The Canadian government announced an investment of $300,404 into Venture for Canada, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training youth to work at startups for a two-year period.
The funding is a non-repayable contribution being provided through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s (ACOA) Business Development Program. In April, Venture for Canada also received a $4.4 million investment from the Canadian government to help students access work at startups in Atlantic Canada.
The government said it is supporting Venture for Canada as it looks to expand its programming to Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. The expansion will create a minimum of 33 new Venture for Canada Fellowships in Atlantic Canada.
“Every graduate should be able to get tangible work experience and opportunity to apply their education in a real-life setting.”
“Every graduate should be able to get tangible work experience and opportunity to apply their education in a real-life setting,” said Navdeep Bains, the minister of science, economic development, and minister responsible for ACOA. “Programs such as Venture for Canada are helping to grow the number of entry-level positions within Atlantic Canada and mould our future entrepreneurs.”
Venture for Canada’s fellowship program allows participants to attend a month-long training camp, spend two years working at Canadian SMEs, and receive access to ongoing support, training, and mentorship over two years. Participants have an opportunity to learn about different aspects of entrepreneurship including management, social entrepreneurship, communications, sales, and conflict resolution.
The organization’s goal is to help prepare students to become entrepreneurs by working in emerging businesses, especially as startups often lack the resources to participate in on-campus recruiting programs.
“Through the government of Canada’s support, Venture for Canada will provide more Atlantic Canadian youth with the skills, experience, and support to develop entrepreneurial leadership skills, while at the same time enable growing startups to gain access to the talent they need to grow,” said Scott Stirrett, founder and CEO of Venture for Canada.
Venture for Canada said that in 2017, the organization placed 27 fellows within Atlantic startups. To date, 48 fellows from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have participated in the program.
In April, Venture for Canada received $1,480,406 in funding administered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) on behalf of the Government of Ontario.