In the 2nd episode of our second season, we’re sitting down with Romaine Redman, EOIC’s Community Development Manager, to hear how they are helping bring innovation to the Eastern Ontario Corridor by providing growth-focused programming, skill development, access to talent, industry experts and capital in order to establish new market pathways.

In this episode, we sit down with Spark Centre client and Fitsentive Founder, Zack Magerman to talk about his fitness app and the government-funded ElevateIP program. Fitsentive is a completely free fitness app that features hundreds of engaging, high quality workouts led by experts who are guaranteed certified instructors. Their workouts enable you to exercise anytime, anywhere you want with no costly equipment or gyms needed! Zack took advantage of ElevateIP - a comprehensive, government-funded program meticulously crafted to empower startups in Eastern Ontario by enhancing their Intellectual Property (IP) knowledge, fostering strategic development, and facilitating the creation of valuable IP assets. In collaboration with key industry players such as Invest Ottawa, Launch Lab, Spark Centre, Communitech, and ISED, ElevateIP offers a three-tiered approach to address the unique needs of startups in the region.

In our 6th episode, we’re sitting down with Nova Oliphant, Director of Business Development – International Markets with Synergy Lab to hear how the incredible success of the Pioneer Program led to the launch of Synergy Lab and its market entry services that’s been driving business growth in Canada for more than 500 international entrepreneurs today. We’re also chatting with Palette Skills about how they connect Canada’s most innovative companies with the talent they need to grow.

Partner Spotlight: PARO’s Kayla Soomer and Penny Tremblay talk support for women entrepreneurs and workplace relationships. Entrepreneurship and workplace relationships go hand-in-hand. In our 5th episode, we’re chatting with PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise about the myriad of business support they provide to women entrepreneurs living in Ontario! We’re also speaking with Penny Tremblay, Workplace Relationships Expert, about how her Sandbox System provides a playful approach to Relationship Management and Conflict Resolution in the Workplace!

What does the CEO of Launch Lab and the Director of Client Services and Operations at Spark Centre have in common? They both drive business growth. Join us as host Gina Phillips chats with Scott Runté and Michelle Shurland-Jadoo about how Spark Centre and Launch Lab work together to deliver growth-generating services for businesses. We’re also getting the inside scoop on how Spark Centre has recently launched Amplify, a program created by Launch Lab.

Everyone is talking about EV technology, from the media to politicians to that neighbour with the Tesla. We’re revved up for our in-depth chat with the Durham Regional Technology Development Site (Durham RTDS), who are accelerating innovation in EV and smart mobility. Two core partners of Durham RTDS — Spark Centre’s President and CEO, Sherry Colbourne, and Manager of Applied Research Business Development with Durham College, Chris Gillis — discuss the pace of electrification in Ontario and why startups and SMEs have been turning to Durham RTDS.

In our second episode, we’re talking to Joel Nascimento, founder of Kevares Autonomous Services about how his robots that are helping municipalities tackle repetitive or hazardous tasks while reducing carbon footprint and his journey from first meeting Spark Centre under the sunny skies of Brazil to conducting his first paid pilot with the City of Oshawa just two years later. Next, we’re chatting with Neil Weitzman, Chief Growth Officer for Spark Centre, who started his career in various sales and marketing leadership roles and now serves as a fractional chief revenue officer helping startups and emerging companies to help them grow their business. Listen in as Neil chats about why “growth” isn’t just about revenue, Spark Centre’s unique growth trajectory and how Kevares is a testament to the difference that Spark Centre is making in the innovation ecosystem.

Our first episode features Spark Centre’s very own President and CEO, Sherry Colbourne! Sherry’s decades of experience as an entrepreneur in Ontario’s high-tech sector have taken her to the far corners of the world, building strategic business relationships. Today, Sherry guides the direction and growth of Spark Centre and advocates for an international approach to the development of Durham Region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Listen in as Sherry discusses how Spark Centre got started and where it’s headed next, why entrepreneurs are choosing Durham to launch innovation, and how Spark Centre advocates for an international approach to the development of Durham Region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.