• ENTREPRENEURS

    Support for Entrepreneurs

    Whether you are starting out or scaling up, we have resources, in-house experts, and accelerator programs for entrepreneurs who are ready to grow.

    APPLY NOW
    • Startup Basics

      Startup Basics is a self-led online program. Each module is designed to teach entrepreneurial fundamentals needed to transform an idea into a startup.

      GET STARTED
    • Venture Validation

      Venture Validation is a 3-month startup intensive. It is designed to teach rapid validation, iteration, and development to early-stage entrepreneurs.

      GET CONNECTED
    • Market Ready

      Market Ready is a 3-month intensive design to teach entrepreneurs go-to-market strategy, how to connect with potential customers, and effective product positioning.

      Learn to Launch
    • Fundable

      Fundable is an 8-week capital-focused program. It is designed for entrepreneurs who want to increase their understanding of capital-raising pathways and prepare to be investable.

      CAPITAL READY
    • Angel Summit

      The Okanagan Angel Summit is an 8-week pitch program designed to educate investors and startups on the investment process through participation. It culminates in a public finale where an investment of up to $200K is placed.

      Get Invested
    • ThreeSixty

      Customized engagement to prepare startups for raising a Seed to Series A investment round. ThreeSixty dives deep into growth and risk management, team development, and financial models.

      Prepare to Raise
    • AccelerateIP

      AccelerateIP is an integrated, three-stream, Intellectual Property capacity-building program. Focused on helping startups protect, manage, and leverage their intellectual property.

      PROTECT YOUR IP
  • Members

    Membership Means More

    Get plugged into the Okanagan tech community with Accelerate Okanagan’s membership. Membership is designed to provide resources and support for companies with perks for the founders and employees.

    Become A Member
    • Member Network

      Get to know the companies in the OKGNtech ecosystem. Our member network is made up of tech companies, innovative businesses, and support organizations.

      Explore the Network
    • Partners

      These organizations are investing their time and dollars into AO and OKGNtech. Meet our core funders, partners, and patrons who help us deliver on our mission to give entrepreneurs the mentorship, connections, and community they need to thrive.

      Meet Our Partners
    • Company Membership

      Company Membership is for all companies building a business, service, or product. Members can access the resume bank, job board, member library, perks, and discounts to Accelerate Okanagan events.

      Explore the Benefits
    • Supporter Membership

      Supporter Membership is for all organizations and institutions that are supporting entrepreneurs. Members can access the resume bank, job board, member library, perks, and discounts to Accelerate Okanagan events.

      Explore the Benefits
  • Jobs

    Employ Your Potential

    No matter what your business is focused on, people are at the heart of it. The OKGNtech Job Board and Resume Bank make it easy to access the best of the best.

    VIEW Job Board
    • VIEW JOBS

      Our Job Board showcases available open positions from businesses within the Okanagan tech community. Use it to find your next career or showcase your next opportunity.

      Open Positions
    • Post a Job

      Finding and recruiting the right talent is critical for any growing business. Have a job opening you need to fill? Share it with the community by posting it on our Job Board.

      Post a Job
    • Post a Resume

      Looking to share your resume? Upload it to our Resume Bank! All Accelerate Okanagan members have exclusive access to review your resume from there.

      Accelerate Your Career
  • Events

    Time Well Spent

    There is always something happening in the OKGNtech community. Keep an eye on the Accelerate Okanagan events calendar for the latest in workshops, networking events, and conferences.

    Events Calendar
  • Workspaces

    Working The Okanagan Way

    Building a strong community, meeting like-minded people, and access to free coffee are just a few of the benefits of choosing to use Accelerate Okanagan’s coworking spaces.

    Find A Workspace
    • Tenancy / Kelowna

      Rent a dedicated desk with OKGNworks, a shared workspace located on the second floor of the Kelowna Innovation Centre. This space is purposefully designed with an open floor plan to create collisions and connections for tenants.

