Founded as a non-profit organization in 2013, Aki Energy has successfully installed over $6 million in renewable energy systems in the First Nations communities in Manitoba, leading to over a quarter of a million dollars in annual bill reductions.
The company has also greatly contributed to the community by providing local tradesmen with new skill sets and employment opportunities.
“I got into this work because I know we are all treaty people in Canada and I think it is our responsibility as Canadians to heal this relationship,” says Kate Taylor.
Taylor is the director of projects and a co-founder at Aki Energy, which was the recipient of the Social Innovation Award at the 2016 Startup Canada Awards for its renewable energy development in Indigenous communities in Manitoba.
By combining green energy practices with the restructuring of energy systems, Aki Energy is leading the way for social innovation in Canada.
In this week’s #StartupPodcast, host Rivers Corbett talks to Taylor about how Aki Energy developed renewable energy systems for Indigenous communities and how their success can be replicated by other social enterprises.
The Startup Canada Podcast Show is a production of Startup Canada, a grassroots, entrepreneur-led movement to bring together, celebrate, and give a voice to Canada’s entrepreneurship community. On the podcast, award-winning entrepreneur host Rivers Corbett speaks with the movers and shakers of Canada’s entrepreneurship community to give a glimpse into the future of business, and share insights on everything from social innovation to the future of work, investing, and why we need to think bigger to take our businesses global. Join Rivers Corbett for new episodes every Tuesday airing at 10 AM ET for lessons, trends, and opportunities in entrepreneurship from Vancouver to Fredericton; and Israel to Peru.
You can find every episode of The Startup Canada Podcast Show at www.startupcan.ca/podcasts/.