(Red Deer) On December 9, a group of eager presenters and stakeholders gathered to watch final ‘pitches’ from Catalyst Incubator learners and share their thoughts on the presentations.
The pitch process represents a culmination of the Catalyst Incubator program presented by Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network (CARIN) and sponsored by Community Futures Central Alberta.
The mission of CARIN is to assist entrepreneurs in Central Alberta and help technology and knowledge-based companies move from idea to export in a faster, more seamless way.
Now in its fourth year, the Catalyst Incubator is a unique, cohort-based program that focuses on supporting start-ups in manufacturing, agriculture, technology, energy innovation, and related sectors. The Catalyst Incubator is 100% funded by CARIN through Alberta Innovates and is free to attend for all selected entrepreneurs. During the 8-week cohort, each learner/entrepreneur receives over 50 hours of training from highly qualified mentors.
At the final event, 7 participants each gave 5 minute “pitches” where they provided background about their business idea, explained their product and (most importantly) why investors should support it. Stakeholders watched the pitches, asked questions and gave feedback following the presentations.
Catalyst participant Gergory Bundschoks commented, “Catalyst Incubator really moved me forward in terms of determining who my customers are and how to reach them. The wayfinding that Catalyst provides has saved me huge amounts of time and energy rather than figuring everything out on my own.”
Cathy Forner of C4ner Consulting - project manager for Catalyst Incubator remarked, “The Catalyst Incubator is really for early-stage entrepreneurs who want to discover what problem they are solving, and who their potential customers are.”
Since its inception, 5 cohorts of alumni have been through the program. A unique feature of the program is that mentors are specifically chosen based on the needs of the learners in the cohort. This allows the program to custom tailor its expert knowledge to issues being faced by the group. Many learners will go on to take their business to the market and turn it into a full-time pursuit.
Catalyst Incubator is currently looking for its next crop of would-be entrepreneurs interested in the customer discovery journey. Deadline to apply is January 13, 2024. Visit ca-rin.ca/catalyst-incubator for more information on Catalyst and other training resources for entrepreneurs.