      JOIN OKGNWORKS
    • Meeting Rooms / Kelowna

      Looking for a meeting space in downtown Kelowna? OKGNworks has a variety of rooms available for rent. Each meeting room comes with the resources and space needed to facilitate large and small groups and are available at flexible rates.

      BOOK A MEETING SPACE
    • Tenancy / Vernon

      The Vernon Innovation & Entrepreneur Workspace (The VIEW) is a home base for innovators and entrepreneurs in the North Okanagan. This shared workspace allows for flexible rentals of dedicated desks, private offices, and part-time options.

      Explore The VIEW
    • Meeting Rooms / Vernon

      Rent a meeting room in downtown Vernon at The VIEW. The Vernon Innovation & Entrepreneur Workspace (The VIEW) offers a diverse selection of spaces available to rent for large or small team meetings at hourly, half-day or full-day rates.

      BOOK A MEETING ROOM
  • ENTREPRENEURS

    Back

    Support for Entrepreneurs

    Whether you are starting out or scaling up, we have resources, in-house experts, and accelerator programs for entrepreneurs who are ready to grow.

    APPLY NOW
    • Startup Basics

      Startup Basics is a self-led online program. Each module is designed to teach entrepreneurial fundamentals needed to transform an idea into a startup.

      GET STARTED
    • Venture Validation

      Venture Validation is a 3-month startup intensive. It is designed to teach rapid validation, iteration, and development to early-stage entrepreneurs.

      GET CONNECTED
    • Market Ready

      Market Ready is a 3-month intensive design to teach entrepreneurs go-to-market strategy, how to connect with potential customers, and effective product positioning.

      Learn to Launch
    • Fundable

      Fundable is an 8-week capital-focused program. It is designed for entrepreneurs who want to increase their understanding of capital-raising pathways and prepare to be investable.

      CAPITAL READY
    • Angel Summit

      The Okanagan Angel Summit is an 8-week pitch program designed to educate investors and startups on the investment process through participation. It culminates in a public finale where an investment of up to $200K is placed.

      Get Invested
    • ThreeSixty

      Customized engagement to prepare startups for raising a Seed to Series A investment round. ThreeSixty dives deep into growth and risk management, team development, and financial models.

      Prepare to Raise
    • AccelerateIP

      AccelerateIP is an integrated, three-stream, Intellectual Property capacity-building program. Focused on helping startups protect, manage, and leverage their intellectual property.

      PROTECT YOUR IP
  • Members

    Back

    Membership Means More

    Get plugged into the Okanagan tech community with Accelerate Okanagan’s membership. Membership is designed to provide resources and support for companies with perks for the founders and employees.

    Become A Member
    • Member Network

      Get to know the companies in the OKGNtech ecosystem. Our member network is made up of tech companies, innovative businesses, and support organizations.

      Explore the Network
    • Partners

      These organizations are investing their time and dollars into AO and OKGNtech. Meet our core funders, partners, and patrons who help us deliver on our mission to give entrepreneurs the mentorship, connections, and community they need to thrive.

      Meet Our Partners
    • Company Membership

      Company Membership is for all companies building a business, service, or product. Members can access the resume bank, job board, member library, perks, and discounts to Accelerate Okanagan events.

      Explore the Benefits
    • Supporter Membership

      Supporter Membership is for all organizations and institutions that are supporting entrepreneurs. Members can access the resume bank, job board, member library, perks, and discounts to Accelerate Okanagan events.

      Explore the Benefits
  • Jobs

    Back

    Employ Your Potential

    No matter what your business is focused on, people are at the heart of it. The OKGNtech Job Board and Resume Bank make it easy to access the best of the best.

    VIEW Job Board
    • VIEW JOBS

      Our Job Board showcases available open positions from businesses within the Okanagan tech community. Use it to find your next career or showcase your next opportunity.

      Open Positions
    • Post a Job

      Finding and recruiting the right talent is critical for any growing business. Have a job opening you need to fill? Share it with the community by posting it on our Job Board.

