A wonderful article below illustrating the success of the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) program, helping Canadian startups gain access to Silicon Valley resources through the Silicon Valley Plug and Play Tech Center headquarters.
Technology firms get a kick-start in the Valley
Connecting with potential clients, investors and partners in technology hotbeds like Silicon Valley can truly make or break a Canadian technology start-up firm. Yet getting there and meeting the right people can be a challenge, particularly when it takes more than a few brief business trips to build lasting relationships.
A year ago, tech entrepreneur Hussein Fazal felt like he was working in a vacuum in his Toronto office. After all, the CEO of AdParlor, a firm that manages large Facebook advertising campaigns, felt that he was too far removed from the movers and shakers who could help his small company take off.
That’s why the opportunity to participate in the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA), a Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) program, gave him the extra push he needed to go. The CTA is a technology business accelerator in Sunnyvale, California, that provides free services and access to Silicon Valley contacts for Canadian ICT companies. The accelerator is open to a limited number of qualified companies. Ideal candidates are start-ups as well as small and medium enterprises with a potential for growth that wish to create a footprint in the Silicon Valley. The CTA is housed in the Plug and Play Tech Center, a business incubator that houses close to 200 start-ups looking for venture capital, networking opportunities, partnerships and mentoring. For three months, this is where Fazal set up shop.
“Silicon Valley is the Holy Grail for tech companies,” says Trade Commissioner Thierry Weissenburger. “The CTA at Plug and Play is a magical place that offers the intensity of the Valley and very quick access to investors, potential clients, technology mentors and top-notch talent. In other words, you get to maximize your time and minimize your risk.”
This year, the TCS is working closely with the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX), one of Canada’s leading technology forums dedicated to identifying the country’s most promising high-growth companies. CIX is partnering with the TCS to deliver an opportunity for three early-stage Canadian technology companies to spend three months beginning in June 2011 to work in the Plug and Play Center.
Another fantastic (and inspiring) initiative that is helping Canadian entrepreneurs integrate into Silicon Valley and accelerate their companies is the non-profit organization C100. From their website:
C100 is a non-profit, member-driven organization dedicated to supporting Canadian technology entrepreneurship and investment.
C100 is comprised of a select group of Canadians based primarily in Silicon Valley, including executives of leading technology companies, experienced startup entrepreneurs and venture capital investors. C100 members are passionate about leveraging their collective experience, expertise and relationships to help mentor and grow a new generation of successful Canadian-led technology companies.
