Seven startups from the United Kingdom are participating in MaRS Discovery District’s second Manufacturing Incubation Program. The UK startups will have the opportunity to use the innovation hub as a launchpad into the North American market.
“Based on the success of last year’s cohort, we are confident this partnership can accelerate the North American growth of UK startups as well as strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem here,” said Jason MacFarlane, vice president of venture services products at MaRS. “We want to extend the long history of partnership between Canada and the UK’s innovation economies in both countries.
“We want to extend the long history of partnership between Canada and the UK’s innovation economies.”
The second cohort at MaRS is being done in partnership with the UK’s Global Incubator Programme.
MaRS claims it is North America’s largest urban innovation hub, and supports high-growth startups and scale-ups tackling key issues in health, cleantech, FinTech and other sectors.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is the UK’s national innovation agency.
The second cohort of advanced manufacturing companies spans machine learning, computer vision systems, and the Internet of Things. This sophomore group includes a maker of small-format autonomous electric vehicles, a platform for the automatic precision sizing of clothing, and a custom 3D printer provider.
The four-month Manufacturing Incubation Program includes targeted workshops, advisory support, and networking opportunities to help the participants sharpen their value proposition and pitches. The UK ventures can gain a better understanding of North America’s manufacturing community’s needs, according to MaRS.
This is the second iteration of the advanced manufacturing program within this strategic partnership between MaRS and Innovate UK.
Beyond the manufacturing program, MaRS recently partnered with KPMG Canada in June to launch a Climate Impact Accelerator designed to advance commercialization in Canada’s cleantech sector and build a stronger network between startups, corporations, and governments.
MaRS’ investment arm, IAF, along with the Province of Ontario and private sector investors launched a $100 million fund in January, focusing on seed-stage investments and extensions, through to the rights for Series A rounds.
