Resources for Spinoffs

University Resources

The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ is heavily involved in the creation of innovative ideas, research, and businesses. Reach out to one of the areas below for access to support for building and growing your business.

Makerspaces and Coworking Space

: The faculty of Engineering runs this student makerspace and provides learning resources, training and access to equipment.

ICE Engineering Incubator: A collaborative working space run by the Faculty of Engineering next door to the Elko Engineering Garage for students exploring technology innovation and entrepreneurship, and for innovators seeking mentorship in product development and commercialization, including students, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and recent alumni.

The Shack: A makerspace run by the faculty of Science open to interdisciplinary undergraduate student innovators to work on hardware. 

Student Innovation Centre: A collaborative working space run by the faculty of Science for innovation-minded students to incubate their ideas and work on creative projects.

eHub is an on-campus hub for entrepreneurial resources, networking, and funding opportunities at the university. eHub has an undergraduate student focus.


Mentorship & Coaching

: An application-based service that partners experienced business leaders with university alumni or entrepreneurs. VMS focuses on early, mid, and late-stage ventures that are seeking to scale their operations.


Accelerators, Incubators & Foundries

The Health Innovation Hub: Business training, support and access to space for health science spin-offs launched by UºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ faculty and students.

External Resources

The Edmonton innovation ecosystem boasts a network of potential partners, funders, workspaces and business services geared towards start-up entrepreneurs. University spinoffs are strongly encouraged to network with these entities and other start-ups in the province. Below is a non-exhaustive list of supports for Edmonton startups and spinoffs.

Mentorship & Coaching

Arrange a meeting with one of the Executives in Residence (EIRs) for guidance, advice, and assistance in plotting the next steps of your entrepreneurial journey.

: Students, staff and alumni of the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ who are interested in building a technology focused company  are able to access this free program and be matched with subject-matter experts to help address your unique challenges and gaps and develop your company.  

: Provides startups with access to silicon valley networks, advocacy and support programming.

ERIN facilitates the , which offers free coaching to ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ-based start-ups accepted into the program.

 A non-profit group that offers mentoring services and financing opportunities for women-owned businesses.

Collision & Coworking Space

: A downtown coworking space for Edmonton’s innovation community based out of MacEwan University.

: Coworking spaces located in downtown Calgary and downtown Edmonton. 

Coworking and flexible workspace located in South Edmonton. 

Collaborative coworking space with flexible memberships for creatives, city builders and  entrepreneurs located on Jasper Avenue the heart of downtown Edmonton. 

Hybrid workspace options offering space on Jasper Ave, 124 Street and the Highlands neighborhood. 

An Indigenous owned coworking, workshop and creative space near White Avenue offering artists, researchers, students, and creatives Indigenous led programming and  daily drop in space. 

: Private event rentals, photo studio and boardroom space that offers venues for corporate meetings, events, workshops, webinars, training and more. 

Offers collaborative and comfortable coworking space with unique features including mini-golf course, arcade games, business class printing services, gym/fitness rooms and mobile whiteboards

Accelerators, Incubators & Foundries

: A city of Edmonton initiative that has programming for startups, scaleups, and various accelerator programs.

: ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Catalyzer is a FREE program that supports entrepreneurs looking to launch and grow a tech business in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

The TELUS Community Safety & Wellness Accelerator (CSW) is an innovative accelerator dedicated to tackling the social and safety issues that impact our communities.

Founded by the University of Waterloo, Velocity equips founders to build and scale their business. 

Delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies.

500 Global continues to offer founders the opportunity for a seed investment ($150,000), as well as access to full programming that’s focused on startup growth and scaling. 

Accelerate growth and access entrepreneurial networks with one of 3 programs: Next 36, Next Founders and Next AI.

: Helps  founders make something people want and the results speak for themselves.

Support many of the world's best entrepreneurs with access to capital, mentoring, finding customers, hiring talent, choosing the right infrastructure, and more!

Founder Fuel is a startup accelerator that helps early stage companies go to market and raise seed capital. 

helps B2B founders get to market and grow revenue by pairing you with a dedicated get-to-market expert and proven sales playbooks covering every step along your path to product-market fit.

  ATB’s business accelerator and banking program that supports ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈn businesses seeking to scale.

 A government-sponsored accelerator that provides programming, mentoring and training services for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈn entrepreneurs.

 Business support programming, networking events, and coworking space located in St. Albert.

A new venture foundry that connects early-stage academic ventures to industry experts for mentoring, support and investment opportunities.

 Various American partnership and accelerator programs focused on developing international competencies for Canadian technology companies.

Networking, Support & Advocacy

: A member-based association for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s technology industry that connects entrepreneurs to networking opportunities and funding.

 An open forum for researchers, start-up founders and small business owners to discuss and explore opportunities for technology development and commercialization.

: An ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Innovates sponsored database for linking academic innovators to facilities, funding, and support services.

 Organizes networking events and funding opportunities for Edmonton entrepreneurs. 

: A networking platform and database connecting start-ups with resources and potential investors.

 A community of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ innovation professionals that hosts networking and collision events.

 An association for life sciences companies in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ that offers industry advocacy and networking.

 A chapter-based membership network of global entrepreneurs.

 An ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Health Services-sponsored networking platform that connects health experts with clinics and health innovators. 

Financing

: A government corporation provides funding, access to industry contracts, and support programs for start-ups in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Popular programs include: 

: Funding up to $100,000 towards utilization of up to three service providers for development of a business or technology.

 Funding up to $10,000 towards utilization of a service provider for business, engineering, product development, patenting, or related development activities.

A funding and support entity for companies specializing in geomatics technology.

: A government hub for a variety of small business supports, including grants, tax credits, coaching, a purchasing directory and a financer directory.

 Select funding opportunities for research commercialization related to advances in neuroscience.

Government of Canada

 A suite of support programs, funding opportunities, business resources and information. The federal government also offers support for innovative businesses and non-profits through , including flexible financing for entrepreneurs through . 

: Funding and support for agriculture-based ventures.

 Funding opportunities for clean technology companies.

: will offer support to small and medium Canadian-owned businesses (SMEs), such as small manufacturing and food processing operations, to adopt new technologies.

: A bank offering financing and business services for small companies and entrepreneurs. They also have a free finance-focused .

Labs, Prototyping & Research Facilities

: A subsidiary of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Innovates that offers access to research facilities for prototyping and scaling and opportunities for industry partnerships and research services.

: A technology development centre open to innovators for prototyping and product development.

Business Services

: A non-profit institute offering artificial intelligence adoption solutions for every type of business.

: Funding and placement support for companies to hire graduate student or postdoc employee contracts.

: Wage subsidies and hiring programs to support employers in the Bio-economy.

: Training and wage subsidy programs for student and post grad employees at Canadian start-ups.