Acetech
Acetech is BC’s only not for profit organization formed by CEOs for CEOs of companies innovating with technology. We help CEO’s lead better, grow faster and feel empowered by offering a proven growth strategy program; transformative event experiences; and a trusted peer group for ongoing support.
The Discovery Foundation’s Growth Essential Program provides a framework for profitable growth that includes practical tools and new and emerging methodologies that business leaders must make every day, including people, finance, strategy, and execution. The framework is grounded in the best practices of high growth companies and leverages the collective expertise and experience of successful CXOs and thought leaders to help them and their executive teams lead better and enhance company performance to grow faster.
New Ventures BC
New Ventures BC (NVBC) was initiated 20 years ago by Wal van Lierop to support early stage tech startups. As a non-profit, they run the annual New Ventures BC Competition, a Distance Venture Acceleration Program, and the ISI grant program. Their Competition has helped over 3000 startups across the Province.
The Discovery Foundation Sales Acceleration Program is a sales education and strategic advisory program for in-revenue technology start-up ventures in British Columbia. It aims to provide startups with the tactical knowledge required to execute on a digital marketing plan and is also designed to provide sales strategies to increase companies’ sales and help them to push forward on their path to scale. While there is an education component, the core program is focused on tactical sales support for ventures. The program will help companies learn a disciplined sales approach they can apply consistently. This will accelerate growth, improve their marketing approach, build a sales pipeline, close more sales, increase revenues, and build an achievable plan.
Spring
Spring uses business as a force for good to empower social impact leaders with the know-how, network and support needed to build a better business.
Running a business can be challenging, but we’re here to support you. Formerly known as the Business Resilience Program, a program created to help entrepreneurs navigate the pandemic, The Discovery Foundation Business Activate Program is a natural extension of that support, designed to offer early stage impact entrepreneurs the tools and resources to help gain confidence in activating growth in 2022 and beyond. Through Activate, you’ll have access to resources and expertise around funding, talent, digital marketing and other topics that arise as key interest areas. What makes this program different is that we’re 100% committed to helping you make a positive impact through your business!
volition
Volition brings a community-building approach to advising and events for entrepreneurs. Their vision is to create new networks and opportunities for collision, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across startup sectors and stakeholders.
Discovery Foundation’s Regional Investor Readiness Program offers entrepreneurs across B.C. in the technology industry an opportunity to accelerate their business and investor readiness skills through pitch masterminds, one-on-one coaching, and BC Pitch Showcases. While programming will be open to all entrepreneurs in the province, priority will be given to Indigenous, Black, and racialized entrepreneurs, and startups in rural and remote areas, and 50% of the funding has been dedicated to support and advance entrepreneurs who identify as women.
Women in Communications and Technology, BC Chapter
Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) is committed to advancing women in Canada by providing opportunities for members to remain relevant and connected through strong relationships and continuous learning. WCT is a national association uniquely focused on providing networking, mentoring and educational opportunities for women in the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) industries.
The Discovery Foundation’s Speed Mentoring Program in collaboration with WCT is a series of speed-mentoring sessions for women in technology.
webc
Women’s Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organization devoted to helping BC women start, lead and grow their own business. Since 1995, WEC has fueled the success of women-led businesses by providing business loans up to $150K. They also provide business skills training, personalized business advice, mentoring, practical business resources and a supportive community to help women business owners gain the skills, mindset, financing and networks they need to realize their business potential.
The Discovery Foundation’s Entrepreneurial Mindset Program supports women entrepreneurs as they build their tech or tech-enabled companies. It combines a peer cohort model with established content-rich programming using the highly acclaimed Entrepreneurial Mindset (EMP) Mentoring Program, facilitated by certified EMP Practitioners, and WeBC’s Mindset Mastery for Business Growth, Negotiation, and Imposter Syndrome workshops.
JA BRITISH COLUMBIA
Junior Achievement British Columbia prepares and inspires youth to succeed in a global economy through business education programs focused on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship, giving them the skills and confidence they need to become leaders of tomorrow.
The Discovery Foundation Discover Your Pitch Program is a capstone experience for student companies to take their business and presentation skills to the next level enhancing their foundational elements of entrepreneurship through pitch workshops and pitch competitions.
INDIGENOUS MATRIARCHS 4 - XR MEDIA LAB
The IM4 VR/XR Lab is dedicated to Indigenizing VR/AR/360. They support Indigenous artists and media professionals by providing immersive learning and production opportunities.
The Discovery Foundation: IM4 Lab Speaker & Master Class Series in Virtual Production is an extension of IM4 Lab’s Virtual Production Training Program and will deliver a speaker series to the media industry, plus a dedicated master class to IM4’s Indigenous Virtual Production Studio Initiative. The cohort, consisting of Indigenous media professionals will gain leading-edge knowledge and experience presented in an experiential learning event that will contribute practical skills and insights into aspects of VP.
POWERPLAY YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Based on the premise that authentic learning involves exploring and trying out new skills in a meaningful, real-world context, Powerplay helps students develop an entrepreneurial toolkit by creating and running their own real business ventures.
The Discovery Foundation’s Young Powerplay Leaders Program will focus on supporting marginalized students with personalized experiential learning opportunities, mentorships, and technology-based skills for them to create and grow their own business ventures.
KOOTENAY ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
KAST’s mission is to enable a vibrant, thriving and healthy tech community in the Kootenays by creating inclusive economic opportunities, stimulating job growth and by providing entrepreneurs and businesses with the support they need to thrive in the local and digital economy.
The Discovery Foundation’s Kootenay Advanced Manufacturing Ambassador Program is an advanced manufacturing and technology sector enhancement initiative designed to: increase youth engagement and robotics skills; increase visibility of the Kootenay advanced manufacturing & technology sector among youth; educate advanced manufacturing businesses about the benefits of Ambassador Programs; promote advanced manufacturing skills development in the workforce to a younger age demographic of 16 - 30 years; cultivate mentorship opportunities between advanced manufacturing businesses & youth through Ambassador programs; establish a framework for training additional tech sector businesses to start ambassador programs; and enhance current partnerships with regional school districts, post-secondary education institutions, corporations, Indigenous and community groups that are youth centered in mission and impact.
SFU VENTURELABS
SFU VentureLabs collaborates with science and tech-focused companies through structured accelerator programs designed for development and growth with actionable advice, hands-on mentoring, and valuable resources.
The Discovery Foundation Digital Marketing Boost Program will pair SFU digital marketing students with tech-focused companies interested in developing their digital communications strategies. The early-stage companies will learn best practices and know how to effectively use digital marketing tools and techniques. Students will gain work-integrated-learning opportunities across a variety of tech companies (primarily B2B, but also some B2C) and across a variety of sectors ranging from digital health to sustainability to transportation. Click here for more information.
