The Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective (CEC) has partnered with the Accelerator Centre (AC) to support the launch of a new hybrid venture studio program to locate, curate, train and build high-potential businesses across southern Ontario.
AC:Studio will provide critical funding and support to existing and early-stage companies and founders, including training and tactical resources from ecosystem partners to execute and accelerate time to market. Through the program, founders will have access to a network of talent and creative services available at CEC's Gig Lab to help deliver on critical components, including marketing, graphic design and UX/UI.
"We are pleased to support the launch of AC:Studio and help early-stage startups access the talent and tactical support they need from freelancers in the Gig Lab and on conestogagigs.ca," said Rose Mastnak, director, Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective. "Engaging the region's unique ecosystem of complementary incubators in this project is good for all entrepreneurs and will play a positive role in ensuring the economic health of both our region and the province."
The three-phase program will provide 100 high-potential, early-stage companies with up to $100,000 in seed funding between now and March 2025. Applications for the program are open until July 1, 2022, with the 100 selected startups beginning programming in September 2022. Visit www.ac-studio.ca for more information or to apply for the program.
AC:Studio is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
For more information, view the full release.
The Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective is dedicated to incubating entrepreneurial potential, equipping members of the Conestoga community with the skills, strategies, and attitudes to create opportunities that will contribute to the economic development of local, regional, and international communities. Programming includes the Venture Lab universal business incubator, the Sales Lab incubator for high-tech sales careers, and the Gig Lab, Canada's first business incubator for freelancers.