Haltech Regional Innovation Centre, Innovation Factory and TechPlace Announce Strategic Partnership with Sales Lab Program at Conestoga College

Burlington, Ontario, March 5, 2024 — Haltech Regional Innovation Centre, Innovation Factory and TechPlace are proud to announce a new partnership with the Sales Lab program, delivered through the Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective (CEC), aimed at empowering international startup founders enrolled in the Acceleration+ program to navigate and excel in the Canadian market.

Acceleration+ exists to support innovative international startups looking to expand faster into Canadian and U.S. markets. This program provides an extensive network of connections, education, and advisory services for entrepreneurs expanding into southern Ontario. These services help clients develop and implement a tailored expansion plan, providing them guidance and support every step of the way.

Acceleration+ is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), in collaboration with Global Startups, Haltech Regional Innovation Centre, Innovation Factory and TechPlace to provide specific programming for international start-ups that have relocated to southern Ontario.

“This new partnership with the Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective will offer the participating entrepreneurs additional support so they can develop the skills they need to do business in southern Ontario,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of global business attraction and is pleased to support its role in growing Canada’s economy.”

The team at Acceleration+ identified how imperative it is for tailored communication strategies to resonate with Canadian audiences, particularly for international entrepreneurs. With insights from working with more than 42 newcomer entrepreneurs in 2023, Acceleration+ sought a partner to enhance its clients’ adaptability and effectiveness in the Canadian market.

Conestoga’s Sales Lab program is renowned as the only incubator in Canada dedicated to launching business-to-business (B2B) sales careers. Developed in collaboration with industry experts, this program is tailored to nurture high-potential candidates for lucrative careers in high-tech B2B sales. Recognizing the unique needs of startup founders, Conestoga has customized its highly successful approach for entrepreneurs who spearhead sales initiatives from inception. The new Sales Lab for Founders program is an eight-week module focused on equipping founders with the skills, attitudes and behaviors essential for driving business development activities in Canada.

The Sales Lab for Founders program from the CEC emerged as the ideal solution, offering a proven track record of success and a hands-on approach tailored for international students entering the high-tech B2B sales landscape. The partnership has seen remarkable enrollment, with 16 companies in the inaugural cohort and eight in the current cohort.

Testimonials

Ritu Jhaveri, a participant in the program, shared, “The insights gained and skills honed during this program have truly been game-changers. The instructor’s guidance and the structure of the lab were instrumental in boosting my confidence and effectiveness in sales. I’ve learned so much, and the hands-on approach made it all the more impactful.”

Jaime Romero remarked, “It was amazing! Highly recommended. I’ve been in sales for 16 years, and I still got a lot of value!”

Jorge Moraes added, “It’s been an eye-opening program so far. With this program, I am getting a deeper understanding of the sales process and updating its evolution.”

Paula Perez expressed her gratitude, stating, “Thanks, everyone! It was an amazing journey where I learned so much about sales and the best ways to reach out to new clients.”

This partnership underscores our commitment to fostering innovation, supporting international startups and championing diversity and inclusion in the Canadian startup ecosystem. Together with Conestoga College, we look forward to empowering more founders to reach new heights of success in the Canadian market.

For more information, please contact:

Perla Lopez
Acceleration+ Program Director
Email: [email protected]

Rose Mastnak
Director, Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective
Conestoga College ITAL
Email: [email protected]

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Email: [email protected]

About Haltech Regional Innovation Centre
Haltech is a non-profit corporation supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Research, Innovation & Science, Ministry of Economic Development & Growth, and valued Corporate Sponsors. It empowers innovative companies to realize their full potential through education, advisory services, and strategic connections. It supports companies in creating jobs, generating sales, creating new markets and securing investment for their growth.

About Innovation Factory
Innovation Factory is a business accelerator, dedicated to helping Ontario-based businesses launch, scale, and succeed. It provides start-ups, and scaling companies with advisory services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections to help bring disruptive technologies to market, leverage intellectual property, increase revenues, attract investment and create jobs. Innovators can also access sector-specific resources including exclusive smart transportation test environments and data; and a formal life science and health innovation ecosystem.

About TechPlace
Led by Burlington Economic Development, TechPlace exists to help technology, talent and ideation come together under one roof. But it does more than provide a base camp for tech companies to get work done. Anchored by its two co-location partners, Haltech and Angel One Investor Network, TechPlace provides tech companies (both new and growing) with access to space, resources, programming and mentorship through a growing partnership network and by creating an environment that’s focused on generating opportunities for networking and growth.

About FedDev Ontario
For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Conestoga College
Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a leader in polytechnic education, delivering a comprehensive range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs to prepare students for success, support industry and workforce needs, and promote economic prosperity throughout the region and across Ontario.

About the Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective
The Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective provides empowers members of the college community to pursue unique pathways to participation in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Programming includes the Venture Lab universal business incubator, the Gig Lab, Canada’s only business incubator for freelancers, and the Sales Lab, Canada’s only incubator for high-tech, B2B sales.

About the Conestoga Sales Lab Program
The Sales Lab Program is Canada’s premier incubator for launching B2B sales careers. Developed in collaboration with industry experts, the program equips high-potential candidates with the skills and knowledge essential for success in high-tech B2B sales.

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