Pictured here: Nafis Ahmed (left) and David Kwok (right)
At 91亚色 we believe a university can be both a centre of learning and serve as an incubator for ideas, innovation and industry. That鈥檚 why we created YSpace, 91亚色鈥檚 entrepreneurship hub. YSpace offers a variety of programs and services that support entrepreneurs at every stage of development: ideation, validation, launch and growth. 鈥
YSpace offers a variety of programs, including an alumni speaker series, idea consultations and a six-week venture catalyst program designed to support early-stage technology start-ups as they develop, test, validate and refine their ideas to build a full proof of concept.
The work happening at YSpace is more relevant than ever before as we move away from the economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. That鈥檚 why the Business Bounce Back program at YSpace is so important.
Designed to help businesses and individuals in the tourism and hospitality sector, Business Bounce Back is a unique program that offers support in rebuilding with a digital focus. Currently offered in partnership with the Town of Georgina and the Town of East Gwillimbury, the three-month program provides business owners with the tools, skills and connections they need to scale and thrive in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Business Bounce Back has three components:
Business validation鈥 A two-part, six-hour workshop delivered over two days for people looking to pivot their current business or start a new business. Through the workshop, participants identify business ideas, validate these ideas and build the skills they will need to create new and sustainable revenue streams.
Digital skills boot camp鈥 In partnership with鈥, participants get access to award-winning courses and boot camps that build their digital skills and test their ideas in areas such as social media marketing and e-commerce development.
One-on-one mentorship鈥 Recognizing that each participant will have his or her own unique ideas and business challenges, the program will provide individualized mentorship with a structured 鈥渙bjective and key results鈥 approach.
YSpace is also home to the Technology Accelerator program, a four-month virtual program designed to support entrepreneurs as they launch and scale their ventures through boot camps, workshops, one-on-one mentorships and over $30,000 in cash awards 鈥 plus perks.
The Technology Accelerator program focuses on helping pre-revenue technology start-ups execute their go-to-market strategies and gain customers. It provides ample opportunities for hands-on experience, as well as accountability sessions, customized mentorship and the chance to connect with key partners in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.