mentors, supports and cultivates early stage technology and digital media companies.

And even before holding a formal grand opening, it already has seven clients on board here.

Shane Pegg, the centre’s direction of strategic initiatives, introduced a few of them at a recent Avonova meeting at the University of Waterloo Stratford campus, and offered an overview of just what will be happening at 6 Wellington St.

“Our mission with the Accelerator Centre is to work with the community to help accelerate early-stage companies, to help them move from concept to commercialization,” said Pegg.

For their monthly rent, clients accepted into the program get much more than just a desk, a phone line and the use of the photocopy machine.

They have access to mentors and advisors, as well as a team of business professionals than can help them navigate things like grant applications, financing, sales, marketing and human resources.

What’s offered is “all the different aspects from an entrepreneur toolkit that you need to help move you from the point you’re at to point of launch and beyond,” said Pegg.

Dan Heitbohmer is looking beyond.

He’s among the initial group of clients at the centre hoping to accelerate his business, BuildCircle, which provides cloudbase software services for contractors to help streamline their communications with subtrades, and improve the bidding process.

“The mentorship there is just fantastic,” said Heitbohmer, suggesting that the professional guidance and networking opportunities offered through the centre are invaluable to a young business.

MotoRegistry, which provides management software for the motor sport industry, is also hoping to capitalize on those local resources.

Founder and CEO James Emmerich said the Stratford Accelerator Centre is just what are startups need.

“I think it’s a huge opportunity for small business, or just people with ideas to have someone that can help them grown that idea into a full-fledged business,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be a huge benefit for Stratford.” Emmrich is not the only entrepreneur at the Accelerator Centre revving the engine of a motorsport-related business.

Myles Bartholomew, a Global Business and Digital Arts student at the university, is working on MXM Nation, which provides online resources to help connect amateur motorcross racers with sponsorship opportunities.

A fellow local learner a the Stratford campus, Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI) student Don Wright, has teamed up with Anne Dixon and Stratford digital media strategist Bob Telfer on an initiative called Empatico.

The early-stage company commercializing software, based on Wright’s extensive work in behavioural science that focuses on interpersonal conflicts, and how to improve dynamics between groups of people.

And another software company at the centre is exploring the business model for a one-stop site that categorizes, curates and promotes local news, events and offerings, serving them up online through social media.

Pegg said the first crop of client companies at 6 Wellington St. embody the strong entrepreneurial spirit the Accelerator Program wants to nurture.

Along with the main Accelerator Centre in Waterloo, and the Communitech Hub in Kitchener, Stratford will be part of a “core” that helps to incubate up-and-coming technology and digital media companies in the region.

Pegg said he sees the centre working in partnership not only with the University of Waterloo Stratford campus, but with others in the city committed to supporting and enhancing the local business ecosystem.

“It is about building community,” said Pegg.  “That’s why we’re here.”

mike.beitz@sunmedia.ca