To progress meaningfully, the world needs bold, innovative thinkers. But for those great minds to truly succeed, they must have access to the tools and means necessary to achieve such greatness. This is why mentorship and incubator programs have become invaluable resources.
Doug Lynch started the EdTech Accelerator program in 2018 to help early-stage education technology companies accelerate their growth. The program focuses on assisting companies in developing practical solutions that address real problems in education.
Startup mentorship and incubation programs have long been great ways to assist young entrepreneurial minds in gaining insight, experience, and hands-on expertise to successfully launch their businesses.
Click the link to learn more about how mentorship programs benefit innovation
Scaling corporate ventures requires strategic collaboration with startups and the establishment of effective innovation structures.
By forging partnerships with startups, corporations can access innovative ideas, technologies, and talent pools that accelerate growth and drive competitiveness.
This is an interesting playbook developed by BCG, whether it's through strategic partnership or other forms of collaboration, companies and startups alike can leverage these insights to achieve sustainable growth and contribute to their collective financial and strategic goals.
#CorporateVentures#Innovation#Startups
📣 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 📣
With the success our inaugural cohort, ACVC is proud to announce the 2nd edition of our Mentorship Program! Taking place during the Winter academic semester, this 12-week program aims to foster the next generation of Asian-Canadian tech founders and venture capitalists through coaching and mentorship by current leaders in the industry. Applications for mentees are now open thru February 2nd for mentees in 3 regions: Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Application link here > https://lnkd.in/erNX-3SE.
Are you a current student who dreams of starting your own company one day? Or perhaps you want to lead a VC fund seeking the next great tech innovation? Not sure where to start? We have just the program for you!
While Asian-Canadians are well represented across leading educational institutions as well as in the junior ranks of many top tech and VC firms, there is vast under-representation in senior, executive and founding roles within the startup industry. Our discussions with ACVC members have also shown that individuals of Asian heritage are less likely to pursue roles in the startup industry, particularly founding their own company, as these paths are considered riskier than traditional careers.
To address this representation gap, we launched this program which focuses on mentoring Asian-Canadian students. By pairing aspiring student founders and VCs with business leaders in our community, we hope to instill in them the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead Canada’s tech startup industry.
If you have any questions regarding the program, or if you're interested in participating as a mentor, please reach out to us at info@ac-vc.ca.
Tl;dr
WHAT: ACVC Mentorship Program
WHO: Open to students (undergraduate or graduate) currently attending a Canadian university in MONTREAL, TORONTO or VANCOUVER from any program of study who are of Asian heritage.
WHEN: Applications open now thru Feb. 2, program will run 12-weeks beginning February.
HOW: APPLY HERE > https://lnkd.in/erNX-3SE
📣 New blog post alert! As we enter the back-to-school season, I’m reflecting on how lessons from my time as an #classroomeducator translate to #peopleleadership in startups. Read on to see how these principles can drive success in your organization (and for a fun #throwbackphoto from my teaching days)! ➡️
🌟 New article Alert! 🌟
We’re thrilled to announce that an article written by our Managing Partner, Victor Orlovski, titled, "Considerations For Venture Capitalists Exploring EdTech Investments," has been featured in Forbes!
In this insightful piece, Victor:
▪️ Explores the unique challenges and opportunities in EdTech investments.
▪️ Anticipates future trends in the industry.
▪️ Shares examples of real-life innovative companies offering individualized learning tools.
Unlock tips for navigating the EdTech scene by reading the full article below ⬇️
https://lnkd.in/gHwhr6hH#R136insights
How important is education for the success of your company?
Here are 5 interesting facts you should know👇
1️⃣Founders with a diverse (combination of different fields) and rich (deep specialization) educational background are more likely to achieve innovative breakthroughs
2️⃣Outstanding academic credentials help attract the best talent early on
3️⃣Startups led by CEOs with higher education, especially those with MBAs, have a stronger ability to attract funding
4️⃣Education does NOT influence venture longevity
5️⃣The best indicator for an exit is a founder’s prior exit, education being the second-best
Your education is a foundation, not just for innovation but for building the networks essential for your venture's growth. Embrace it, but also seek out diverse experiences and cultivate the soft skills and relationships that your academic environment offers.
