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Innovation Island Technology Association

Nanaimo, British ColumbiaFinesseMember

Support entrepreneurs to start and grow technology companies by providing them with programs and resources they need to succeed

Innovation Island Technology Association (IITA) is a regional partner of the BC Acceleration Network. We deliver the Innovate BC, Venture Acceleration Program (VAP) to Island communities outside of greater Victoria, including the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast. IITA also facilitates other programs such as the DER3 Program (created and launched on Vancouver Island) and other Innovate BC Programs to qualifying clients and applicants including programs and services for NRC-IRAP. Our mission is to support entrepreneurs to start and grow technology companies by providing them with programs and resources they need to succeed. We support business and entrepreneurs build, grow and stay.

Type

Not-for-Profit

Founded

1997

Regions

British Columbia (BC)

Portfolio performance metrics: $35.2M in investments placed, $110.3M in revenues earned, 70% at recurring revenue, 80% investment ready, 40% received IRAP/SRED grants. Serves 13+ communities including Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley, Duncan, Courtenay, Campbell River, and over 50 First Nations territories in their region.

Industries

Digital media & telecommunicationsGeneral/industry agnosticOther

Focus Areas

technology entrepreneurshipstartup support and growth

Sourced from website

Stages supported

IdeaDiscoveryValidationEfficiencyScaleMature

Services offered

  • Financing opportunities and connections with investor groups
  • Free educational events or programming (ie. lunch and learns)
  • Mentorship and access to advisors
  • Networking opportunities and community events
  • Paid programming (cash)
Finessehigh 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

Innovate BC Venture Acceleration Program

accelerator

Venture acceleration program delivered to Island communities outside of greater Victoria

Sourced from website

A

AInBC

Vancouver, British Columbia

The Voice for AI in British Columbia

The Artificial Intelligence network of British Columbia (AInBC) was established to unify, organize and catalyze the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) communities in Canada and to establish BC as a national and global leader in AI by 2022. AInBC believes that AI/ML is of strategic importance to the economic and social well-being of everyone in Canada, and is dedicated to ensuring that our nation leads rather than follows.

Digital media & telecommunicationsOther
Massive Growth
B

Beeloud

Vancouver, British Columbia

Where AI founders build the future

Beeloud is a content creation powerhouse of web3. We offer a platform for digital creators, builders, and investors to learn, connect, and invest in AI. Our community provides opportunities to team up, scale globally, and raise millions.

Digital media & telecommunicationsEducationOther
AC

Alacrity Canada

Victoria, British Columbia

Scaling Canadian Innovation

Alacrity Canada is a non-profit that specializes in clean technologies, SaaS, e-commerce, ICT, Data, AI, and digital marketing. Alacrity Canada provides resources, support and entrepreneurial mentorship to promising entrepreneurs, in addition to finding and connecting these individuals with the venture capital funding needed to develop thriving local tech companies.

Clean technologiesDigital media & telecommunicationsOther
Visa
Finesse
OC

Okanagan coLab

Kelowna, British Columbia

Since 2011, Okanagan coLab (Community Lab) has been supporting entrepreneurs and inspired creatives to work in a new way — through coworking. We are a community of people who choose to work together to make our work, our lives, our cities, and our communities better. Our Values Community The coLab community is an eclectic, supportive, and highly talented group of like-minded professionals who realize that good things happen when people work together. coLab doesn’t just rely on its community; coLab is the community. Community is in our DNA. Creativity The term “knowledge economy” is a misnomer. The real impact doesn’t come from knowledge – it comes from creatively assembling knowledge into solutions. Creativity is an essential trait in business – and coLab strives to promote creativity in every way. Collaboration Community + creativity = collaboration. One of the great benefits of working alongside talented, knowledgeable people in a variety of industries is the ideas that are disseminated by osmosis – and then re-formed into cohesive plans through collaboration. At coLab, it’s easy to find that technical or creative whiz to run ideas past. Purposefulness Purposefulness is being aware that each of us is here for a reason. We value our lives by discovering the part we are uniquely meant to play. We discern our intention and focus on it mindfully. We visualize it happening. We set goals and achieve them step by step, resisting distractions. We give each task single minded concentration and excellence. We invest our full enthusiasm into even the simplest job. In the flow of our lives, there are many turns and unexpected events. Within it all, there are lessons to be learned and gifts to receive. Celebration Celebrating and having fun at work is an essential function for building a positive workplace culture, helping our members blow off steam, and fostering new ideas.

General/industry agnosticOther
Finesse