Next Founders program will equip entrepreneurs to scale their promising ventures
TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Today NEXT Canada, a national non-profit delivering programs to accelerate the growth of high-potential innovators, announced that it has opened applications for the 2018 Next Founders program, which will welcome up to 20 founders of high-growth ventures beginning in May 2018. Building on a proven founder development model, Next Founders provides a select group of entrepreneurs with tailored education, access to funding and a network of influential Canadian entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders that will enable them to further scale their businesses. Eligible companies will also have access to $30,000 of non-dilutive funding.
Since launching in 2010, NEXT Canada ventures have created over 1,300 jobs in Canada. Next Founders alumni ventures include Nymi, which has raised more than $32 million for its biometric wristband that authenticates the wearer using their heartbeat; inkbox, whose semi-permanent tattoos have inked customers in 154 countries; Blue J Legal, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help lawyers predict the outcome of lawsuits; and Sampler, a SaaS platform to help marketers manage online promotions.
"Next Founders seeks out the country's most talented entrepreneurs and helps them build upon their initial successes," said Sheldon Levy, CEO of NEXT Canada. "Next Founders helps them take their ventures to a new level by providing them with the tools they need to grow, and with the confidence that they can scale their company here in Canada."
The Next Founders program includes interactive sessions delivered by successful Canadian entrepreneurs in conjunction with masters-level courses taught by North America's top faculty from schools including Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, Harvard Business School, and MIT.
After a Founder Immersion Week in early-May, participants are able to opt-in to flexible summer programming that fits their hectic schedules. Next Founders allows participants with offices outside Toronto to customize their programming and travel to the city as their schedules allow.
In addition to recruitment events in partnership with Communitech, Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), and DMZ, NEXT Canada will be offering office hours (in-person and online) to interested applicants. The organization and several of its alumni will also be hosting a Twitter Talk on March 1 and a Facebook Live application webinar on March 13.
Individual founder applications will be accepted online until March 20th.
Entrepreneurs can apply to Next Founders at www.nextfounders.ca
About Next Founders
Next Founders is a program that accelerates the growth of Canada's most promising entrepreneurs by providing mentorship, access to capital, and unparalleled founder development. It is one of three programs delivered by NEXT Canada, which launched in 2010 and is now supported nationally by over 300 entrepreneurs and business leaders.
About NEXT Canada
NEXT Canada is an non-profit organization with a focus on increasing national prosperity through innovation and entrepreneurship. NEXT Canada was formerly known as The Next 36, a program founded in 2010 by a group of business leaders and academics. NEXT Canada delivers three programs, Next Founders, NextAI and Next 36.
NEXT Canada's philosophy is to invest resources on exceptional individuals. With a strong belief in founder development, NEXT Canada uses a blend of mentorship, education and networking that inspires driven Canadians to disrupt industries and build globally relevant companies. NEXT Canada is supported by generous National Partners including, EY, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, and Power Corp.
For more information, please visit: www.nextfounders.ca and www.nextcanada.com
SOURCE Next Canada
Jon French, Director, Marketing & Communications, [email protected], 647-259-8943
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