Build something amazing
PEI businesses start here.
Our companies are constantly learning, pivoting and dreaming of the next big thing. Our program is non-sector specific, so we have companies focused in tech, food, social enterprise, apparel, wellness, and more. We are all here to build something amazing.
Startup Zone Residency
We accept applications on an ongoing basis for our Start and Grow Residency Programs. Both programs are non-sector specific and accept companies with high growth potential from the tech, wellness, food, apparel, and social enterprise sectors (and so much more!).
Our companies have access to resources such as in-kind office hours support with many of our sponsors and community partners, access to in-house mentoring, business specialists, free access to in-person and online events, networking and exposure in our online Slack community, 24/7 access to workspace, and much more!
Startup School Programs
Startup School: Innovator Program
🚀 Currently accepting applications for
the Fall 2022 cohort
The Innovator program is a safe space to develop your business idea or validate your existing early-stage company. This program includes instructional sessions and one-on-one coaching, with the course material focused on helping entrepreneurs “learn by doing.” At the end of this 9-week journey, you will have a clearly defined value proposition and be able to confidently pitch your business to anyone.
In this program you will answer:
- What’s your idea? Identify your idea’s big picture.
- What is the problem? Learn to make a case to show others its value.
- Where does your idea fit? Explore the commercial landscape to recognize the problems your idea can solve.
- Who is your customer? Learn industry specifics to define your idea’s target markets.
- What is your path to market? Identify your existing contact network to help support your idea’s launch.
- Who is your competitive edge? Accurately profile potential rivals to cultivate a competitive edge.
- Can you execute? Analyze the key elements of your idea that will support a compelling business.
- What is your story? Express the business value of your idea in a clear and compelling format.
- Ready to pitch your idea? Create a value proposition that can be used as a pitch deck for funding and investment opportunities.
PROGRAM DETAILS
NEW Startup School: Innovator Program Fall 2022
Start Date: Thursday, October 13, 2022
Start Time: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Reoccurring every Thursday until December 8, 2022
What makes this program impactful?
Turning ideas into tangible opportunities isn’t easy. The Startup School Innovator Program is founder-focused, which means you are on your feet, working with other founders and innovators sharing advice and ideas for nine weeks.
It’s about business value, not business planning. This program provides a guided space for founders to sketch, model, and map the business possibilities of their ideas.
These are not training classes. In this program, you can expect a small group of founders and/or business owners, each with a product idea or concept that they’re passionate about bringing to market.
These are interactive discussions that explore and define a business idea’s potential. his program will include a set of accountability milestones for founders, aimed at quantifying any momentum participants manage to achieve, as well as identifying operational bottlenecks for their companies.
What’s the outcome?
At the end of this 9-week journey, you will be able to confidently pitch your business idea to anyone, including important audiences like funding organizations, investors, potential partners, and your clients or customers.
Enrolment Process
Book a 15-minute Discovery Call to discover if this program is the right next step for your entrepreneurial journey. The Discovery Call will be facilitated by with the Program Facilitator and a Startup Zone staff member.
Startup Services
Growth Coaching
Our Growth Coach Pat Sebastien is available to all of our members at no additional cost. Pat is here to meet with you to discuss your goals for your business, help with accountability, and direct you to other In-House Specialists where needed.
Legal Support
The Startup Zone offers half hour time slots with the law firms Carr, Stevenson, & MacKay (CSM) as well as McInnes Cooper for no additional cost. These time slots can be booked to ask your legal questions and provide you with support on popular topics like: incorporation, client and vendor contracts, shareholder agreements and much much more!
Accounting Support
The Startup Zone offers half hour time slots with the accounting firm BDO for no additional cost. These time slots can be booked to ask your accounting questions and provide you with support on popular topics like: basic bookkeeping, business taxes, cash flow, and much much more!
Educational Tools
Community Access
Want to keep your finger on the pulse of all things Startup Zone? Do you want to have a forum to ask over 300 other entrepreneurs your business questions and grow your network? Interested in learning about amazing resources across the country? We thought so! Make sure to join our Slack community right away!
Business Masterclasses and Workshops
The Startup Zone offers hundreds of workshops and events throughout the year on just about any topic you can imagine! We have migrated our events to webinar format (on the platform Zoom) due to the changing climate. As such, you can access Startup Zone events from wherever you at your convenience. As a Resident Company, you have free access to all Startup Zone hosted events and workshops. Please enjoy and take the time to learn!
Market Intelligence
MI services are provided as a complement to startups’ own research efforts and due diligence. The value of MaRS’ services lies in brokering free access to proprietary database reports and statistics, which are beyond the reach for most startups. Startups also gain access to 11 industry analysts, research analysts, and information specialists with a broad skill set to help them find relevant information. In the case where MI is not able to provide relevant reports through the licensed content, MI will find the best available information from publicly available sources that clients may have overlooked.
Startup School Programming
Access a proven accelerator methodology customized to your technology startup – one that has been validated with thousands of other startups around the world! Startup Zone provides Propel’s curriculum that you can use and go through.
Propel’s e-accelerator program based out of Atlantic Canada helps businesses realize their big ambitions. Set apart as one of the only 100% online accelerators of its kind, you’ll learn what it takes to launch and build a successful ICT company from where you live.
Office Infrastructure
Telecommunications
Looking to get some discounts on all your telecommunication needs? The Startup Zone works close with Telus to help you get a great deal on your business phones, cloud services, internet connectivity, security solutions, and much more.
Office Space and Supplies
Looking for a space to work? Contact a Startup Zone staff member to discuss desk availability! The Startup Zone partners with Staples Business Advantage to bring you discounts on all your office and cleaning supplies needs! Explore their extensive catalog so see where you can save the most.
Printer and Photocopies
Have printing and copying needs? We hear you! We have an office-grade 3 in 1 printer that you can use at your convenience. The printer can also scan to email, a real lifesaver!
Financial Supports
Investment Supports
Stefanie Corbett, Director of Operations at Island Capital Partners, works out of Startup Zone. Our companies are able to book an appointment with her to chat about a range of topics like cash flow planning, access to capital, raising funds, pitch decks, and more!
Government Programs
All Startup Zone companies have the opportunity to meet with representatives from Innovation PEI and ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) to discuss programming and funding opportunities that you may be eligible for.
Loan Options
Two of our office hour supporters are available to meet with you on a biweekly basis to discuss loan options: Futurpreneur, and CBDC (Canadian Business Development Corporation).
Wage Subsidies and Employment Options
Startup Zone companies are provided with access to a variety of supports and resources to help them obtain wage subsidies, or to reach wider audiences in their employment opportunities. We have partnerships with Venture for Canada and ICTC who offer info sessions and first-hand information on their wage subsidy programs, as well as connections to students at Holland College and UPEI.
Expert Supports
Strategy
We have a variety of in-house specialists and other local experts that serve as advisors to Startup Zone companies. Learn more about them here.
Sales and Marketing
We have a variety of in-house specialists and other local experts that serve as advisors to Startup Zone companies. Learn more about them here.
Product & IT
We have a variety of in-house specialists and other local experts that serve as advisors to Startup Zone companies. Learn more about them here.
Human Resources
We have a variety of in-house specialists and other local experts that serve as advisors to Startup Zone companies. Learn more about them here.