The Next 36, a program dedicated to accelerating the growth of young innovators in Canada, is now seeking applications to fill 20 spots for The Next Founders 2016 cohort.
The Next 36 is looking for founders that can demonstrate that they have highly scalable, high growth ideas. The 3-month program hopes to provide them with a network of peers facing similar challenges, access to mentors, investors, and advisors, and a curriculum delivered by a faculty of entrepreneurs. Participants can also enjoy services like cloud computing from Microsoft BizSpark, DMZ work space for select ventures, software from MathWorks, and cloud hosting from Amazon Web Services. There is no cost to participate in The Next Founders and the program takes no equity.
The Next Founders blends interactive sessions led by Canadian entrepreneurs and industry leaders, and includes advisors like Alex Baker, partner at Relay Ventures, and Kirk Simpson, co-founder and CEO of Wave, which has raised over $25 million in capital. The program will include masters-level courses taught by faculty from institutions like The Rotman School of Management, Harvard Business School, and MIT. The Next Founders cohort will also be able to attend networking and pitch events attended by The Next 36 community of 250 entrepreneurs and investors.
“The Next Founders responds to the clear need that many science and tech entrepreneurs have for business skills and relationships,” said Peter Carrescia, managing director of The Next 36. Alumni ventures of The Next Founders include Nymi, OTI Lumionics, Eve Medical, Sampler, and Palette. The Next 36 said in a statement that its ventures have created 310 jobs in Canada.
This year’s recruitment tour includes events delivered in partnership with Communitech, Rotman Creative Destruction Lab, Real Ventures, and Shopify. Applications are being accepted until March 3rd, and the 2016 cohort will start on April 15th.