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Accelerator Centre Releases Impact Report for UN Sustainable Development Goals Incubation Programming

With the support of a $750,000 GROW grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the AC created an award-winning incubation program for entrepreneurs supporting the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

March 29, 2023

Waterloo, ON — March 29, 2023 — The Accelerator Centre (AC) is pleased to release an impact report as a result of its pilot incubation programming created to drive the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The program was launched in 2020 with the support of a GROW grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and TD Bank’s Ready Commitment. The program, known as the TD Sustainable Future Lab, supports founders working in sectors that support the achievement of the SDGs by providing education, mentorship, and access to funding opportunities to early-stage startups. In 2022, the program was recognized by The Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade with a Global Sustainability Award for its impact on driving a sustainable economy.

"The work the Accelerator Centre is doing to create a more sustainable environment through programs like the TD Sustainable Future Lab is important and timely. It’s encouraging to see the OTF support the success of this program with a GROW grant. Congratulations!" said Catherine Fife, MPP for Waterloo.

Through the program, the AC has:

  • Supported 87 founders from 61 companies

  • Created 198 jobs

  • Developed 76 new sustainable products

  • Trained 259 people

Founders in the program have raised over $36M and generated more than $42M in investment.

Download the impact report

“Thanks to this grant from OTF, we were able to scale up an entrepreneurial program that offers mentorship opportunities, focusing on creating a more sustainable environment,” says Jay Krishnan, CEO, Accelerator Centre. “The TD Sustainable Future Program showcases an appetite for innovation that makes a big impact. It is no surprise to us that the next generation of entrepreneurs is focused on areas that align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Challenging times, like those brought on by the pandemic, inspire new ideas and embolden entrepreneurs to take the leap. We’re proud to be supporting these incredible founders as they change the world with their businesses. We are grateful for OTF’s support in making this happen.”


About the Accelerator Centre

At the AC, we exist to help ambitious dreamers impact global change through their businesses. The AC is ranked among the World Top 5 private business accelerators by UBI Global. 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 the Ontario Trillium Foundation

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Contact

Tabatha Laverty
VP, Marketing and External Relations
[email protected]