July 15, 2010

Wavefront partners with BCIC to launch entrepreneurship acceleration program for eight B.C. wireless startups

Entrepreneurship@Wavefront provides one year access to office space, mentoring and Wavefront’s business and technical advisory and testing services

VANCOUVER, B.C – Wavefront, the community-based commercialization centre supporting the growth of Canada’s wireless and new media development companies, has launched Entrepreneurship@Wavefront. This new program, in partnership with BCIC, will support and nurture up to eight early-stage B.C. wireless companies from concept to commercialization over 12 months. Applications for the program are available online at www.wavefrontac.com/entrepreneurship-at-wavefront. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, July 21 at 11:59 p.m. The participants of Entrepreneurship@Wavefront will be announced August 4, 2010.

Selected wireless companies will receive office space in Wavefront’s collaborative wireless incubator environment for one year and access to Wavefront’s advisory and testing services including its handset library, usability services, refinement of business development strategies and industry connections.

“This program is designed to turn innovative ideas into emerging wireless companies by providing easy, onsite access to a suite of advisory and testing services and facilitated market linkages that will reduce time-to-market and accelerate time-to-revenue,” said James Maynard, President at Wavefront. “In addition, program participants will also benefit from BCIC’s support network of seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts who can provide the mentorship helpful in growing a successful company.”

”Entrepreneurship@Wavefront is an incredible opportunity for startups in the wireless and digital media space to take their company to the next level, ultimately, accelerating their time to market,” said Dean Rockwell, CEO of BCIC. “BCIC created the Entrepreneurship@ program to address the need for the creation and launch of new, sustainable technology companies in BC. The incubator program, already launched at both UVic and UBC, is an excellent example of how BCIC partners with industry and academia to strengthen our position in today’s rapidly growing knowledge economy to make BC a better place to live, work, play and invest.”

Program Details:
To be eligible for the Entrepreneurship@Wavefront program, applicants must be a B.C.-based technology company with a wireless focus in the pre-commercial/concept stage, incorporated or able to incorporate upon entering the program.

The wide array of program benefits include:

• Dedicated space, phone and broadband internet access in Wavefront’s Vancouver office
• Business and technical advisory services such as sounding board sessions with in-house experts and trusted partners
• Assistance with market research and competitive analysis
• Support and direction on business strategy, sales, marketing, technical planning and QA testing
• Access to a handset library of more than 300 mobile devices
• Live European 2G/3G network via Orange Development Centre in Vancouver
• Global connections with key mobile ecosystem stakeholders

A full list of program features and benefits is available online at www.wavefrontac.com/entrepreneurship-at-wavefront.html.

Program participants will plan their commercialization actions with Wavefront and will report their progress on a quarterly basis. Companies will benefit from Wavefront’s focus on commercialization, its history of successful incubation of wireless technology companies, and its many partnerships with major Canadian and international telecom companies and industry organizations.

Wavefront is the community-based commercialization center for Canada’s wireless and new media development companies.  Wavefront improves speed-to-market and delivery of mobile applications and devices by providing emerging companies with a suite of WaveGuide™ training, mobile industry advisory, incubation and testing services that facilitate market linkages and commercial engagement with the mobile ecosystem and enterprise companies around the world. 

www.wavefrontac.com
www.twitter.com/WavefrontAC

About BCIC
BCIC develops entrepreneurial talent and commercializes technology through startup companies and partnerships between industry and academia. BCIC focuses on competitively positioning British Columbia in today's global knowledge economy in order to provide significant employment opportunities and a high standard of living for British Columbians. For more information about BCIC, visit www.bcic.ca.