Organization: Invest Ottawa

The Short Report – April 17, 2019: Indigenous innovation, Ontario budget, scaling network

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) announced more than $1 million over four years for a new Social Purpose Institute (SPI), launched by United Way of the Lower Mainland. The initiative aims to promote economic growth and social purpose in British Columbia.  – Newswire The governments of Canada and Quebec are investing $8.4 million in Uniboard Canada…

Michael Tremblay

Michael Tremblay has been appointed president and CEO of Invest Ottawa effective March 2, filling the position that has been vacant for nearly a year following the departure of inaugural president Bruce Lazenby after a five-year term. Tremblay comes to the city’s innovation and economic development agency from Microsoft Canada where he was VP public…

CAIP funds Ottawa area software incubator

Ottawa and Eastern Ontario start-ups in the enterprise software space will have access to accelerator funding and services through L-SPARK, which will receive $3.8 million from the federal Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP). The funding must be matched on a 1:1 basis and will flow through Invest Ottawa, which manages the funds on behalf…

L-Spark incubator launched for eastern Ontario

Invest Ottawa, Wesley Clover International and Queen’s Univ have launched L-Spark, an incubator and accelerator that is one of 10 similar organizations receiving funds under the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program (CAIP). It is managed by the Industrial Research Assistance Program as part of the federal government’s Venture Capital Action Plan. Other incubators/accelerators receiving CAIP…

Ontario pledges $15M for Ottawa innovation complex

The Government of Ontario has pledged $15 million towards a proposed innovation complex in Ottawa that will include business incubation and acceleration space and a new home for Invest Ottawa (formerly the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation). The 14,000-sq-m building is being proposed for the Bayview Yards, a 1940s-era municipal public works garage located…

ZDG opens Ottawa high-tech incubator

A Chinese high-tech investment firm is investing an initial $10 million in an Ottawa-based incubation centre to provide funding and support for Ottawa-based tech firms seeking entry into China’s rapidly growing market. Zhongguancun Development Park (ZDG) will begin operations in a 150-sq-m facility co-located with Invest Ottawa (formerly Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation). The…

New $35-million Ottawa VC fund launched

Mistral Venture Partners, a new $35-million venture capital fund, has been launched in the Ottawa area by an ex-pat Canadian who returned to the capital from Silicon Valley to kick-start the initiative. Code Cubitt, formerly with Ciena Ventures and Motorola Ventures, is seeking to attract the participation of wealthy Ottawa investors who traditionally have shied…

OCRI re-branded Invest Ottawa

Ottawa’s OCRI is being re-branded Invest Ottawa. The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (formerly known as the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation) is in the midst of a major transformation into the city’s main agency for economic development, de-emphasizing its heavy focus on innovation. Its key focus areas are now comprised of film,…