Waterloo's Accelerator Centre is Looking for Its New CEO

Waterloo-based startup commercialization hub Accelerator Centre is looking for a new CEO.

The award-winning facility located in The David Johnston Research+Technology Park announced the opening on Friday.

“We’re a dynamic business accelerator focused on building tomorrow’s technology superstars,” wrote the organization. It’s looking for a leader to “spearhead our next phase of growth.”

“As CEO, you will lead the Accelerator Centre (AC) in its next phase of growth by identifying new opportunities for sustainable revenue generation and building on existing opportunities within and beyond the Waterloo Region,” wrote the Accelerator Centre. “Externally, you will be the public face of the AC, developing collaborative relationships with numerous partners including regional education institutions, Communitech, provincial, federal and municipal governments and their agencies, as well as private sector companies.”

Since its launch in 2006, more than 120 early-stage companies in Waterloo Region have benefited from the AC’s programs. The AC currently has 41 Client companies.

Through its “Accelerator Program,” seed stage companies located at the Accelerator Centre, the Communitech Hub and the Stratford Accelerator Centre receive support services, including access to office facilities, coaching and mentoring, education, connections to capital, networking, R&D support and outreach, talent recruitment, technology transfer assistance, and commercialization expertise. Some of the better known companies to have gone through this program include Miovision, Enflick, and Magnet Forensics.

A few weeks ago it was revealed that new Dragons’ Den investor Michael Wekerle will be launching a $200 million fund in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. He also bought up office property that formerly belonged to BlackBerry. Joining him is the outgoing CEO of the Accelerator Centre, Tim Ellis.

Here’s a list of Canadian startups who have graduated from the Accelerator Program: