September 8, 2015 – Startup Canada issued a call for proposals today to partner with grassroots, entrepreneur-led co-working spaces, incubators, and makerspaces across Canada that will create or provide physical spaces for Startup Canada Members to start and grow their businesses.
“Co-working spaces help entrepreneurs save resources, collaborate with like minds, and anchor their companies in the community,” said Victoria Lennox, CEO of Startup Canada. “The partnerships established through the Startup Canada Startup Space Fund will give entrepreneurs across Canada easy access to innovative places to work, whether they are travelling for business and need a hot desk, or want to move from the kitchen table to a professional office.”
The spaces will be made available to entrepreneurs through the Startup Canada Passport, a component of the Startup Canada Membership Program. Recipients of the fund will become official Partners of the Startup Canada Membership Program and be identified as Preferred Partners to help facilitate further lead generation for the spaces.
To be eligible for funding, spaces must be centrally located in the business district of a city or town in Canada and include a desk, chair, Internet access, and access to common areas. Startup Canada will allocate funds based on regional demand, the innovative nature of the space, and additional benefits provided to Startup Canada Members.
The Startup Canada Startup Space Fund, supported by industry leaders TruShield Insurance, Intuit Canada, UPS and TELUS, is the second investment initiative released by Startup Canada in 2015. Earlier this year, Startup Canada announced the recipients of the Startup Canada Community Investment Fund, which supports high-impact, entrepreneur-driven initiatives that foster new opportunities and greater connectivity of entrepreneurs to support, investment, customers, and supply chains.
Proposals for the Startup Canada Startup Space Fund are due October 7. Startup Canada also welcomes the donation of space from established incubators and accelerators. The successful partners will be announced this fall during Startup Canada’s #EveryEntrepreneur Tour, which will support and celebrate entrepreneurs and community builders through announcements, workshops, launch parties, and pitch contests across the country.
For more information, visit startupcan.ca/startup-space-fund.
Press contact:
Kathryn Forrest
Communications and Marketing Manager, Startup Canada
613-627-0787 x106
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is a grassroots network of entrepreneurs working together to build an environment for entrepreneurship in Canada. Through online platforms, grassroots Startup Communities and cross-sector initiatives, Startup Canada is advancing entrepreneurial momentum and a culture of entrepreneurship, as the voice of Canadian entrepreneurs.