Moncton-based Propel ICT has announced the details of its redesigned accelerator program called Incite.
Incite will be a 12-month, entirely virtual accelerator program that will support early-stage startups in the tech sector. Propel said the program’s virtual structure is meant to give founders flexibility, adapt to each company’s needs, and eliminate geographic boundaries.
Propel said Incite will feature online and interactive components including one-on-one sessions, live online meetups, and curated content to help founders grow their businesses.
“It’s time to start thinking about Atlantic Canada as a unified region, a nerve centre for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.”
– Barry Bisson, CEO of Propel ICT
“After consulting with a variety of stakeholders, it was clear to us that, much like the world of entrepreneurship, the needs of our startups were evolving,” said Barry Bisson, who was named CEO of Propel ICT in October 2017. “Entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the Atlantic Canadian economy and it is our role to build up and foster promising startups in our region. By catering to the busy lives of our companies and offering extensive programming on a variety of platforms, not only will we be able to help more businesses, we will do so with greater impact. Our team of coaches will help entrepreneurs focus on the right action at the right time.”
Propel said its announcement of Incite comes at a time when the organization is moving in a new direction to help establish Atlantic Canada as a top region to launch and foster tech companies. In the past, Propel announced the launch of its six-month Growth program in January 2017, and ran its early-stage focused Launch and later-stage focused Build programs. The accelerator has discontinued those programs and is now focused on supporting early-stage companies through Incite.
Since its launch, the organization said it has helped over 350 companies that have raised over $1.5 billion in venture capital.
“It’s time to start thinking about Atlantic Canada as a unified region, a nerve centre for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” said Bisson. “When comparing population sizes, the amount of resources available to Atlantic Canada far exceeds any other large city. If we were a city, we’d be untouchable. Why not strive to be untouchable?”
Applications for the program are open until August 31 with the program running on September 7.
