Startup Canada has announced that five of its communities have been awarded investment from the Startup Canada Ecosystem Investment Fund. Launched in the spring of this year, the fund’s mandate is to invest in high-impact, entrepreneur-driven initiatives that connect and strengthen local startup communities across Canada. Here are the five communities that received funding:
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Startup Sault, which is raising awareness of entrepreneur support in Sault Ste. Marie with a comprehensive ecosystem mapping project.
Startup Nanaimo, which is building entrepreneurial leaders in Nanaimo via an unConference.
Startup Prince George, which is kickstarting the development of a co-working space.
Startup Fredericton, which is establishing an entrepreneurial scholarship at the University of New Brunswick.
Startup Charlottetown, which has established a permanent home base at The Spot entrepreneurial hub.
“Each region of Canada has unique economic, environmental, and cultural traits that can be leveraged to make it a launch pad for high-impact startups and a landing pad for investment,” said Victoria Lennox, CEO of Startup Canada. “With investment from the Startup Canada Ecosystem Investment Fund, communities from coast-to-coast are optimizing strengths and filling gaps to build a cohesive, active startup ecosystem that makes their communities great places to start, scale and anchor companies.”
The Startup Canada Ecosystem Investment Fund is supported by Intuit, TruShield, and UPS. Funding was awarded to each project based on its ability to fuel an environment and culture for entrepreneurial growth and success. Each project will also be completed by October of this year.