• 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.

    How We Help
    • Venture Acceleration

      The Venture Acceleration Program is a 3 month program for entrepreneurs who have an innovative product or business and are committed to finding product and market fit.

      FIND YOUR FIT
    • Startup Basics

      Startup Basics is a self-led online learning experience. Each virtual program is designed to teach individuals the entrepreneurial fundamentals needed to transform their idea into a startup.

      GET STARTED
    • Advisor Access

      Advisor Access is a one-to-one complimentary advisory session for small businesses. Get paired with an experienced Business Advisor to navigate challenges like leveraging technology, overcoming business challenges, or expanding into new markets.

      ACCESS AN ADVISOR
    • OKGN Angel Summit

      The OKGN Angel Summit is a 10-week program designed to educate local investors and startup companies from across British Columbia on the investment process. A capital fund is raised, deals are screened, and an investment in a company is made.

      Get Invested
  • 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 Directory

      The Okanagan tech sector is growing at a rapid rate. Meet our members! These are the real companies behind #OKGNtech that are inspiring innovation and transforming our community.

      Meet Our Members
    • 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
    • Ecosystem 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
  • 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
    • Workforce Insights

      Looking for salary and compensation data? We’ve partnered with BenchMarket to produce an Okanagan-focused workforce study to help employers make more data-informed decisions when it comes to employee compensation.

      Get Competitive
    • All 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
    • Room Rentals - 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
    • Room Rentals - 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.

      ROOM WITH THE VIEW
  • 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.

    How We Help
    • Venture Acceleration

      The Venture Acceleration Program is a 3 month program for entrepreneurs who have an innovative product or business and are committed to finding product and market fit.

      FIND YOUR FIT
    • Startup Basics

      Startup Basics is a self-led online learning experience. Each virtual program is designed to teach individuals the entrepreneurial fundamentals needed to transform their idea into a startup.

      GET STARTED
    • Advisor Access

      Advisor Access is a one-to-one complimentary advisory session for small businesses. Get paired with an experienced Business Advisor to navigate challenges like leveraging technology, overcoming business challenges, or expanding into new markets.

      ACCESS AN ADVISOR
    • OKGN Angel Summit

      The OKGN Angel Summit is a 10-week program designed to educate local investors and startup companies from across British Columbia on the investment process. A capital fund is raised, deals are screened, and an investment in a company is made.

      Get Invested
  • 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 Directory

      The Okanagan tech sector is growing at a rapid rate. Meet our members! These are the real companies behind #OKGNtech that are inspiring innovation and transforming our community.

      Meet Our Members
    • 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
    • Ecosystem 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
  • 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
    • Workforce Insights

      Looking for salary and compensation data? We’ve partnered with BenchMarket to produce an Okanagan-focused workforce study to help employers make more data-informed decisions when it comes to employee compensation.

      Get Competitive
    • All 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
    • Room Rentals - 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
    • Room Rentals - 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.

      ROOM WITH THE VIEW

How We Support

Getting Started

Guidance from the best

Mentorship and coaching for startups, growth-stage companies, and everything in-between. We’ll start by sitting down with you to learn about you and your business. Our team of experienced Executives-in-Residence have a variety of specialized skill sets, allowing us to support entrepreneurs at all stages of growth.

Apply for Programs
Let's Talk

Connect With Us

We’ll spend some time getting to know you, your company and some of the directions you’re hoping to grow in. This will be a chance for you to meet the Accelerate Okanagan team as well as the mentors who will be supporting you through our programs.
Identify Impact

We're Here to Help

During a confidential conversation, mentors dig deep into the foundations and practices within your business. Even if you don’t engage in a program, this is an excellent opportunity to gain some perspective with new insights from the mentor’s experiences.
Accountability

SUPPORT AS YOUR GROW

We will create a tailored plan on how we want to take those next steps with you and your team. You will have access to mentors and subject matter experts throughout the process to ensure that you have the resources and accountability you need to succeed and grow.

