(Cobourg, ON) February 19, 2020 — The Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (Venture13) and TELUS Business entered into a strategic alliance, providing the centre with additional membership accelerator perks, mentorship and programming opportunities, and new hardware for the MakerLab.
Together, Venture13 and TELUS Business will provide direct support to entrepreneurs, supplying access to both innovative tools and industry experts to help accelerate their businesses. These efforts strengthen communities, drive Canadian rural innovation, and empower entrepreneurs to build resilient companies that positively contribute to Canada’s economy.
“We are thrilled to welcome TELUS Business to not only the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre but to our community as well,” said Mayor John Henderson for the Town of Cobourg. “This partnership will further accelerate and empower our entrepreneurs to leverage IoT technologies to improve their businesses and reach their connectivity goals.”
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. TELUS Business’ world-class LTE-M network was purpose-built to connect IoT devices, offering secure, reliable connectivity so developers can design and deploy innovative IoT solutions for virtually any situation.
”TELUS believes in the power of technology to create meaningful change on our communities. Supporting an organization like Venture13 that is working to foster Canadian innovation is a perfect fit and we’re pleased to provide support for that effort,” said Michael Cihra, VP of IoT, TELUS. “Working together, we are confident that we can advance V13’s already stellar programming and provide the necessary resources for the innovative companies and individuals in their programs to thrive.”
This alliance will offer all VentureZone clients a three-month TELUS LTE-M Starter Kit and support from TELUS Business, enabling developers and tech companies to rapidly prototype cellular-connected IoT devices on their LTE-M network. They will also provide LTE-M Starter kits to Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation’s (CFDC) Top 10 finalists for N100, Northumberland biennial open invitational $250,000 technology startup competition, as well as Northumberland CFDC’s soon-to-launch DELIA program.
“TELUS is bringing the world of technology and opportunity to Venture13 and we could not be more pleased of this partnership that we are starting,” said Wendy Curtis, Executive Director for Northumberland CFDC. “Our goal when launching this centre was to consolidate resources and infrastructure within a single accessible and collaborative space and provide our entrepreneur community here and across Eastern Ontario access to the tools they need to grow and accelerate. This partnership is a direct demonstration of this goal in motion.”
Additionally, to promote the growth and success of the IoT industry in the Eastern Region, TELUS will offer mentorship and programming opportunities. This includes the addition of Adam Burley, Senior IoT Specialist with TELUS Business, to the 1:1 Client Mentorship Program, hosting lunch and learn sessions to demonstrate the Jasper platform, collaboration and support for future hackathon and Fireside Chats, and supplying the Venture13 MakerLab with six Raspberry Pi/Arduino boards for MakerLab members, Northumberland Makers, and the Microfactory Co-operative to use for future projects.
Through this strategic alliance, Venture13 and TELUS will provide direct support to entrepreneurs, supplying access to both tools and industry experts to help accelerate their business goals in an effort to build strong communities and drive Canadian rural innovation, together.