Held on April 27-28, Discovery well exceeded previous attendee rates attracting 3,100 attendees and close to 500 exhibits. Highlights include an announcement by Premier Kathleen Wynne of a $25 million commitment to a Scale Up Ventures Fund to provide early-stage start-ups with early-stage capital, mentorship and market access. The Hon. Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, also announced a new Ontario Social Impact Vouchers pilot to help the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Pitch competitions have become an integral part of the Discovery experience. Every year, hundreds of students and start-ups compete for the right to pitch in a variety of sectors and age groups at Discovery.
OCE applauds the announcement of a new $20 million investment from the federal government in the Southern Ontario Smart Computing Innovation Platform (SOSCIP) consortium to add new areas of focus such as advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity to its research projects.
New virtual incubator will help Ontario start-ups access Chinese markets
Having direct business ties to the Chinese marketplace is more important than ever for Ontario start-ups seeking international presence. That makes a new partnership signed by OCE and the China Canada Angels Alliance (CCAA) a significant initiative.
