Paul Salvini – AC Demo

October 28, 2016

The Accelerator Centre partners with Inertia to help companies scale in new hardware lab

The Accelerator Centre (AC) and Inertia are pleased to announce a new partnership aimed at supporting the growth and scale of early stage hardware companies in Waterloo Region.

Toronto-based Inertia will establish a presence at the AC’s new hardware innovation lab in the heart of downtown Kitchener. Located at 44 Gaukel St., the lab offers 10,000 square feet prototyping and lab space, access to tools and resources, including 3D printers, as well as a freight elevator and loading dock for shipping and receiving.

Inertia, in partnership with the AC’s renowned team of mentors, will work directly with hardware, IoT, and advanced manufacturing companies to tackle challenges such as design and prototyping, contract manufacturing, supply chain and cash flow management, as well as preparing for international growth.

The partnership will see expanded, in-depth hardware support for over 30 current Clients of the AC, as well as providing opportunity for hardware related companies that have graduated from the award-winning centre.

“We’re continuing to see increased need for support of hardware companies, particularly here in Waterloo, due very much in part to the incredible talent coming out of the University of Waterloo and the emphasis that they place on entrepreneurship. Both faculty and students are increasingly designing hardware solutions to complex problems, and they want to turn those ideas into solid businesses – that’s when they come to the AC. Having the support of Inertia as they grow will be invaluable for their long-term success.”

Paul Salvini, CEO, Accelerator Centre

“We are seeing some amazing things happening in Waterloo right now, from IoT and robotics, to 3D printing and drones; it only makes sense that Inertia’s first Canadian expansion outside Toronto would be to a place where advanced manufacturing is really taking off. Partnering with the AC allows us to plug into these companies at an early stage and help them start off on the right track as they work towards growing internationally.”

Ray Minato, President & CEO, Inertia

About the Accelerator Centre

The Accelerator Centre (AC) is dedicated to building and scaling sustainable, globally competitive technology firms; and to commercializing advanced research technologies emerging from academic institutions. The AC offers an intensive, milestone-driven program to help Clients gain traction and establish early growth; begin to scale and prepare for global expansion.

Since 2006, the AC has supported over 250 early-stage technology companies, who have created 1500+ new jobs, and generated more than two billion in valuations. Fifty-five companies have graduated from the Accelerator Centre, with over 90 percent of companies still active after two years. For more information visit www.acceleratorcentre.com.

About Inertia

Inertia is a product design, manufacturing, and supply chain management services company. For the past 12 years Inertia has helped hardware start-ups turn their ideas into award-winning physical products in industries ranging from medical, safety and security, and consumer products.

Inertia’s open, collaborative, and systematic approach to supporting early-stage companies results in a faster time to market, higher return on investment, and peace of mind that comes with the confidence they are doing the right things, the best way, at the right time.

Inertia is headquartered in Toronto and has an office in Dongguan China to support rapid prototype and manufacturing activities. For more information visit www.inertiaengineering.com.

Media contacts

Emily Jackson
Director, Client Experience and Special Projects
Accelerator Centre
226-972-8592
ejackson@acceleratorcentre.com

Ray Minato
President & CEO
Inertia
416-537-0505

rminato@inertiaengineering.com

September 28, 2016

Welcome to 44 Gaukel: Accelerator Centre Launches New Hardware Innovation Lab

An incredible mix of art and technology in a groundbreaking new facility

Today we’re thrilled to announce the official opening of our new hardware innovation lab in the heart of downtown Kitchener. Located at 44 Gaukel St., this newest expansion offers hardware startups 10,000 square feet prototyping and lab space, access to tools and resources, including 3D printers, as well as a freight elevator and loading dock for shipping and receiving.

The facility is run in partnership with ArtsBuild Ontario, an organization dedicated to supporting local artists by providing tools, training and resources that support the development and sustainable creative spaces. The facility is also supported in part by the City of Kitchener.

