The Kitchener/Waterloo area is the best region in Canada to locate your start-up because of the incredible support organizations located there.
Communitech is a not-for-profit organization that supports technology companies in Waterloo Region and promotes the area as a technology cluster. Their programs and events connect professionals, share ideas, and strengthen companies. Communitech is a network of more than 600 companies and organizations that believe in building a strong tech cluster in Waterloo Region. Employees of network member companies can join peer groups and attend events for free or at a reduced cost. Network members include global organizations such as Research In Motion, Open Text and COM DEV. Equally important are start-ups and fast-growing small enterprise and the many investors, service firms, educational institutions and governments that contribute to their growth.
The Accelerator Centre (AC) is a world-renowned, award-winning centre for the cultivation of technology entrepreneurship located in Waterloo, Ontario. Made possible through funding from multiple levels of government, along with industry and academic partners, the AC was established to accelerate the creation, growth, and maturation of sustainable new technology companies; to promote commercialization of research and technology rising out of academic institutions such as University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, and Conestoga College; and to generate economic benefit and enhance the strategic importance of Waterloo Region within Ontario and Canada’s broader economy. The Accelerator Centre is firmly focused on accelerating the growth and success of its client companies – fledgling start-ups from a variety of technology sectors. The Centre’s team of advisors and mentors provide a unique range of support services and education programs, enabling AC clients to move to market faster, create jobs and stimulate economic activity. As home to 25+ technology start-up companies, with resident program staff of Ontario Centres of Excellence, National Research Council IRAP and Communitech – the Accelerator Centre has become the nexus for Waterloo’s innovation community.
The Canadian Digital Media Network Mission’s mission is to establish Canada as a world leader in Digital Media by accelerating commercialization activities powered by the connection and collaboration of people – entrepreneurs, companies, research institutions and government. CDMN encourages job creation and increase global competitiveness by linking Canada’s leading digital media centres with industry, government and academia. The CDMN is comprised of acceleration centres, commercialization hubs and development centres across Canada. CDMN works to connect these key digital media ‘nodes’, helping them communicate, collaborate and share their unique strengths.
The Communitech Hub is a digital media innovation centre that officially opened for business in October 2010. It occupies 30,000 square feet at Kitchener’s downtown Tannery building, and will be expanding to occupy another 12,000 square feet of space on the first floor of the Tannery by early 2012. The attraction for digital media entrepreneurs is a supportive venue where the infrastructure which companies need to succeed is already in place. That includes everything from the ‘bricks and mortar’ office space enabling entrepreneurs to move from their basements and garages to a suitable office location; to mentoring from executives who have ‘been there, done that’; to collaborating with established partner companies that include RIM, OpenText, Desire2Learn and Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc.
Strategic partner platforms at the Hub enable research, commercialization, and job creation in mobile computing, digital asset management and healthcare IT. Federal and provincial contributions and the City of Kitchener also made the creation of The Hub possible.
The Hub currently houses a mix of tenants that include:
- 28 start-up companies – and growing
- 5 leading tech multi-nationals
- 14 innovation partners, including legal, advertising and accounting firms
- 3 post-secondary institutions: Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo
- Provincial and federal government partners.
