Category: AC News

Stratford Accelerator Centre launches

Stratford already had the mine.

Now it has the mill, just a few blocks away.

There was some fanfare at 6 Wellington St. Thursday as dozens of invited business, academic and community leaders gathered for the official grand opening of the Stratford Accelerator Centre.

“I’m not going to tell you this was an easy road,” said University of Waterloo Stratford campus executive director Ginny Dybenko from a packed upper-floor meeting room at the downtown centre, “but we’re absolutely delighted now to be welcoming you all here.”

The university is a key partner, along with the city, the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) and the Waterloo-based Accelerator Centre, in the new business initiative aimed at nurturing early-stage digital media and technology-based companies.

Seven of those startups are already working out of the bright, tidy office spaces in the building that was once home to — fittingly enough — a bank.

But why Stratford?

It’s all about mining and milling, said Accelerator Centre CEO Tim Ellis, picking up on a metaphor once used by Governor General and former University of Waterloo president David Johnston.

The UW Stratford campus is the mine, where there’s “a core of great people creating great ideas,” said Ellis.

“Now that we have a mill beside it, I think we have the perfect storm to take all of those ideas, and the other existing ideas that are in the community and outside of the community and provide a landing place for them to take their ideas to the next level,” he said, “and commercialize and accelerate their growth.”

Bringing that vision to Stratford is “not inexpensive,” said Ellis, with a nod to the university and the CDMN for their support, but worth the cost and effort.

“We didn’t want to do it on a very small, insignificant scale. We wanted to do it right,” he said, “and show the community that this is a valuable asset that we need to keep going for years to come.”

Mayor Dan Mathieson said the Stratford Accelerator Centre will be unique, bringing together the best practices of the University of Waterloo and the best practices of the Accelerator Centre and “Stratfordizing” them.

“It’s not all about round holes and square pegs,” he said. “It’s about doing what works in each community.”

Mathieson also borrowed some words from Johnston, who liked to point out that Wayne Gretzky was a hockey player who didn’t skate to where the puck was, but to where it was going to be.

“The Accelerator Centre in Stratford is where the puck is going to be,” said Mathieson.

And the pace at which the accelerator centre and the university are moving forward in the city is “phenomenal,” added CDMN managing director Kevin Tuer.

“It’s the new evolution. It’s the re-creation. It’s the next big thing for Stratford,” he said.

Following the grand opening Thursday, the Stratford Accelerator Centre also hosted an open house, where visitors could browse the building, and meet some of the startups working there.

The seven early-stage companies currently associated with the local centre are BuildCircle, Empatico, Trending.Info, Mindr Mobile, MotoRegistry, MXM Nation and uIntuition, each of them selected through a competitive application and intake process.

The Stratford Accelerator Centre is also offering a new three-month “pathfinder” initiative for individuals who have an idea for a business, but aren’t quite at the startup stage yet.

More information about the centre, and a link to apply, can be found at www.acceleratorcentre.com/stratfordap

Any Canadian company is welcome to apply; self-nominations are also welcome. Nominations close at 11:59pm ET on April 12. Finalists will gain entry to CDMN Canada 3.0 2013 to attend the awards ceremony at an unpublished discounted rate. By submitting a nomination, the nominee agrees to let CDMN use the nominee’s company name in marketing and promotional material for the CDMN Moonshot Awards and CDMN Canada 3.0.

The call for nominations is now open for the CDMN Moonshot Awards, established to recognize Canadian companies that create jobs and wealth for Canada through innovation in digital media (ICT and mobile). This is the inaugural year for the awards, designed to acknowledge leading companies that contribute to the CDMN Moonshot goal, that anyone can do anything online by 2017.

An expert panel of judges, including Host: CTV Question Period, Correspondent: W5 & Digital News Evangelist, Founder of New Man Media, Kevin Newman; Director at OMERS Ventures, Sid Paquette; Deloitte Canada’s Chief Innovation Officer, Terry Stuart; RocketScope Managing Director and Founder, April Dunford; and, CDMN Managing Director, Dr. Kevin Tuer, will be evaluating the nominees and determining the winners.

The ceremony for the first ever CDMN Moonshot Awards will take place on Tuesday, May 14 at CDMN Canada 3.0 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, where awards will be presented in four categories:

CDMN Digital Media Dynamic Company of the Year

Recognizing the Canadian company demonstrating the greatest increase in productivity through the adoption of digital media; three finalists will be recognized.

CDMN Digital Media Globalizer of the Year

Recognizing the Canadian company demonstrating the greatest increase in international sales, investments or other contributions to the growth of the Canadian digital media industry internationally; three finalists will be recognized.

CDMN Digital Media Innovator of the Year

Recognizing the Canadian company demonstrating the greatest degree of innovation through the adoption of digital media; three finalists will be recognized.

CDMN Digital Media Company of the Year

Recognizing the Canadian company that made the greatest contributions to the growth of the Canadian digital media industry in 2012/2013, selected from entrants to the CDMN Digital Media Innovator, Globalizer and Dynamic award categories.

