WINDSOR, ON (July 7, 2020) - WEtech Alliance is accepting applications for the fourth cohort of its ScaleUP tech accelerator program. The program, rebranded as Scale(Back)UP, will look to support the recovery of Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent businesses.
New this year, the Scale(Back)UP program – powered by Libro Credit Union – will assist regional tech and tech-enabled companies in bringing new products to market, adopting new revenue streams and/or scaling back up amid the new realities of the economy.
Scale(Back)UP will select five (5) entrepreneurs who will receive four-months of intensive business mentoring + in-kind services valued at $15,000 + access to a global network of support + access to $500,000 in discounts and tech perks + 3 months of complimentary hot desk space at SOAR Innovation + the opportunity to pitch for a $15,000 top prize in front of the Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN) and members of the Windsor Essex Regional Alliance during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November 2020.
Selected companies will have access to an enhanced roster of expert advisors called the “Recovery Team” including seasoned and active investor, Michael Labiak, Growth Coach, Heather Galt and University of Windsor’s intellectual property (IP) law professor, Myra Tawfik.
“Our focus for the cohort this year is sustainability driven,” says Adam Castle, Director of Venture Services at WEtech Alliance. “We know that when the going gets tough, the companies in our region continue to innovate. This program has been designed to be a part of the solution for tech-based companies looking to explore new revenue streams and business models.”
Also new this year is a first-of-its-kind partnership with The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) which will provide successful companies with linkages to industry and additional opportunities to leverage the world class sector specific advisors that make up the NRC IRAP network across Canada.
ScaleUP, now its fourth cohort has created 65 jobs and has assisted 14 companies in getting 76 new products and services to market, engaging over 300,000 users around the globe.
The ScaleUP program evolved from the successful StartUP program funded by the Libro Prosperity Fund in 2016. In March 2020, the ScaleUP Accelerator was recognized nationally as one of fifteen winners of the Concentra Empowering Your Community Awards.
“After winning one of the Concentra Empowering Your Community Awards this spring, we are so excited to see the next cohort of this program launch” says Lori Atkinson, Regional Manager at Libro Credit Union. “We believe that focussing on sustainable growth for this special edition of the program will further promote long term prosperity for the region.”
ScaleUP is the first accelerator program in the region focused on scaling startups and that is open to entrepreneurs of all ages. Last year, five companies were selected out of thirty applications.
The deadline to apply for the fourth Cohort is 11:59pm on July 27th, 2020.
Applications – and program information – can be found at http://wetech-alliance.com/scaleup.