UBC Okanagan Expands Entrepreneurial Training

April 19, 2023

To date, more than 250 innovators, risk-takers and problem-solvers have developed their entrepreneurial skills through the e@UBCO program. Through this “dedicated incubator,” UBCO students, faculty, staff and alumni learn how to test their startup ideas, build connections and develop the skills needed to create successful ventures.

Sandra Spencer joined UBCO in mid-2022 as Innovation Manager to help take e@UBCO to a new level. Spencer worked in the innovation environment for over 10 years in Alberta and BC. She is past Senior Innovation Advisor with Innovation Canada, and has operated her own consultancy for several years, working directly with startups on raising capital, commercialization and business modelling.

One of the e@UBCO foundational courses is eDiscovery, a five-part workshop series combined with self-directed online training provided by Impact Toolbox. Delivered in partnership with Accelerate Okanagan which focuses on technology driven ventures, eDiscovery helps individuals develop entrepreneurial thinking, whether or not they plan to launch a new business.

Another core program, Mentor2Market provides access to resources that help participants build and validate their concepts by working in teams with experienced mentors. Over 65 hours of mentoring will be provided by 20 mentors in the community during the current 2023 cohort.

New Programming Focuses on Experiential Learning

In 2022, e@UBCO applied to the Economic Trust of Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) for funding to expand its already successful program. The project was a good fit with ETSI-BC and its strategic pillars, including Supporting Business Resilience and Growth, and Developing Human Capital. The ETSI-BC funding has enabled e@UBCO to tweak its existing programming and introduce more experiential, hands-on training. Experiential learning helps to develop an entrepreneurial mindset by bridging the gap between theory learned in the classroom and active participation.

The Geminator for example, is a series of meetups where participants explore ideas about commercialization, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship (when employees innovate within a business or organization). The e@UBCO Venture Spotlight and Social, first held in November 2022 and again this past March, brings together e@UBCO students, community members and mentors to network while showcasing projects that have evolved out of the Mentor2Market program.

The program also piloted its Startup Sprint event in January, a hands-on weekend that walks participants through the steps and tools of starting a company.. The 3 day program is a “living lab on campus” says Spencer, where participants are supported by a broad range of disciplines and backgrounds from first year students to PhDs. They learn to collaborate and brainstorm, and develop leadership and decision-making skills under intense time constraints. The January workshop received 80 applicants and was delivered at full capacity to 30 people.

Community Outreach Grows

“The last several months have been a transition stage as we created, marketed and delivered new training options and monitored their value to aspiring entrepreneurs,” says Spencer. Two new staff have been hired to support the growing program: Kayla Cartlidge, e@UBCO Program Manager, and a Community Coordinator set to start in April 2023. Entrepreneur in Residence, Ty Summach is on the e@UBCO team part-time.

“We are exploring ways of incorporating entrepreneurial content into other UBCO programs and with clubs and organizations that also promote entrepreneurial development,” adds Spencer. Speaker events have also been held to engage more women in entrepreneurship.

“Entrepreneurs drive the development of new products and services, creating jobs and accelerating economic growth in a region,” points out Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “The Trust is proud to support e@UBCO in providing timely, relevant training for our future entrepreneurs.”

More News & Stories

Grow and connect Interior Bolsters Access to Local Food Across the Region

November 21, 2024 – ETSI-BC is delighted to announce new developments in the Grow and Connect Food Supply Chain initiative serving BC’s Southern Interior. As a funding partner, we’re helping local farmers and producers overcome transportation costs and other barriers to get their products into regional stores and restaurants, making local food more accessible throughout the Interior.

Oliver’s Station Street Plaza Plan Drives Downtown Revitalization

The Town of Oliver is advancing its downtown revitalization efforts with an updated Station Street Plaza Plan. The project aims to transform underutilized land into a mixed-use area with housing and businesses. This initiative, part of a broader economic development strategy, seeks to create a vibrant community hub and attract new residents and businesses to the town center. The project was supported during FY2024 with funding from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).

District of Elkford Puts New Economic Development Strategy into Action

From its beginnings as a mining town in the early 1970s on the eastern edge of the Kootenays, Elkford is now home to diverse businesses, adventure tourism and a high quality of life. To manage the area’s growth and to develop emerging sectors, the District of Elkford recently created an Economic Development Strategy that builds on years of community planning and research. The ambitious project, carried out with support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), is already having positive impacts and will serve the community for years to come.

Mitacs Research Projects Receive Extra Support from ETSI-BC

The Economic Trust of Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is delighted to announce the nine successful grant recipients that will receive funding in 2024 through our funding partnership with Mitacs. These grants support collaborative research initiatives that help solve local issues while also encouraging collaboration between the region’s public post-secondary institutions and our businesses and local governments.

A New Independent Development Corporation Signals Major Growth for Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

With a new economic development structure and brand, the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (formerly the Kamloops Indian Band) is changing the economic landscape of its 1,700-member community. An outcome from the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (TteS) strategic plan is the creation of Sc.wén̓wen Economic Development Corporation, which increases the band’s capacity to pursue and support more diverse, larger scale projects. This increased capacity is being marketed through a new branding campaign, created with support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).

Peachland Pursues Downtown Revitalization to Keep Pace with Growth

After years of record development and building activity, the Okanagan community of Peachland is nearing completion of a Downtown Redevelopment Implementation Strategy. The plan, to be completed this fall, will reinvigorate the downtown area, preserving what residents value most while optimizing available land for its highest and best use. The project is supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).

Golden Harnesses the Economic Impact of Mountain Biking

Residents and visitors to Golden know that the Kootenay town has some of the best mountain biking anywhere, from adrenaline-pumping descents to adaptive cycling and family-friendly rides. More than 180 kms of cross-country riding trails are enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the Golden Cycling Club in conducting an economic impact study that reveals significant opportunities to grow the sector and add to the area’s tourism assets.

Proposed North Okanagan Community Health Clinic To Address Critical Physician Shortage

An estimated 25,000 people in the North Okanagan are without a Primary Care Physician. To address this challenge, Community Futures North Okanagan took the lead on developing a business case for a Community Health Clinic to attract physicians. The grassroots, community-run project is expected to connect over 6,000 residents with a family doctor, while providing important economic benefits to the region. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the business plan through its Building Economic Development Capacity funding stream.

Ramping Up the Kootenay Film Industry

Film producers have been coming to the Kootenays for years to capture the area’s diverse natural beauty and rural culture as the backdrop for productions. To fully harness the economic opportunities associated with a robust filming environment, Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK) conducted a feasibility study to explore the challenges and opportunities around growing the sector. The project, supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) shows that with the right infrastructure in place, including a local film studio, significantly more filming can be attracted to the region.

Expanding Tourism Options in the Columbia Valley

During the pandemic, the Lakeshore Resort and Campground in the Columbia Valley, which is owned by the Akisqnuk First Nation (AFN), had to close. Since then, a plan was needed to return this important tourism asset for the region and make it a stronger, more sustainable business and tourism contributor. In 2023, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported a feasibility study to explore the best way to do this. The study led to a partial opening of the campsite in 2024, and economic benefits are already being realized through infrastructure improvements, new services, and exciting cultural experiences.