Innovation Cluster And City Of Kawartha Lakes Open Incubator In Lindsay
The City of Kawartha Lakes and Innovation Cluster, with the support of the Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation through the Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario (RIIEO), have opened an incubator for high-growth entrepreneurs in Lindsay.
An official launch for the incubator took place on Tuesday (February 11th) in Lindsay. Partners supporters and the public joined together for speeches, a ribbon cutting, and a tour of the space. Speakers included Mayor Andy Letham, John Gillis, President of the Innovation Cluster, MPP Laurie Scott, MP Jamie Schmale and Jil Quast, Chair CFDC.
John Gillis, President of the Innovation Cluster, speaking at the announcement
The Innovation Cluster has successfully accelerated hundreds of startups for over a decade, supporting companies in the agriculture technology, clean technology, digital and healthcare technology sectors.
Launching its 10,000 sq.ft. incubator in the heart of downtown Peterborough in 2017, the not-for-profit organization has coached, mentored, and provided a space for more than 80 startups to find their best path to market.
Throughout 2018, the Innovation Cluster supported eight CKWL companies, which created an economic impact of $2,355,633 and the creation of 22 jobs for CKWL. With this success and a clear need for more robust support and programming for entrepreneurs creating innovative new startups, the Innovation Cluster is looking forward to bringing its services on-site.
Ribbon cutting in Lindsay
“We are excited to launch our incubator in the heart of Lindsay to give current and future startup clients the opportunity to access our resources closer to home,” says President and CEO of the Innovation Cluster, John Gillis.
“The Innovation Cluster has been supporting clients in the Kawartha Lakes for a number of years remotely,” adds Gillis, “and many of those clients have been driving into Peterborough to work in our world class incubator. They have been waiting for us to make this expansion happen.”
Congratulations to @kawarthalakes on your partnership and the grand opening of the Innovation Cluster @InnovationPtbo here in Kawartha Lakes! We are proud to support this pilot project through @FedDevOntario #RIIEO #innovation funding. We can’t wait to see the benefits in CKL. pic.twitter.com/WE94ACUKXA
— Kawartha Lakes CFDC (@KawarthaLakesCF) February 11, 2020
Left to right: Innovation Cluster CEO Michael Skinner, President John Gillis & ICPK Board Chair John Desbien
The Innovation Cluster will now provide a creative incubation space for new ideas to blossom with entrepreneurs working side-by-side in Lindsay’s first full-service incubator in CKWL.
Some of the entrepreneurs moving in tweeted out about it…
New office space @InnovationPtbo in the Lindsay incubator! ☀️ pic.twitter.com/OJjfViIKni
— MAMASOUP APP(Joanne Ilaqua) (@mamasoupapp) February 11, 2020
Our new home in the @InnovationPtbo Kawartha Lakes.#newdigs pic.twitter.com/VTQIArkwp1
— Graeme Barrie (@grbarrie) February 11, 2020
Through this partnership, startups working in more remote areas throughout the Kawarthas will have easier access to dynamic programming, network connections, funding, investment and business opportunities, as well as marketing and commercialization support.
The Kawartha Lakes Incubator is officially open! @InnovationPtbo has brought their “start-up ecosystem” closer to home for #HKLB! I commend the collaboration exemplified to make this vision a reality. Welcome! #OpenForBusiness pic.twitter.com/fJpZYD9fQJ
— Laurie Scott (@LaurieScottPC) February 11, 2020