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Empowered Startups

Vancouver, British ColumbiaFinesseMember

Advancing National Innovation. Attracting Foreign Direct Investment. Enabling Global Talent Mobility.

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Empowered incubates and accelerates driven entrepreneurial leaders capable of building outstanding startups that bring customers and institutional capital knocking on the door. Our unique model incubates talented Canadian entrepreneurs and Foreign entrepreneurs and connects their start-ups with international customers. We invest seed capital and time in the best scalable start-ups so that our start-up founders can aggressively pursue their revenue goals.

Type

For-Profit

Founded

2009

Regions

British Columbia (BC), Prairies (AB, MB, SK), Ontario (ON), USA (for CAD companies)

Empowered Startups has $37M in foreign direct investment facilitated, 70+ international research university relationships, and 600+ student research placements. They partner with governments, universities, and research institutions. The organization works across multiple countries (Portugal, Australia, Canada, United States) focusing on innovation-led immigration policy and economic development.

Industries

General/industry agnostic

Focus Areas

Immigration and visa programsResearch commercializationForeign direct investment attractionInnovation cluster developmentGlobal talent mobility

Sourced from website

Stages supported

IdeaDiscoveryValidation

Services offered

  • Access to specialized equipment, lab facilities, and/or services
  • Mentorship and access to advisors
  • Office space, co-working environment
  • Paid programming (cash)
  • Practical prototype/MVP development assistance
  • Trade and export support (Includes: Business development missions, internationalization, and any other activities linked to international market development)
  • Virtual office space, reception services
Finessemedium confidence

Refining and expanding venture growth and entrepreneurial competencies and create the connections across innovation ecosystem

Sector-agnostic (broad industry focus). Higher accountability signals (equity/paid programs, later-stage focus).

Learn more about the four BAI types →

Portugal HQA® Visa Program

other

Offers residency to highly skilled professionals to develop high-value projects in Portugal

Australia National Innovation Visa Program

other

Offers permanent residency to accomplished professionals who commercialize research with accredited research institutions

Canada Startup Visa Program

other

Offers permanent residency to entrepreneurs launching innovative businesses in Canada

Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

other

Offers permanent residency to entrepreneurs launching innovative businesses in Canada

United States EB-2 NIW Visa Program

other

For exceptional business talent launching startups that strengthen the U.S. and align with America's national interests

Portugal Innovation Investment Program (PIIP)

other

A pathway to Portugal for high-net-worth individuals

Sourced from website

  • Chris Lennon

    President

Sourced from website

BT

BC Tech

Vancouver, British Columbia

BC Tech Association is dedicated to making British Columbia the best place to grow and scale a tech company. They provide opportunities for the tech industry to collaborate, learn, and grow together. They connect companies, develop talent, share stories.

General/industry agnostic
Foundations & Ecosystem-Building
AO

Accelerate Okanagan

Kelowna, British Columbia

Located in Kelowna, BC, and serving the Okanagan community. We give entrepreneurs the mentorship, connections, and community they need to build technology-driven ventures. As the Okanagan tech community and companies within it continue to grow, so does our support model. Coined ‘Continuous Acceleration,’ we deliver unique programming for different stages of growth. The reality is, each stage of the entrepreneurial process demands a different set of tools and we are constantly iterating in an effort to meet those needs.

General/industry agnostic
Finesse
E

entrepreneurship@UBCO

Kelowna, British Columbia

Trusted Guidance, Lasting Impact

e@UBCO's mission is to provide enriching opportunities for the UBCO community to engage in entrepreneurial thinking and inspire action on some of the worlds most pressing problems.

General/industry agnostic
University
Finesse
SC

Scale Collaborative

Victoria, British Columbia

Founded in 2014, Scale Collaborative strives to create a thriving, connected and financially resilient social change sector. Scale provides learning programs, consulting, coaching and facilitation to assist non-profits, social enterprises and ecosystem actors to advance approaches that strengthen local communities and the social economy. Scale Collaborative supports a number of initiatives including Thrive Impact Fund, Business Legacies Initiative, Social Enterprise Catalyst, British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative, Thriving Non Profits and theDock – Centre for Social Impact.

General/industry agnostic
Foundations & Ecosystem-Building