The Accelerator Centre® (AC), an award-winning centre for the cultivation of technology entrepreneurship located in Waterloo, Ontario, today announced it has been selected by the Canadian Association of Business Incubation (CABI) to join Canada’s Start-up Visa Program. The AC becomes one of a select group of certified technology incubators and accelerators across the country who can help foreign entrepreneurs with strong business ideas establish their businesses in Canada.
Canada’s Start-up Visa Program, established in 2013 by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, is a first of its kind and first in the world program, linking immigrant entrepreneurs with experienced private sector organizations that have expertise working with start-ups. Under the program, a foreign entrepreneur can facilitate immigration to Canada with support from a designated Canadian organization such as a venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.
“The Canadian Association of Business Incubation (CABI) is excited to have the Accelerator Centre become one of the Start-up Visa Program designated organizations. The Accelerator Centre is a world-class facility that has had great success supporting some of Canada’s top talent,” says Gail Gillian-Bain, President of CABI.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship knows no geographic boundaries,” says Paul Salvini, CEO of the Accelerator Centre. “The Accelerator Centre is celebrated the world over for its world-class incubation program and mentorship, and now, we are on a mission to attract the very best entrepreneurial talent and brightest technology start-ups from around the world to our doorstep. As a certified member of Canada’s Start-up Visa Program, we can help more fledgling companies move from business concept to global leadership.”
Interested parties can learn more about the Accelerator Centre’s Start-up Visa Program here.
About the Accelerator Centre
The Accelerator Centre® (AC) is dedicated to building and commercializing technology start-ups. The AC provides an essential combination of mentorship, educational programming, professional office space, networking, and access to funding, with a goal of building successful companies. Over a two- to three-year period, we help entrepreneurs move from start-up to scale-up, accelerate their time to market, and attract customers, investment and revenue.
Since 2006, the Accelerator Centre has developed and nurtured over 130 early-stage technology start-ups, creating 1100+ new jobs, generating more than $350 million in revenue and funding. Forty-three companies have graduated from the Accelerator Program, and more than 85 percent of these companies have remained in Waterloo Region. For more information visit www.acceleratorcentre.com.