• 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

PacifiCan Will Open Kelowna Office

News August 6, 2021

Posted by Sara Scott

PacifiCan Will Open Kelowna Office Featured Image

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, has announced details of the newly established Pacific Economic Development Agency (PacifiCan) including a Kelowna branch. The Kelowna PacifiCan office will help the Central Okanagan region, one of Canada’s fastest growing regions, to build on economic recovery momentum and play a key role in Canada’s economic recovery.

“As Canada’s most entrepreneurial region and a leader in economic recovery, Kelowna and the Central Okanagan is a natural fit for a branch office of PacifiCan” said Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran. “This new agency and branch will build on existing momentum in our economy and ultimately create more meaningful engagement between regional businesses and the Federal government.”

Since the announcement of a Regional Development Agency focusing on the needs of British Columbia in 2020, regional partners including the Regional Economic Recovery Task Force, Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC), UBC Okanagan, Accelerate Okanagan and Chambers of Commerce have advocated for a Central Okanagan office branch location.

“We are thrilled by today’s announcement of a PacifiCan office in the Central Okanagan. The Regional Economic Recovery Task Force has encouraged the Federal government to recognize the Central Okanagan’s economic strength by establishing a branch of the new agency in the region” said Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Chair Gail Given. “We’re gratified that Minister Joly has supported our request as demonstrated by today’s announcement.”

The Task Force, co-chaired by RDCO Chair Given and Kelowna Mayor Basran, was initiated by the Mayors of Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland, as well as the RDCO Chair and Chief of Westbank First Nation. They recognized early in the pandemic that a regional approach was required to identify economic recovery needs, support businesses and advocate to higher levels of government for stimulus funding. The Task Force handed ongoing economic recovery work back to the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) in June, 2021.

To learn more about economic development in the Central Okanagan, local economic indicators and the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission visit, investkelowna.ca.

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