
Investment, Mentorship, and Support: The Pillars of Startup Success
In a constantly evolving investment environment, incubators like ICPK play..
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Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas is part of an influential and well-connected entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes our team of Startup Mentors, Experts in Residence, Board of Directors, and Partners that each bring a depth of expertise that guides entrepreneurs to achieve business success.
Together, we provide the support that entrepreneurs need to turn their big ideas into successful businesses. If you’re looking to start or grow a business in the Peterborough and Kawarthas region, we can help make it happen. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
Our Core Funding Partners, Zone and Program Sponsors, and Knowledge Partners are all committed to the success of our region’s businesses. Together, we are growing businesses, creating local jobs, and strengthening our local economy.
We are proud to be part of a community that supports entrepreneurial success. Thank you for your continued support!
We strive to help more and more entrepreneurs achieve their dreams and goals, and being able to share their success stories is what drives us.
Our clients graduate from our programs with confidence, knowing they have acquired all of the knowledge, skills, connections, and funding necessary to operate and grow their businesses successfully, and we are proud to have played a role in their success.
Hadi Jakmora, a Business student at Trent University, came up with an idea to build a software mobile application where users can post tasks they need help with and others can get paid to provide those services. To make his dream a reality, he began building connections and going out in public until he finally launched Quest It.
The Innovation Cluster is currently with Quest It and its CEO, Hadi, to help them reach their business goals and improve their digital platform.
Founded by Jessica Dalliday, Pilates on Demand is an online Pilates, Yoga, Barre, and Meditation class platform designed for real people with real bodies. When Jessica suddenly passed away in 2021, her husband Mike Dalliday took over the business. Both Jessica and Mike were first-time entrepreneurs and discovered there were many key concepts and strategies they needed to learn. Through the one-on-one mentorship and support provided at the Innovation Cluster, they gained specific knowledge and tips to make Pilates on Demand a success.
Horizon Aircraft became a client of the Innovation Cluster in 2019. They came to the Innovation Cluster’s Startup Incubator program with huge strength in engineering and design, but lacked a deep network and a coherent business strategy to tell their story, attract investors, and bring Horizon to the next level. Through knowledge gained, connections made, and the 1-on-1 mentorship they received, Horizon was able to navigate several complex business deals and land over $3 million in investment to build a complete prototype of their aircraft by the time they graduated in 2021.
“The Innovation Cluster’s leadership has deep experience from operating and growing startups right up to experience with sophisticated public companies. They provided us with solid strategic advice and connected us with the right people. It is one of the reasons we got to where we are now.”
In a constantly evolving investment environment, incubators like ICPK play..
More and more entrepreneurs are turning to clean technologies as the way of the future.
From green transportation to water treatment, there are a host of options for entrepreneurs who want to make their mark in this rapidly growing industry. If you’re interested in clean technology, you’re in luck – because this is one of the most exciting industries out there!
Cleantech at the Innovation Cluster
Cleantech is booming, and the Innovation Cluster has been a big part of that growth. We’ve helped hundreds of companies launch and grow their businesses by providing access to talented people, funding opportunities, and world-class resources.
Our startup incubator is a hotbed for innovation in the cleantech sector. Water Canada Magazine rated Peterborough the #2 city in Canada and #1 in Ontario to launch a water technology startup thanks to our more than 250 surrounding lakes and rivers, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and H2O Makerspace which provides access to over 30 pieces of sophisticated water testing equipment!
learn more about H2O makerspaceThanks to the innovation and determination of agtech startups, we are rapidly becoming more advanced to deal with challenges such as severe droughts, flooding, and extreme weather conditions.
Agtech startups are those that focus on developing technology for the agricultural industry. They often face significant challenges, because agriculture is a complex and constantly changing field. However, these startups have shown great ingenuity in finding new ways to address old problems.
Agtech at the Innovation Cluster
Our region has a strong agricultural presence. The Kawartha Lakes has over 300,000 acres used for farming, more than 1,200 farms, and an estimated 8,000+ people employed year-round.*
The Innovation Cluster’s focus on agtech makes it a leading destination for entrepreneurs in this field. Thanks to the support and resources we provide, agtech startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas are able to thrive and make a significant impact in the agricultural industry.
*City of Kawartha Lakes 2016 Census of Agriculture
The digital revolution is here, and it’s only getting bigger. Every day, new technologies are emerging that are changing the way we live, work, and play. From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, the possibilities are endless. And while the future may be unknown, one thing is for sure: the digital revolution is here to stay. This makes it an exciting and dynamic industry to be a part of.
Digital Tech at the Innovation Cluster
The Innovation Cluster has a proven track record in helping digital tech startups launch, market, sell, and scale their products and services. Our team understands the unique challenges that digital tech startups face, and we are here to help you overcome them.
Our experts have successfully mentored startups in areas such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Blockchain Technology, Internet Of Things (IoT), Progressive Web Apps (PWA) and more.
Our services, programs, and VR/AR Makerspace will set you up for success!
learn more about VR/AR makerspaceHealthcare tech is one of the most exciting and rapidly-growing sectors in the startup world and it’s not hard to see why. Healthcare is a trillion-dollar industry, and technology can make a huge impact in improving patient outcomes, reducing costs, and making the delivery of care more efficient. Healthcare tech includes a wide range of areas all designed to support the healthcare system including medical devices, IT systems, algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud and blockchain technologies.
The Innovation Cluster is a mentor and supporter of entrepreneurs operating businesses within the healthcare tech sector. Our mission is to help these businesses excel and reach their full potential.
We are so proud to have received two prestigious awards from Global Health & Pharma Magazine’s Biotechnology Awards in recognition of our dedication to startups, and the success of STARTup Visa Program Canada.
– Technology Innovations & Development Incubator of the Year – Canada
– Award for Excellence in Collaborative International Innovations 2022
There’s a reason social innovation is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world: people are driven by the desire to make the world a better place. At its core, social innovation is all about solving social and environmental problems. From apps that help you find sustainable transportation options to platforms that connect volunteers with causes they care about, social innovation is changing the way we think about problem-solving.
Social Innovation at the Innovation Cluster
The Innovation Cluster not only supports for-profit startups, but we also care deeply about the success of entrepreneurs who are social innovators working in the non-profit arena.
Our team is dedicated to helping changemakers succeed in making a real difference in our community, Canada, and abroad. We offer a variety of resources and support to help you turn your vision into reality.
If you’re a social innovator with a passion for making a difference, we want to help you succeed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you.