“We’re very excited to work with the City of Kitchener and ArtsBuild Ontario as we expand our world-class incubation offering, helping innovative hardware and IoT companies grow and scale their businesses here in Waterloo Region, ” says Paul Salvini, CEO of the Accelerator Centre. “Expanding into Downtown Kitchener allows the AC to support our clients who want to be in a central, urban environment, while continuing to bring the same excellence in programming, mentorship, and experience that we’re renowned for.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the Accelerator Centre and the City of Kitchener in providing creative space for our community’s artists and arts organizations,” added Lindsay Golds, Executive Director, ArtsBuild Ontario. “We are so pleased to offer those in need of rehearsal or administrative space an affordable and suitable location for their important work in Downtown Kitchener. We are excited by the potential for collaboration opportunities between the tech and the arts sector that this location can provide.”

The historic building, originally built as a Canada Post depot, also houses the University of Waterloo’s Critical Media Lab and part of Conestoga College’s School of Media and Design on the first floor. Joining the Accelerator Centre and ArtsBuild on the second floor is MyShop, an industrial makerspace, offering an array of industrial prototyping tools, as well as training, allowing Clients at the AC to rapidly design and build their products right inside the building.

“Being a part of the new hardware lab at 44 Gaukel Street is an important and exciting move for us. The Accelerator Centre’s support has been pivotal for our business and we’ve already developed new customers through people visiting the facility. Being in the business of 3D printing, InkSmith is right at home in a space where art and technology collide.”
Jeremy Hedges , President, InkSmith

“There are so many great things happening in hardware and advanced manufacturing right now in Waterloo Region,” says Josh Kubassek, President at MyShop. “It’s important for us to be a part of the AC’s lab at 44 Gaukel, helping to empower startup companies to design and prototype these amazing new technologies.”

The Accelerator Centre and ArtsBuild Ontario invite the community to celebrate the opening of 44 Gaukel on Tuesday, October 4 at 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., on the second floor. Tenants from both the arts and technology sectors will be showcasing their work at the event.

The space is filling quickly, however both the Accelerator Centre and ArtsBuild Ontario are currently accepting applications for tenancy. Apply to the AC.

September 22, 2016

Meet the first cohort of Phase One

We’re pleased to announce the first cohort of the newly developed Phase One program.

“I am very excited to welcome these new companies into this incredible new program. We’re looking forward to helping them build and scale truly innovative global businesses.” says Paul Salvini, CEO of the Accelerator Centre. “It was an extremely competitive process to select these companies from the wide spectrum of applications we received, but I am proud to have this group of very talented, high-potential entrepreneurs in our first cohort.”

Companies joining the first cohort of Phase One are

Green-tech chemical processing company Advanced Chemical Technologies
Healthcare software company Aspire
Online marketplace Backpacker College
Collaboration software developers Care Connector
Neuroscience platform DeepSubconscious
Collaborative Marketing Technology iGotPro
Hardware solution for trucking Industrial Cyber Sensing
Word of mouth marketing App InstAppDeals
Privacy-centric social platform LiiV
Biomedical technology engineers MechanoSight
Digital psychology resource centre PsyAlive
Facial recognition software Vocord
ViewCommerce developer WEcord
IT and Integrated Communications Specialists Xenium

Phase One is the first of four phases within our recently restructured two-year incubation program. Customized to the needs of each company, the program offers a unique combination of expert sessions and peer-to-peer learning, blended with the traditional mentorship the incubator is well-known for.

Phase One concludes with Presentation Day; an open house event where companies present to a panel of experts and business leaders who determine whether a business is ready to enter the second phase of the program. Companies successfully entering Phase Two are automatically considered for up to $40,000 in funding and mentorship through the AC JumpStart program.

August 17, 2016

Applications now open for Phase One

We’re excited to launch our new four month, cohort-based program

Applications are open for the first cohort of our newly developed Phase One program, launching this September!

Phase One is an intensive four month program focusing on market validation and investment readiness.

I am very excited to launch this new program because it offers a truly unique combination of expert sessions and peer-to-peer learning, blended with the world-class mentorship the AC is known for. The select ten companies we accept into Phase One will also have access to our newly developed Advisory Network; a group of incredibly talented advisors from industry.

— Paul Salvini, CEO, Accelerator Centre.

This new program is the first of four phases within the our recently restructured two-year incubation platform, which is tailored to the unique needs of each company as they scale.

The first phase culminates with Presentation Day; an open house event where companies present to a panel of experts and business leaders who determine who is ready to enter the second phase of the program. Companies successfully entering Phase Two are automatically considered for up to $40,000 in funding and mentorship through the AC JumpStart program.*

The deadline to apply to the Accelerator Centre is Sept. 9, 2016.