More insights in today's episode of Data-driven VC🔥
https://lnkd.in/dgC-dSnN
Did you know that 61% of Americans feel K-12 schools aren’t adequately preparing students for the workplace? 📚🧑🏫
Yes, indeed! It’s widely believed that the U.S. education system has been long overdue for a makeover. In my latest article as a Forbes Business Council member, I delve into why it’s important to modernize education for better career preparation and how VC’s can contribute to this change.
#R136insights
🌟 New article Alert! 🌟
We’re thrilled to announce that an article written by our Managing Partner, Victor Orlovski, titled, "Considerations For Venture Capitalists Exploring EdTech Investments," has been featured in Forbes!
In this insightful piece, Victor:
▪️ Explores the unique challenges and opportunities in EdTech investments.
▪️ Anticipates future trends in the industry.
▪️ Shares examples of real-life innovative companies offering individualized learning tools.
Unlock tips for navigating the EdTech scene by reading the full article below ⬇️
https://lnkd.in/gHwhr6hH#R136insights
💡What is the best predictor for a founder's ability to produce an exit?💡
For this week's INSIGHTS Newsletter (#2), Dr. Andre Retterath and I dug through the scientific research on the impact of a founder's education on exit potential, attracting talent, and their ability to fundraise. Check it out on today's episode of Data-Driven VC!
👉 Do you have a unique data set? Are you researching a pertinent topic? Every two weeks, Andre and I dive into a curated aspect of start-up life. Reach out if you want to see something covered!
Partner at Earlybird Venture Capital | Author Data-Driven VC
How important is education for the success of your company?
Here are 5 interesting facts you should know👇
1️⃣Founders with a diverse (combination of different fields) and rich (deep specialization) educational background are more likely to achieve innovative breakthroughs
2️⃣Outstanding academic credentials help attract the best talent early on
3️⃣Startups led by CEOs with higher education, especially those with MBAs, have a stronger ability to attract funding
4️⃣Education does NOT influence venture longevity
5️⃣The best indicator for an exit is a founder’s prior exit, education being the second-best
Your education is a foundation, not just for innovation but for building the networks essential for your venture's growth. Embrace it, but also seek out diverse experiences and cultivate the soft skills and relationships that your academic environment offers.
More insights in today's episode of Data-driven VC🔥
https://lnkd.in/dgC-dSnN
Yes. And this article barely scratches the surface...
In 2014 TEDCO asked me to facilitate a new roundtable for EdTech Founders, and I had the pleasure of watching the growth and development of a whole host of fantastic companies doing important work for nearly a decade.
I sometimes wish that confidentiality wasn’t SUCH an important part of the work I do… because there are SO many good, important, stories I wish were mine to share.
SO many great EdTech companies have, and are, growing out of this region.
But as my mom always used to say … “it’s not my story to tell,” so you’ll just have to trust me on that.
Or… 👀🤔
join the group.
I say that 1/2 jokingly, as it wasn’t my original intent when I hit SHARE on this post, but on the off-chance that’s of any interest, I’ll elaborate below.
But it’s true… if you join,
Then YOU can hear the stories,
share your own,
while getting some deeply needed community & support as you grow your thing.
***********
Along the way, many of our EdTech folks were acquired, and as new ones joined TEDCO was considering adding a second group for all SaaS, so we decided to instead expand to include all SaaS founders.
TEDCO phased out the roundtables program in 2023, but the need for community & support for SaaS Founders was still there, so I re-launched the group earlier this year, and we are actively considering new members.
- SaaS Founders from any vertical are welcome.
- They no longer have to be Maryland-based.
- While founders of just about any stage are welcome, the do need to have moved beyond the idea stage to be a good fit. I haven’t set an exacting metric for this, but the group is best for folks who are grappling with navigating the various stages of execution.
- you can visit for free and check out if it’s for you.
- Bonus: as we re-launch, I’m tossing in some 1:1 support from me, which for the price point, is a steal. ☺️
Founder & CEO, Group 8 Security Solutions Inc. DBA Machine Learning Intelligence
2moGreat insights.