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Canada has an extensive range of research centres, food incubators, accelerators and labs supporting food and beverage innovation through the research they do and/or the services they offer. Each week throughout 2023, we’re highlighting an organization that’s supporting food innovation in Canada.
Mission: Propel is a virtual accelerator that helps startup technology companies validate their product and market fit, find customers and raise financing.
Focus: Propel offers technology entrepreneurs virtual coaching and mentoring, with a priority on companies from Atlantic Canada.
Services: The organization’s online accelerator program offers startups access to coaching at every stage of growth, from ideation through product development to scaleup. As well as one-on-one mentoring, online learning includes speakers from around the world, and the courses Vision and Validation for companies making less than $1,000/month, and Traction and Growth for companies making more than $1,000/month.
What you Need to Know: Propel has more than 350 alumni, has funded millions of dollars to technology companies in financing, and has created 1,400 jobs. The centre says alumni have shorted their sales cycles by 78%, and have doubled their contract size. Some of the companies in the food industry which have worked with Propel are SomaDetect, Easy Platter, Couryah! and Prospre.
Notable News: Propel received $1.05 million in funding from the government of Nova Scotia to continue to deliver programming and coaching for startups over the next three years.