VentureLAB’s communityBUILD program, a program focused on building a social innovation ecosystem in the York Region, is introducing a new initiative, Blueprint: Affordable Housing to address affordable housing challenges facing the York Region.
The initiative is seeking aspiring entrepreneurs who can develop innovative and sustainable solutions to affordable housing challenges in the region.
Blueprint will kick off with a two-day design lab on Oct. 15 and 22, where participants will be able to develop their ideas and solutions. A team of judges will then select the top three teams who will have the opportunity to utilize design-thinking processes to continue developing their solution in a three-month incubator. Teams will have access to IBM Watson licenses, mentorship, and the opportunity to have their ideas implemented in the York Region by Blueprint’s partner organizations.
The program is open to people of all skill levels and backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, residents of York Region, housing experts, students, and social entrepreneurs.
This initiative is just one component of communityBUILD’s broader goal of advancing social innovation in York Region. In coming years, the program will also address issues like youth employment and food insecurity.
The deadline for interested participants to apply is Oct. 6.