News
February 5, 2020
Burlington Economic Development Wins International fDi Strategy Award for Start-up and SME Support
Burlington, ON, February 5, 2020 – Burlington Economic Development Wins International fDi Strategy Award for Start-up and SME Support
TechPlace has earned international recognition from Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) Magazine, a product of the Financial Times that is popular among investment promotion and economic development professionals.
TechPlace is 100% led by Burlington Economic Development and is at the heart of their innovation and entrepreneurship strategy. Launched in 2017, TechPlace is a popular destination for new and growing technology companies in the region. The 8,600 square foot innovation centre offers access to space, programming, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
TechPlace is anchored by two co-location partners: Haltech, Halton’s Regional Innovation Centre, and Angel One Investor Network. TechPlace also operates its LaunchPad Program which supports companies gearing up for growth. Residents that are accepted into the program are provided with unlimited access to the space, as well as have their own exclusive office space where they can focus on growing their team, connecting into a community of like-minded peers and mentors, and have opportunities to network with angel investors and community leaders. In only two and a half years, the LaunchPad Program has supported nineteen companies; twelve have graduated and seven are currently in residence. Run parallel to the TechPlace LaunchPad Program is Burlington Economic Development’s Soft-Landing Program, which provides companies with all the benefits of the LaunchPad Program as well as additional support to expand their business into Canada. So far, TechPlace has welcomed companies from Finland and Honduras, and are expecting several more to land in 2020.
Anita Cassidy, Executive Director at Burlington Economic Development, is thrilled to receive this award. “TechPlace has grown tremendously since its launch in June 2017, and the number of startups we support continues to increase. We are proud to say that TechPlace has welcomed more than 14,000 innovators through our doors and have had more than 290 events held in the space. We will continue to collaborate with our partners and think outside the box to deliver premium space and programming options to new and growing technology companies. Our Soft-Landing Program will be a focus for us in 2020 and we look forward to helping more companies expand into Canada and grow their business.” She continued, “we would like to sincerely thank fDi Magazine for this recognition and would like to also recognize the support of Haltech and Angel One, since TechPlace would not be where it is today without their commitment to supporting technology and innovation in our community.”
About Burlington Economic Development
Burlington Economic Development has a mandate to enhance the growth prospects of existing companies and bring new high-value firms to the community. Burlington Economic Development’s focus is on growing the economic base to sustain Burlington’s competitive and prosperous community. Burlington Economic Development is the first point of contact for companies looking to expand, start-up or locate in Burlington.
About TechPlace
TechPlace is a one-stop destination for new and growing technology companies. With the support of partners from across the public and private sectors, it is dedicated to connecting, developing, and advancing entrepreneurs at all stages. This means providing access to space, programming, mentorship, networking, and resources that are fundamental to growing a business in today’s technology-driven marketplace. Led by Burlington Economic Development, TechPlace exists to help technology, talent and ideas come together under one roof to create and promote opportunities for economic growth.