The Accelerator Centre is an award-winning start-up accelerator dedicated to building and scaling sustainable, globally competitive companies and giving start-ups the highest probability of long-term success. In 2018, the program was ranked the #4 Accelerator Program in the world due, in part, to the reputation for meaningful, one-to-one mentorship and helping entrepreneurs go from the idea stage to high-growth enterprises. Since 2006, the Accelerator Centre has developed and nurtured over 130 early-stage technology start-ups, creating 1100+ new jobs, and generating more than $350 million in revenue and funding. Forty-three companies have graduated from the Accelerator Centre, and more than 85 percent of these companies have remained in Waterloo Region. The Accelerator centre flagship, the Accelerator Program offers a 2 year, milestone based program and one-on-one mentorship that is proven to help start-ups grow faster. Centre also offer additional supplementary programs, such as seed funding program, AC JumpStart and their Start-up Visa Program as well as other services such as design and creative services through the Start-up Studio, access to world class academic research, and warm introductions to investors and potential partners.

As a partnership with the University of Waterloo’s Global Business and Digital Arts Program, Stratford location provides them with a unique connection with students and recent grads as well as access to the incredible creative talent the region has to offer. In the summer of 2017 Accelerator Centre launched an in-house design agency, Startup Studio, to connect the student talent in the GBDA program to startups across the tech ecosystem. With its unique Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI) and Global Business and Digital Arts (GBDA) programs, the campus supports business, technology and arts students who have projects that are ideal for commercialization. The move will give the campus direct access to The Accelerator Program, an award-winning incubation program for technology startups, with its entrepreneur in residence, mentors and programming support to provide a ready pathway to transform research into commercial reality.

Accelerator program

The Accelerator centre flagship, four phase program reflects proven best practices from incubators and accelerators around the world. Each of the four phases challenge the clients to push themselves to success while also ensuring develop a solid business foundation by considering all areas of business such as developing executive leadership skills, establishing accounting and finance procedures and managing human resourcing needs and developing a positive internal culture.

Phase 1: Explore

To discover a product someone wants. The Accelerator centre helps to define a market clearly and decide how to talk to potential customers. Using the proven, structured market validation process, start-ups gather data and use it to explore, research, and refine concept to become investment ready.

Phase 2: Build

To develop a solid business foundation. With a solid blueprint in place, The Accelerator centre helps to focus on the factors that are most important for the success of the business with guidance from mentors who navigate business fundamentals like branding and human resources to move forward with the right business model.

Phase 3: Grow

To expand a customer base and grow the business through sales. With the right people and research in place, start-ups have a sustainable business model. The Accelerator centre helps to focus on next steps. What is a one-year plan? What is a five-year plan? Does the start-up have right people in right positions to get there?

Phase 4: Scale

To achieve a repeatable business model and get ready for global success. The Accelerator centre final stage before graduation is all about achieving a scalable business model. It teaches what investors are looking for and how to pitch to them. When the start-up is ready, the AC mentors introduce a variety of funding and investment sources including angel and venture capital investors.

2. Post graduate program

After completing the Accelerator Program, the Accelerator centre continues supporting graduates through ongoing mentorship and continued access to network of investors and industry experts.

Graduates from the Accelerator Program receive:

• Continual access to the mentors, built relationships with the AC’s discounted price.

• Ongoing invitations to lunch and learning sessions with industry leaders and service providers.

A complementary quarterly advisory meeting with the Graduate Advisory Group

The Accelerator centre in-house mentors are central to the programs and are a critical part of the clients’ success. With specializations in finance, design, strategy, sales, marketing, human resources, employee culture, public relations, communications and technology, mentors act as an experienced and dedicated management team – walking start-ups through every challenge and guiding to success.

Specialist

The Accelerator centre specialist mentors are all industry experts and provide intensive and tactical support in respective areas of expertise.

Board of Directors

The Accelerator centre staff are led by a multidisciplinary Board of Directors, comprised of business and academic leaders from across the Waterloo start-up ecosystem.

Partners

Partnership is a critical part of operations. As a not-for-profit organization, corporate partners not only directly fund the work, but  also form a network of trusted service providers and have got the opportunity to form deep connections with the clients. The Accelerator centre has got deep connections with accelerators, incubators, and educational institutions around the world.