      Post a Job
    • Post a Resume

      Looking to share your resume? Upload it to our Resume Bank! All Accelerate Okanagan members have exclusive access to review your resume from there.

      Accelerate Your Career
  • Events

    Back

    Time Well Spent

    There is always something happening in the OKGNtech community. Keep an eye on the Accelerate Okanagan events calendar for the latest in workshops, networking events, and conferences.

    Events Calendar
  • Workspaces

    Back

    Working The Okanagan Way

    Building a strong community, meeting like-minded people, and access to free coffee are just a few of the benefits of choosing to use Accelerate Okanagan’s coworking spaces.

    Find A Workspace
    • Tenancy / Kelowna

      Rent a dedicated desk with OKGNworks, a shared workspace located on the second floor of the Kelowna Innovation Centre. This space is purposefully designed with an open floor plan to create collisions and connections for tenants.

      JOIN OKGNWORKS
    • Meeting Rooms / Kelowna

      Looking for a meeting space in downtown Kelowna? OKGNworks has a variety of rooms available for rent. Each meeting room comes with the resources and space needed to facilitate large and small groups and are available at flexible rates.

      BOOK A MEETING SPACE
    • Tenancy / Vernon

      The Vernon Innovation & Entrepreneur Workspace (The VIEW) is a home base for innovators and entrepreneurs in the North Okanagan. This shared workspace allows for flexible rentals of dedicated desks, private offices, and part-time options.

      Explore The VIEW
    • Meeting Rooms / Vernon

      Rent a meeting room in downtown Vernon at The VIEW. The Vernon Innovation & Entrepreneur Workspace (The VIEW) offers a diverse selection of spaces available to rent for large or small team meetings at hourly, half-day or full-day rates.

      BOOK A MEETING ROOM

Carollynn Schafer Appointed Interim CEO of Accelerate Okanagan

Blog June 28, 2023

Posted by Sara Scott

Carollynn Schafer Appointed Interim CEO of Accelerate Okanagan Featured Image
Carollynn Schafer has been appointed as Interim CEO of Accelerate Okanagan.

Many of you will recognize Carollynn as a lead investor in our Okanagan Angel Summit and General Partner for Okanagan WMAN. She will be stepping in for the next 14 months to support Accelerate Okanagan with our annual strategic priorities, as CEO Brea Lake steps out to welcome her second child. We wish Brea and her family all the best during her time away.  

Message from Carollynn:

Hello everyone! I am excited to be joining Accelerate Okanagan as Interim Chief Executive Officer. I became actively involved with AO during the first Okanagan Angel Summit in 2019.  I have participated in the Summit as an Investor, Director, Fund Manager, and most recently have facilitated investor training for the last two Summits. I am passionate about our local tech ecosystem and enjoy connecting with people who have shared interests in supporting the growth of the sector. 

I have been involved in the Canadian technology industry for over 20 years, first in Manitoba as a Privacy and Technology lawyer before joining my husband, Lance, in his start-up in 2010. In 2011, Lance and I and our two young boys moved to Kelowna in search of a new place to call home that had a growing tech scene and an international airport. Lance’s company was acquired in 2015 and at that time I began exploring ways to support the local community. Through the Okanagan Angel Summit, I became interested in investing and supporting founders. I began working more regularly with start-ups, most recently I have been working with Trellis as advisory legal counsel. 

In addition to my involvement in the Okanagan Angel Summit, I am a General Partner of Okanagan WMAN (Women’s Mentoring and Angel Network). I have attended, judged, and spoken at various pitch competitions and investment summits across Canada. One of my favourite aspects of angel investing is learning about and being involved in the various organizations and communities across the country that are working to support entrepreneurs. I am thrilled to be working even closer with AO team over the next year as Interim CEO and looking forward to continuing the momentum of Accelerate Okanagan and growth of the Okanagan tech community. 

Stay tuned to the Accelerate Okanagan blog and newsletter for updates on upcoming events, new programs and community initiatives. 

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