Apply now

About the Accelerator Center
The Accelerator Centre (AC) is dedicated to building and scaling sustainable, globally competitive technology firms; and to commercializing advanced research technologies emerging from academic institutions. The AC offers an intensive, milestone-driven program to help Clients gain traction and establish early growth; begin to scale and prepare for global expansion.

*About AC JumpStart
AC JumpStart provides eligible companies with $30,000 in seed capital (to be matched by recipient firms), $10,000 in mentorship, and access to market research and connections to investors. The program is funded through an $8 million commitment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and delivered in partnership with Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Waterloo. Companies considered for AC JumpStart must meet the eligibility requirements posted at www.acjumpstart.com

May 15, 2016

Paul Salvini on the future of innovation and TheNEXT10

The Accelerator Centre’s CEO reflects on what it takes to build a truly innovative business

What do a successful startup and a Hollywood blockbuster have in common? According to Accelerator Centre CEO, Dr. Paul Salvini, each one is a blend of business, technology and creativity — and the best businesses can do all three very, very well.

“Innovation happens in every part of an organization. People often don’t understand why an innovative business model can be as important as anything else. For instance, if you look at a company like Uber, there’s technology involved, but the real innovation is the customer experience.”

His philosophy of uniting varying disciplines is grounded in his own life experience. If you had asked a young Paul Salvini what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would have said a photojournalist. However, as a summer student at small, local newspaper, he developed a program to help simplify the sizing process for images.

Building on his strengths in programming, he went on to earn a BMath in computer science from the University of Waterloo and MASc and PhD in engineering (computer simulation) from the University of Toronto. In order to balance his technical background with formal business knowledge, he also completed an MBA from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Business.

Whether by serendipity or intent, he managed maintain a connection to visual arts in his professional career as he guided innovation as CTO at Toronto-based Side Effects Software, makers of Academy Award-winning 3-D animation and visual effects software, and Waterloo-based Christie Digital, provider of world-leading digital projection and display technologies.

As Accelerator Centre CEO, a role he assumed in 2014, he now combines his business experience, technical background and 23 years of teaching, first at Ryerson University then the University of Toronto. He will leverage these skills as he helps further the organization’s vision to develop strong, scalable, globally competitive and potentially disruptive businesses.

“In the next 10 years, we will focus on helping to build holistic companies. The future isn’t just about interesting technologies, it’s about building strong businesses that innovate across all areas of operation from product development and market validation to growth strategy and culture creation.”

A cornerstone of this philosophy is the AC Momentum Program, targeted at early-stage companies in the process of identifying their business strategies. With the opening of the Reactor Space in August, 2015, the Accelerator Centre now has space to welcome an additional 30 companies into the program.

“There’s a rich ecosystem of entrepreneurship in the Region of Waterloo. As a whole, we need to work on enhancing this environment so that entrepreneurs can think and dream even more boldly.”

Bio

Family: He and his wife, Julia, have two children, Lindsay and Kai. The family pet is Penny a petite golden doodle.

Wishes he could have lunch with: Walt Disney

Best business book: Creativity Inc. by Pixar CEO, Ed Catmull

Who he admires: Anyone with a clarity of vision for what they define as success and who has worked hard to achieve it.

Three things people don’t know:

He’s a licensed, instrument-rated, commercial pilot with an interest in aerial photography.
He’s a devoted hockey dad and unofficial team photographer.
He also owns a Ducati

February 9, 2016

CEO Paul Salvini and Client POET featured on CBC News

There’s been a lot of talk about how the low Canadian Dollar has been impacting the economy, but it’s proving somewhat beneficial for the Canadian technology sector.

AC CEO Paul Salvini and Matt Neill, CEO of AC Client POET Retail spoke to CBC news on why the low dollar might have an upside for innovation in Canada.

April 20, 2015

Helping define success in Waterloo

Video series looks at why entrepreneurs are choosing Waterloo

Today the City of Waterloo launched a five-part video series, entitled Why Waterloo, aimed at explaining Waterloo’s growing appeal.

“There is a buzz about our city and we all feel it,” said Mayor Jaworsky during this year’s state of the city address. “Whether we are long-time residents, established community leaders, young students…or youth about to embark on their post-secondary journey, we all know that Waterloo is the place to be.”

