INTRODUCTION

Wavefront is the commercialization centre accelerating the growth and success of wireless companies in Canada. In partnership with BCIC, Wavefront is pleased to announce its second annual Entrepreneurship@Wavefront program.  A 12-month program, entrepreneurship@Wavefront is designed to support and nurture early-stage B.C. wireless companies from product concept to market entry. After a successful pilot, the accelerator program is expanding to support 12 companies this year and will be working closely with the BC Regional Science and Technology Council to increase accessibility of the program for participants outside the Lower Mainland.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Wireless companies participating in the Entrepreneurship@Wavefront program not only receive one-year access to office space in Wavefront’s collaborative, downtown wireless accelerator centre, but they also receive a $10,000 credit that can be used on Wavefront’s expert, wireless-focused advisory, training, and testing services, sales and marketing coaching, and connections to key industry contacts. Take advantage of the opportunity to have easy onsite access to a suite of services and shared resources designed to help start-up wireless companies reduce time-to-market and accelerate time-to-revenue.

Successful applicants will also benefit from BCIC’s Mentor Program, a network of seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts who provide entrepreneurs with support that is critical for growing a successful company.

Read more about the application process so that you can apply to participate in this coveted program.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

• Accelerated time-to-market and time-to-revenue with your wireless technology concept
• Capital efficiency with access to Wavefront’s shared test resources
• Fostered company growth and global expansion strategy
• Mentorship from Wavefront and its network of partners

FEATURES

Incubation Space

• Dedicated cube space and downtown mailing address in Wavefront’s Vancouver office
• Furniture, locking cabinets, phone and local calling
• High speed internet
  
• 1 hour of boardroom time per month
• Full kitchen facilities
• Access to printer, scanner, copier

Business and Technical Advisory Services

Utilizing experienced wireless players, Wavefront will assess, advise and refine the participant company's business and technical strategies. These sounding board sessions will be conducted by Wavefront in-house experts or by professionals drawn from Wavefront’s trusted partner network.

The program’s advisory services will:

• Assist with market research and competitive analysis
• Provide support and direction on business strategy, sales, marketing, technical planning and QA testing.
• Leverage existing relationships and knowledge to accelerate business development and gain early traction in Canada, the U.S. and other international markets.
• Determine actions for market entry including channels to market, partnership opportunities, key influencers, decision makers, demand drivers
  
• Include technology validations and assessments to help optimize the technical strategy.

Test Services

Technical development and preparation would be facilitated through the services and capabilities of Wavefront’s world class wireless resources.

Program participants have access to:

• A handset library of over 300 mobile devices
• Professional usability lab and services for product evaluation
• Live European 2G/3G network via Orange Development Centre in Vancouver
• Ericsson’s carrier-grade network test facility
• Power measurement testing equipment
• RF Shielded Boxes
• Perfecto Mobile remote handset testing
  
• Anritsu Network Simulator
• Anritsu Radio Communication Analyzer
• M2M Development Lab (launching commercially in Q4)
  

Education and Training

Wavefront conducts over a dozen training seminars each year, with topics covering both the business and technical aspects of the wireless industry. Participants of the Entrepreneurship@Wavefront program are guaranteed a spot at these WaveGuide training events and urged to participate in partner training events offered by BCIC, BCTIA, VEF, DigiBC and ACETECH.

ELIGIBILITY

The Entrepreneurship@Wavefront program is open to applicants who meet the following criteria:

• B.C. based technology company with wireless focus
• Pre-commercial/concept stage
• If not incorporated, must incorporate within 30 days of entry into the program
• If incorporated already, must be privately held and incorporated for less than one year
  
• Raised less than $250,000 of investment

Participants will plan their commercialization actions with Wavefront and will report their progress on a quarterly basis.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Deadline is now over.
• See which winning participant companies were chosen in:  [2011]  |  [2010]