Any Canadian company is welcome to apply; self-nominations are also welcome. Nominations close at 11:59pm ET on April 12. Finalists will gain entry to CDMN Canada 3.0 2013 to attend the awards ceremony at an unpublished discounted rate. By submitting a nomination, the nominee agrees to let CDMN use the nominee’s company name in marketing and promotional material for the CDMN Moonshot Awards and CDMN Canada 3.0. Visit www.canada30.ca/awards for updates.

Start-ups and entrepreneurs in Niagara specializing in the biomanufacturing and digital media sectors are now able to access enhanced commercialization services thanks to an innovative new partnership between the Waterloo Accelerator Program Inc. (AP) and Innovate Niagara.

Innovate Niagara plans to implement the AP’s proven framework for start-up success in Niagara. The program will be delivered at the Generator at one Digital Media Facility and at the Brock BioLinc business incubator, a facility focused in biomanufacturing.

The Accelerator Program, originally launched at the Waterloo Accelerator Centre, has been developed and proven out over the last seven years, helping to nurture and grow more than 100 start-ups. The Waterloo Accelerator Centre has become a world-renowned centre for the cultivation of technology entrepreneurship, dedicated to accelerating the creation, growth, and maturation of sustainable new technology companies. In addition to the Waterloo location, the Accelerator Program is delivered out of Kitchener’s Communitech Hub, the Barrie Accelerator Centre and the Stratford Accelerator Centre.

Innovate Niagara is a one-stop shop for leaders of developing businesses in innovative clusters, providing critical services to entrepreneurs within the Niagara Region. Formerly, a business leader might have to consult several different organizations before receiving the assistance required to ensure their business would thrive in the critical start-up or development phases of its growth. With the establishment of Innovate Niagara, a single organization is now responsible for the coordination of services, ensuring a streamlined and efficient approach.

Innovate Niagara will leverage the Accelerator Program to help start-ups in Niagara Region move to market faster, create jobs and stimulate economic activity. Incubation Centres and start-ups leveraging the Accelerator Program benefit from coaching and mentoring, experienced staff, proven methodologies, education and training programs, connections to capital, established partnerships, R&D support and outreach, talent recruitment, technology transfer assistance, support services and commercialization expertise.

“The Accelerator Program has successfully changed the landscape for early stage technology companies, we are pleased to partner with Innovate Niagara to assist with the growth and development of start-up companies in their region.” says Tim Ellis, CEO, Accelerator Centre and Accelerator Program.

“We are very excited at the opportunity to adopt the Accelerator Program’s framework. It’s a proven process that enables start-ups to succeed,” says Jeff Chesebrough, CEO of Innovate Niagara, “The models and processes they use results in measurable success.”

The Accelerator Program has achieved outstanding success since 2005 with 89 clients companies generating over $50 million in revenue, receiving over $78 million in external funding, and creating more than 680 jobs with all graduate companies remaining in Ontario and 84 percent remaining in the local community.

Generator at one Manager, Steve Boese is looking forward to working with and strengthening the relationship with the AP. “By implementing the Accelerator Program at the Generator at one, we are adding proven services that actively help our portfolio companies achieve higher levels of success in a shorter period of time,” says Boese. “This relationship shows the strides that the Generator at one and the AP are taking to ensure a more robust and prosperous entrepreneurial ecosystem in Niagara, Waterloo and across Ontario.”

BioLinc, Brock’s Biomanufacturing incubator, located at the new Cairns Complex and part of Innovate Niagara, will also benefit from the Accelerator Program.

“The Accelerator Program will be a great benefit to BioLinc and its clients, from both Brock University and from Niagara Region,” says Manager, Dan Lynch. “The provision of the proven Accelerator Program to BioLinc will help with client intake and analytics, provide us with experienced management guidance, help us better access existing networks across Ontario, and is viewed as a very attractive option to many of our mutual stakeholders. Our clients, both in residence and virtual, will have access to key value-added services that will increase successful innovation and commercialization rates.”

Waterloo & Niagara, ON (February 21, 2013)

For all inquiries please contact:

Jeff Chesebrough
Innovate Niagara
Chief Executive Officer
905-685-3460 ext. 201

Dave Domjan
Accelerator Program
Chief Operating Officer
519-342-2400 ext. 2001

The Waterloo Accelerator Centre Joins Canadian Digital Media Network to Contribute to Digital Media Innovation
The Waterloo Accelerator Centre, today announced that it has joined the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) a cross-Canada network of digital media innovation nodes collaborating to advance digital innovation nationally.

Through membership in this unique national network, The Waterloo Accelerator Centre will gain domestic and international market exposure for the organization and its client companies. Waterloo Accelerator Centre will also benefit from having access to unique services that enable the facility and its clients to leverage proven regional programming and best practices of network members. Joining Canada’s largest members-only online collaboration of commercialization resources immediately expands the node’s client support capability, while enabling national access to the Waterloo Accelerator Centre’s regional resources.

