WETechAlliance Launches 6th Cohort of the ScaleUp Accelerator Program

MEDIA RELEASE via WETechAlliance

WINDSOR, ON (July 12, 2022) – WETechAlliance is currently accepting applications for the sixth cohort of its award-winning ScaleUP Tech Accelerator program.

Now in its sixth iteration, ScaleUP, powered by Libro Credit Union in partnership with Invest WindsorEssex, is back for 2022 with a renewed focus tied to real-world challenges being faced by Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent-based tech and tech-enabled businesses. 

“Before planning the ScaleUP cohort every year, our team sits down to look at the data from our portfolio, our client roundtables, our annual survey, and at the micro and macro economic trends affecting business in our region. We use that information to identify the business needs we’re best suited to assist with, and we build our plan accordingly,” says Adam Castle, Director of Venture Services at WETechAlliance. “This year’s theme is all about resilience. The strongest and most innovative companies find ways to thrive during times of economic uncertainty because they plan for it. We want to give this year’s cohort all of the tools necessary to chart a sustainable course through even the most turbulent of waters.” 

Over 4 months, selected participants will work as a cohort to leverage WETechAlliance’s business acceleration resources, and global network of growth coaches and experts, to develop or provide:

• Scalable and manageable sales systems 
• New sales techniques to address a shifting global economy 
• Market insights leveraging the MaRS Data Intelligence Service 
• Access to a global network of growth coaches, subject matter experts, and collaborators 
• Industry introductions and networking opportunities 
• A new peer network, purpose-built to be supportive and responsive 
• An expert-informed strategy for growth, sustainability, and resilience over the next 2 years  

These in-kind resources are valued at up to $78,000 per participant, with an additional $500,000 available in software and technology discounts, via WETechAlliance’s exclusive Client Perks program. 

Culminating in November with a pitch competition in partnership with the Regional Alliance of Windsor-Essex and the Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN), one successful company will also walk away with a $20,000 capital injection to help kickstart their future forward strategy. 

“Our relationship with WEtech has been incredibly impactful. Libro’s purpose is to grow prosperity in Southwestern Ontario, and the ScaleUP program does exactly that,” says Lori Atkinson, Regional Manager for Windsor-Essex at Libro Credit Union. “The results speak for themselves, with so many success stories coming right from our own backyard.”

To date, the ScaleUP Tech Accelerator has graduated 25 companies through the program, which, combined have generated over $21.5 million in revenue, brought 130 new products and services to market, engaging over 8.7 million users around the globe and have created 168 new jobs in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

“Seeing the companies that have come through the ScaleUP program, and the impact of the acceleration services has been incredibly inspiring”, says Stephen MacKenzie, President and CEO at Invest WindsorEssex. “Invest WindsorEssex was very pleased to partner on the ScaleUP Tech Accelerator program last year, and we’re excited to help keep that growth and investment going with Cohort 6.” 

The deadline to apply for the sixth cohort is 11:59pm on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

For more information or to submit your application, visit wetech-alliance.com/scaleup.