In the series, a selection of local businesses spanning different industries are asked to share what being in Waterloo means to their organization. Common themes like talent, collaboration, support and quality of life are prevalent throughout the series.

We’re excited that the first installment showcases the Accelerator Centre. Watch as Paul Salvini, CEO and Shane Pegg, VP Strategic Initiatives answer the global question: Why Waterloo?

Having just received $8 million in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southwestern Ontario to support AC JumpStart, and an additional $200,000 over four years from Waterloo city council, the AC is set to expand; supporting more clients, more graduates, and making a bigger impact in the community. For more information about the Accelerator Centre, visit acceleratorcentre.com.

For more information about the city’s economic development initiatives, visit wearewaterloo.ca.

December 18, 2014

AC CEO Paul Salvini discusses raising capital and securing funding in Watch Magazine

Raising capital to grow a business and realize an entrepreneurial dream is just one of the long list of duties that make up a startup CEO’s curriculum vitae. Perfecting the pitch is only a small part of the battle. Attracting high quality investors, and landing the deal is where the big effort comes in – and it’s not an easy road by any means. In this issue of Watch, we sat down with Dr. Paul Salvini, CEO of the Accelerator Centre, to hear his perspective on the startup funding challenge, and to learn why Accelerator Centre programming and mentorship provide startup clients with that all important investment ‘seal of approval.’

Watch: It’s not easy for a startup to secure funding, especially in the early days. What does the process look like, and do Accelerator Centre clients gain any advantage?

Paul Salvini: There are typically many rounds of funding that a venture will go through from inception through to maturity. Often funding for a business idea starts out with money from family and friends, or savings. Or for those individuals who came from previous employment, perhaps a severance package, depending on the path one takes to becoming an entrepreneur.

And then after that first round of funding from family and friends, a startup will typically go through a seed round provided by folks like angel investors, and then subsequent rounds after that depending on how the business does.

One of the things we do really well here at the Accelerator Centre is provide a structured environment that, just by being accepted into the Accelerator program, provides a startup with level of credibility – a seal of approval if you will – with future investors. It is a competitive process to be accepted to the Accelerator Centre, and it is a competitive process to stay here. So that brings a lot of comfort to those who are funding companies, to have the confidence that the team here thought the idea and the founders were likely to succeed. In addition, we are providing mentoring and guidance on an ongoing basis to these companies, that overtime gives our staff some insight into these companies which is the dream scenario for any venture capitalist.

To read the full interview, click here.

November 6, 2014

The Accelerator Centre, Clients and Graduates Fill the Pages of the New 2014 Waterloo Region Record Technology Spotlight

The latest Technology Spotlight hit the streets this week in Waterloo Region, and the Accelerator Centre along with its Clients and Graduates fill the issue’s pages with stories of startup life and business success.

This year’s edition features interviews with AC CEO Paul Salvini and Board Chair/Angel Investor Michael Stork. It also includes stories on companies who have benefited from the AC’s incubation services including AntVibes, Universal Quantum Devices (UQD) (a startup out of the Institute of Quantum Computing), MyLocal, Tyromer and RENOMii, along with features on AC Graduates Axonify, Clearpath Robotics, CrossChasm, DeepTrekker, Primal Fusion, InfiniDy, LoyaltyMatch, Kik, and Trustpoint Innovation Technologies.

“With an estimated 1000 startups in the Region, it is quite an accomplishment to have 14 of the 22 featured companies in this Tech Spotlight connected to the Accelerator Centre,” says AC CEO Paul Salvini. “We often talk about the impact our Client companies and Graduates are having on the Waterloo Region economy, creating thousands of jobs and generating hundreds of millions in revenue and investment. But to see the stories behind those numbers come to life on the pages of the Technology Spotlight has our team brimming with pride.

“Our staff and world-class mentors work hard to develop and deliver the highest quality programming for our Clients. The ultimate measure of our success as an accelerator is the economic impact of its clients. This year’s Technology Spotlight clearly shows that we’re on the right track.”

A hard copy of the 2014 Tech Spotlight was distributed to the Waterloo Region Record’s readership along with the paper this week. If you missed it, a digital version of the Tech Spotlight can be accessed online.