“The CDMN was initiated in 2009 and has since grown to become a national ecosystem that nurtures and grows Canadian digital media companies,” said Kevin Tuer, CDMN Managing Director. “We connect like-minded organizations that provide commercialization resources to Canadian information and communications (ICT) and mobile startups and to small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country. Together, we provide access to the knowledge, connections, services and support that digital media companies need to successfully innovate and to market themselves at home and abroad.

“We’re delighted to bring on board another organization dedicated to furthering Canada’s competitiveness in the global digital economy, and to advancing commercialization of digital media innovations.”

“The Waterloo Accelerator Centre has developed and commercialized the Accelerator Program’s proven formula for growing early stage companies, we look forward to collaborating with the other CDMN nodes to further support Canada’s growing start-up ecosystem,” Tim Ellis, CEO Accelerator Centre.

Effective today, The Waterloo Accelerator Centre will be a channel for driving participation in national initiatives that support the commercialization of innovation. Applications are expected to be open in July 2013 for the CDMN Soft-Landing Program, an initiative for mature startups and small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who can benefit from a getting a toe-hold outside Canada to expand their businesses. To learn more, visit softlanding.cdmn.ca.

Another major initiative is CDMN Canada 3.0, Canada’s only national digital media conference focused on the commercialization of innovation, is taking place May 14 & 15 in Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Featuring world-class keynote speakers like Chris Anderson and Jane McGonigal, sharing success stories like the NASA Curiosity Rover social media campaign and Disney’s acquisition of Canadian startup Club Penguin, as well as peer-to-peer mentoring events, crowd-sourced and user driven content, and a vibrant showcase of innovation in the interactive exhibit hall, early bird pricing is available until March 1. For more details, visit www.cdmn.ca/canada30.

About The Canadian Digital Media Network

The Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) www.cdmn.ca, a federal Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR), is dedicated to establishing Canada as a world leader in digital media (ICT + mobile) by creating and enabling connections and collaboration between entrepreneurs, companies, research institutes, government and intermediary organizations across the country. CDMN helps bring more digital media solutions to market to create more companies, jobs and wealth in Canada. Follow @CDMN on Twitter, join the Canadian Digital Media Network Group on LinkedIn and like the Canadian Digital Media Network Page on Facebook.

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 located at the Accelerator Centre and the Communitech Hub receive 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. Visit us on the web at www.acceleratorcentre.com.

Waterloo, ON – February 14, 2013

Media Contact
Shelley Grandy, CDMN Sr. PR Advisor, 905-866-2656 or sgrandy@cdmn.ca
Deb Domjan, Accelerator Centre, Director Marketing & Operations, 519-342-2400 or ddomjan@acceleratorcentre.com

Canadian Digital Media Network Adds Five More Ontario Innovation Centres to its Cross-Canada Network

The Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) announced today that five more Ontario innovation centres have been added to the CDMN’s cross-Canada network. The additional ‘nodes’ on the network include: The Accelerator Centre Waterloo; Innovation Factory Hamilton; NORCAT Sudbury; NWO Innovation Thunder Bay; and WEtech Alliance Windsor. This brings the number of nodes located coast-to-coast on the CDMN network to 21.

“Thanks to an excellent climate of collaboration and the strong Ontario Network of Excellence program, Ontario boasts numerous digital media hubs and we’re pleased to add five more to our national network,” said Kevin Tuer, CDMN Managing Director. “These centres and the existing nodes are dedicated to furthering Canada’s competitiveness in the digital economy by accelerating time to market for innovative ideas.”

Here is a look at the unique focus of each of the new nodes:

Accelerator Centre, Waterloo: Located in the heart of Waterloo, the Accelerator Centre (AC) is a centre for the cultivation of technology entrepreneurship, dedicated to accelerating the creation, growth, and maturation of sustainable new technology companies.

Innovation Factory, Hamilton: Innovation Factory helps advance Hamilton’s innovation community, serves as an expert resource for entrepreneurs and fosters connections across the community to accelerate growth for all.

NORCAT, Sudbury: The Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) is a leading private, non-profit organization that empowers clients, staff, and community partners to drive a culture of productivity, innovation, and life-long learning.

NWO Innovation, Thunder Bay: The Innovation Centre offers support to innovative entrepreneurs, businesses, and community projects in the region of Northwestern Ontario. The Centre looks to improve, enhance and invigorate a commercialization system in the region, and is a driving force to improve economic vitality.

WEtech Alliance, Windsor: WEtech Alliance is Windsor-Essex’s Technology Accelerator; an industry-led non-profit organization focused on driving the growth and success of Windsor-Essex’s technology centric companies & entrepreneurs through, mentoring, programs and connections. WEtech strives to identify, find solutions and foster the development of the technology industry and innovation sector, as well as companies who utilize technology.

Today’s announcement follows the addition in December, 2012 of Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre and Tech South East (Moncton, N.B.) to the CDMN.

By joining the CDMN, nodes have at their disposal Canada’s largest members-only online collaboration of commercialization resources, immediately expanding their client support capability while enabling national access to their regional resources. They also gain domestic and international market exposure for their organizations and client companies, and have access to unique services that enable their facilities and their clients to leverage proven regional programming and best practices of network members.