Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative Empowers Transformation and Change

Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative Empowers Transformation and Change

Fulbright Canada partners with Alacrity Canada and Startup Science to address global challenges and redefine entrepreneurial support

Ottawa, ON, February 6, 2024 – In a landmark expansion of its commitment to fostering global progress, Fulbright Canada proudly announces the launch of the Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative, a visionary program designed to harness the transformative power of entrepreneurship in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change, ecological and social sustainability, and economic parity. Delivered in partnership with Alacrity Canada and Startup Science, program participants will benefit from the well-established range of startup acceleration support offered by Alacrity and a fully scalable online program designed by Startup Science – to guide their entrepreneurial journey as they graduate and take steps to launch ventures and commercialize technologies.

“We recognize that entrepreneurship is a pivotal force in driving positive change and empowering individuals and their communities,” said Dr. Michael Hawes, President and CEO of Fulbright Canada. “The Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative is grounded in the belief that entrepreneurs play a crucial role in overcoming unprecedented global challenges. By equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and mentorship needed to succeed, we’re changing lives and creating a ripple effect of positive change, impacting individuals, communities, and economies worldwide.”

Partnership with Alacrity and Startup Science to Accelerate New Ventures

In a strategic collaboration, Fulbright Canada has selected Alacrity Canada and Startup Science as partners to deliver on this ambitious initiative. 

Alacrity, through its engaged team of builders and network of seasoned mentors, helps tech founders realize their vision from idea to commercialization while guiding solutions to meet the needs of corporations and industry. Since 2009, Alacrity has improved entrepreneurial success rates with its supportive grants and programs, driving economic growth for more than 10,500 businesses.  

Startup Science’s Gravity Platform is a ground-breaking web-based entrepreneur support system that offers a comprehensive and immersive learning experience, blending theory with practical, real-world applications. This platform lets startup founders learn – and do – while building their business. 

The unprecedented combination of traditional startup acceleration and commercialization resources, along with a fully scalable online support program, provides participants with the best of both worlds, paving the way for faster growth and expansion. This partnership is poised to redefine entrepreneurial support, making it more accessible and impactful than ever before.

A Testbed for Innovation and Commercialization

The initiative’s pilot phase, under Fulbright Canada’s leadership, will serve as the foundation for this innovative approach. Participants will gain invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial process, learn from industry leaders, and connect with the global Fulbright network of like-minded individuals and mentors. Alacrity and Startup Science will ensure that support to participating entrepreneurs continues well beyond their Fulbright Canada participation. From access to resources and mentorship as participants look to launch their own ventures, to the identification and introduction to commercial opportunities, we are creating opportunity and increasing the likelihood of success and long-term impact.

A Step Toward a Brighter Future

The Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative is more than an educational program; it is a testament to Fulbright Canada’s unwavering dedication to improving the world through education, innovation, access, inclusion and opportunity. As we embark on this exciting journey, we invite visionaries, change-makers, aspiring entrepreneurs – and those who want to support them – to join us in shaping a better tomorrow.

The Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative will officially pilot in Canada and the United States in the Spring of 2024. Learn more about the Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative: https://www.fulbright.ca/programs/entrepreneurship-initiative.

About Fulbright Canada:

Fulbright Canada is a bi-national, treaty-based, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization with a mandate to identify excellence and engage people in international educational and academic exchange in Canada and the United States of America. Fulbright Canada is firmly committed to elevating the value of education, specifically learning abroad, collaborative research, and the importance of fostering mutual cross-cultural understanding for the people, communities, and networks engaging with our programs. 

With the launch of the Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative, Fulbright Canada continues to evolve, bridging borders and minds to pursue a more prosperous and harmonious global community. www.fulbright.ca

About Alacrity Canada:

Alacrity is a leading organization in the technology ecosystem that enables founders with innovative business ideas and connects a network of successful serial entrepreneurs with business leaders. Alacrity’s commitment to a sustainable customer-led funding model is supported by its dynamic impactful programs that cater to real-time business needs and are informed by local and global technology and business landscapes. With offices in 10 cities worldwide and in partnership with Wesley Clover, Alacrity offers entrepreneurs a platform to commercialize their products and attract investment for growth. www.alacritycanada.com

About Startup Science:

Startup Science is a ground-breaking web-based entrepreneur support system that offers a comprehensive and immersive learning experience, blending theory with practical, real-world applications, that lets startup founders learn – and do – while building their business. www.startupscience.io

Media Contacts:

Laura Stipic

Public Affairs Officer and Diversity Lead Fulbright Canada lstipic@fulbright.ca

Lola Camp

Marketing Manager Alacrity Canada lcamp@alacritycanada.com