Tech entrepreneurs become clients of the Innovation Cluster to access expert guidance, industry connections, and resources essential for their success.
Fresh off the heels of the non-profit organization’s rebrand, the Innovation Cluster is offering eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to dedicated business mentors, coaching sessions with more than 30 experts in residence, unlimited workshops, discounts on bootcamps and masterclasses, meeting space, and more.
Priced at $200 per month, the client package delivers a $2,000 per month value.
To be eligible, innovative businesses must be based in Eastern Ontario and working in specific industries (cleantech, agritech, health or medical tech, nuclear, or digital tech), have a minimum viable product (MVP) ready or in market, and have a business plan in place.
“People think launching the MVP is the challenging part of the business, but it’s actually everything that comes after,” says Innovation Cluster program lead Zahra Shafiei. “While entrepreneurs have lots of good ideas, they need to know what the next step for them is and that’s where we can help.”
Clients are paired with a seasoned expert business advisor based on their industry, with whom the businesses can schedule up to two meetings per month.
“This knowledge is not coming from books — as the advisors have worked in SMEs, they’re going to share the knowledge and expertise they have gained from real-life experience,” Shafiei says. “And it’s not you and your team going to the advisor with a couple of questions when you have a problem — it’s going to be you working through the problems with your mentor and achieving the milestones together.”
Along with a dedicated business advisor, Innovation Cluster clients can also draw upon more than 30 experts in residence from across the country with knowledge and experience in intellectual property, finance, product development, marketing, and more. Clients can meet with one expert of their choosing per month, with additional sessions available.
“This roster of experts has been built to serve SME tech businesses that are ready to scale,” says Innovation Cluster marketing director Loretta Eldridge.
“They’re all experienced and nothing is new to them, as they’ve been through that growth themselves. It’s this perfect collaboration and ecosystem for companies that are dealing with all these things for the first time. It’s so much easier to deal with a problem when you’re learning from someone who’s already been through it.”
“On average, in 45 days, we start to see significant change with our clients moving forward in their business,” adds Innovation Cluster program lead Zahra Shafiei. “Our partners can help a client find a site for testing their prototype in a real-life situation, or make referrals for a client.”
This was the case for Andrew Nokes, founder of Creativity by Code Inc., a custom software development company. With guidance from the Innovation Cluster, the Omemee-based entrepreneur has been developing ReziLink, a software as a service (SaaS) platform built in close collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Gateway North in Bracebridge.
Nokes first became involved with the Innovation Cluster when participating in the LevelUP business accelerator program in 2024, and has since continued on as an Innovation Cluster client.
“I had experience running a custom software business, but I didn’t have the skills or knowledge for a startup and that’s where the Innovation Cluster was crucial,” he says, noting he has gained support in critical areas for scaling like intellectual property, branding, and market validation. “All of these things were skills I didn’t even know I needed, but they served me to get things off the ground and it built a lot of confidence.”
Under the one-on-one mentorship of the Innovation Cluster, Nokes has received essential guidance from his business advisors. He has also been introduced to important financing opportunities, including a fund for developers that pays a portion of wages to hire additional staff and access $10,000 worth of Amazon Web Services credits.
“I could conduct my own research, but having someone who’s already been there and done this and knows exactly what I need builds confidence going in, so that I know I’m doing this properly,” he says.
Between the LevelUP program and continuing to access support as a client, Nokes says the Innovation Cluster has been “extremely valuable.”
“Without the Innovation Cluster, I certainly wouldn’t be this far along and this organized,” he says. “It’s nice to know that the Innovation Cluster is there when I need something.”
For Bowmanville-based entrepreneur Mark Trypuc, making connections in the cleantech industry was one of his main motivations for wanting to become an Innovation Cluster client. As the founder of SCHEG Corp, which has developed an innovative home generator powered by water, Tyrpuc is working with the Innovation Cluster to build his business network.
“The Innovation Cluster is focused on on-on-one development and I thought it would be a really good opportunity to see if they could help out and guide us to the next level,” he says. “Just having someone else to take a step back and say, ‘Maybe you should try this route’ is one benefit of working with them.”
As an Innovation Cluster client, Trypuc has made connections with countless industry experts, including academics at Fleming College, and those who have specific expertise in alternative energy.
“The Innovation Cluster has a huge network of people you can be introduced to — it puts you in the right direction a lot faster,” he explains.
“When you’re working with just one other person and you’re trying to develop something, and you’ve been at it for 18 or 20 months, it can sometimes feel like it’s just you. But when you start talking with resources at the Innovation Cluster who want you to succeed and who see real value in what you’re doing, it gives you a bit of a breath of fresh air and pumps up your tires a little more.”
According to Innovation Cluster marketing director Loretta Eldridge, the services offered by the Innovation Cluster are filling a gap for early-stage small and medium-sized tech businesses that can have a “huge impact” on the economy in Peterborough and the Kawarthas as well as in Ontario and Canada.
“It’s about finding companies within our region and helping them to grow roots here, create jobs here, and help all of us in the region have a better future,” she points out. “It grows exponentially from there.”
For more information on becoming an Innovation Cluster client and scaling your tech business faster, visit innovationcluster.ca/become-a-client.
PDF: Become a Client of the Innovation Cluster
Become a Client of the Innovation Cluster
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