Strategic Focus

There are three key areas of focus that serve as the backbone to Accelerate Okanagan’s various initiatives. By following these guiding principles, we’re helping #OKGNtech continue to grow—living into our title as one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech communities.

Engage the Willing

Through authentic relationship building, we engage the willing, mobilize the masses, and create a strong sense of belonging and a thriving community.

Unlock the Capital

Through collaboration and network building, we unlock the capital needed to support founders and companies of all types and at every stage of growth.

Coach the Leaders

Through strong mentorship, we coach leaders who are inspired to drive innovation, propel the economy and ultimately build successful anchor companies in our region.

Okanagan Salary & Compensation Fall Study

Participate in the Workforce Insights Okanagan Salary and Compensation Study this fall. This comprehensive study will analyze data provided by companies of all sizes and industries to create a compensation report that reflects the current compensation landscape in the Okanagan.

Learn More

Key Statistics

Okanagan Tech Sector

$1.7B

Economic Impact

693

Companies

12,474

Employed in Tech

15%

Growth Year Over Year

1000+

Companies Helped

33%

Of Companies Founded by Women

7%

of companies founded by indigenous peoples

69%

Company Survival Rate

86.5

Jobs Created

$27,541,322

Net Revenue

$5,369,850

In Investments

Related Articles

Frequently
Asked
Questions

Is Accelerate Okanagan a non-profit?

Yes! While we do offer some paid services like membership and mentorship, most of our funding comes from government programs. We also receive some funding from our partners, patrons and sponsors in the community. This allows us to continue providing great services to #OKGNtech without a big price tag.

What areas does Accelerate Okanagan support?

Accelerate Okanagan supports communities from Osoyoos to Salmon Arm. We just opened up a new innovation centre in Vernon!

I’m new to tech/the Okanagan, how can I plug into the tech community?

There are lots of ways to get connected with the Okanagan’s tech community, but networking with members can be the best opportunity. Take a look at our events page to see if anything catches your interest. You’re bound to meet some cool people!

Okay, but what does Accelerate Okanagan do?

TL;DR: Anything we can to support entrepreneurs. Whether it’s connecting them with mentors, coaching, services, partners, or whatever else an entrepreneur may need, chances are we have something to offer.

Can I use Accelerate Okanagan’s lounge?

Our lounge is open for AO members and tenants to use during our operating hours of 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

What about the coffee? Can I have some of it? It smells good.

Unfortunately, our coffee is for members and OKGNworks tenants. You can sign up for membership (there are more perks than just coffee, we promise) or there is a Blenz coffee shop located on the first floor of the Innovation Centre.

How do I know which program I should apply to?

You don’t have to! If you’re not sure which program is the right fit for where you and your company are, our team can help find the program that’s just right. Apply using our general program application and we’ll figure it out together.

Am I tech enough?

Probably! At Accelerate Okanagan we believe every company can be a tech company. We’re happy to talk more about your business and how Accelerate Okanagan can find the right support you need..

I don’t think I’m ready to join a program just yet…

When joining a mentorship program, it is important to be committed to the process. There are lots of ways to get involved in the #OKGNtech community, connect with our team to find the fit for you.

The times required by the programs are too demanding

We can definitely understand how busy life can get. But, if you can’t dedicate the time towards yourself and your business, how are you going to improve! As the old adage goes: work smart not hard.

I don’t want to have a mentor, they’ll criticize my business

They probably will. But, they’re only sharing recommendations and advice that they see would make drastic improvements to the sustainability of your business! The mentor-founder relationship is one of trust and empathy. Our mentors have all been entrepreneurs, and they’ve all received mentorship throughout their careers. They understand the journey you’re going through and want to make the experience as pleasant and uplifting as possible. They want you to succeed, after all!

Plug into the Okanagan's tech community with Accelerate Okanagan's membership.

Join Us