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Accelerator Centre Partners with Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter PROCOMER to Introduce High-Potential International Founders to Canadian Markets

The Accelerator Centre (AC) and PROCOMER are pleased to announce their partnership to create a new acceleration program that aims to support high-impact software development companies as they look to enter the Canadian market and/or bring their companies to Canada.

May 19, 2022

May 12, 2022 — Waterloo, ON — The Accelerator Centre (AC), PROCOMER and the National Learning Institute (INA), as a strategic partner, are pleased to announce their partnership to create a new acceleration program that aims to support high-impact software development companies as they look to enter the Canadian market and/or bring their companies to Canada.

Through the AC’s AC:Hubs offering, the award-winning accelerator works with innovation organizations around the world to create and enhance impactful accelerator programs that leverage the organization’s globally recognized programming and mentorship model. Alongside PROCOMER, the AC will deliver a customized 16-week program called “Upload Canada.” The program will include a series of remotely delivered workshops and mentorship opportunities designed to introduce Costa Rican founders to the Canadian market and encourage them to engage with the Waterloo innovation ecosystem.

“As the world settles into a post-pandemic normal, a new paradigm of globalization will be spearheaded by startup founders across the globe. True to our vision, in our pursuit to lead this change, we continue attracting some of the best founders and partners into our ecosystem,” says AC CEO Jay Krishnan. “Canada provides the perfect landing spot for companies looking to go global. With PROCOMER, INA and the Upload Canada program, we will be bringing the best of Waterloo to international audiences and helping high-potential Costa Rican founders tap into the magic of Waterloo’s innovation community.”

According to PROCOMER General Manager Pedro Beirute Prada, Upload Canada 2022 will directly impact ten SMEs in the ITC sector, which will receive customized advisory on topics ranging from the design of strategies for entering the Canadian market to the detection of opportunities and connections with investors or potential customers.

“This program will help strengthen Costa Rican software development SMEs with potential for expanding their export invoicing, thus increasing domestic value added and creating new jobs,” commented Beirute.

Along with delivering the Upload Canada program, AC has the unique distinction of being one of the few accelerators in Canada designated as a Start-up Visa partner offering permanent residence to founders with high growth capacity. Upon completion of the Upload Canada Program, successful companies can be considered for the Start-up Visa program, enabling those founders to set up an office in Canada, hire Canadian talent, and scale their businesses here.

“Partnerships with organizations like PROCOMER allow founders to build bridges between markets and create global communities that benefit founders on both sides of the partnership,” says Krishnan. “We’re looking forward to working with diverse founders and their ventures to help them grow and scale as they look to create social and economic impact globally.”

About the AC

At the AC, we exist to help ambitious dreamers impact global change through their businesses. The AC is ranked Canada’s #1 private business accelerator and is among the top five such organizations globally. We offer an extensive selection of customizable opportunities for startups across Canada—allowing founders to rapidly bring their innovation to life. We work with our global partners to bolster the innovation ecosystem in Waterloo and beyond.

About PROCOMER

The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) is a non-state public entity responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports. PROCOMER has been established as the support pillar for Costa Rican companies; we are an inclusive institution that generates businesses with a purpose.

From January to December 2021, exports of Costa Rican goods rebounded with the support of PROCOMER programming by 24% from 2020, the highest growth in the last 15 years.

About INA

INA is a state entity that provides technical and vocational education. At the same time, it is one of the key players in the Law for the Development Banking System, which seeks to support and strengthen Costa Rica’s business sector. INA works together with other ecosystem stakeholders in supporting initiatives that foster growth in companies that need it. Thus, INA has joined PROCOMER in this Upload Canada project, contributing with 90% of the total cost.

Contact

Tabatha Laverty
Director, Marketing and Communications
[email protected]