York Region strikes $1M partnership with York U, Treefrog for international and women entrepreneurs

Project JumpStart is a partnership between York University’s YSpace, the Schulich School of Business’s office of innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Treefrog Accelerator.

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 16, 2024

York University and the Treefrog Accelerator have partnered with York Region to give businesses led by international talent and women entrepreneurs a jump-start in York Region with funding of more than $1 million.

York regional council has committed $1.08 million from the Innovation Investment Fund over three years for Project Jumpstart to continue strengthening the business economy, with a focus on international and women-led tech entrepreneurs.

“Economic vitality remains a strategic priority for York regional council and it is integral our local businesses have resources to help them succeed,” York Region chair and CEO Wayne Emmerson said in a news release. “Additional funding provided through York Region’s Innovation Fund will empower growing businesses, attract international entrepreneurs and support foreign direct investment, strengthening York Region as a thriving hub for talent and opportunity.”

Project Jumpstart is a partnership between York University’s YSpace, the Schulich School of Business’s office of innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Treefrog Accelerator. The towns of East Gwillimbury, Georgina and Newmarket are also collaborators.

“This initiative builds on York University’s long-standing partnership with York Region to combine skills, knowledge and resources to support and bring new small businesses, innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers as well as economic prosperity to the region,” said Rhonda Lenton, York University president and vice-chancellor. “With just over 17 per cent of Canadian businesses owned by women in the private sector, Jumpstart will bring much needed support for women entrepreneurs, help reduce the notable gender disparities in Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and help to attract international entrepreneurs to choose York Region.”

Project Jumpstart will leverage the funding to expand York University’s YSpace ELLA Program and Treefrog Inc.’s Accelerator Program, to achieve the following:

• Increase local employment and economic growth by attracting new innovation and tech-centric businesses to establish operations in York Region.
• Promote equity and diversity in entrepreneurship by supporting international and female-founders to settle locally.
• Expand business and entrepreneurship guidance, resources and increase innovation support capacity for the northern six municipalities, a historically underserved area of York Region, operating out of hubs at the Treefrog Accelerator, YSpace Georgina and YSpace Markham

• Continued focus on foreign direct investment and soft-landing for technology businesses and entrepreneurs.

Participants will have access to workshops and mentorship opportunities as well as the potential for specialized training through the Schulich Venture Academy, in addition to insights from Schulich-prepared market readiness reports that will help ease the transition into the region. Women in particular can tap into networking and collaboration opportunities.

YSpace is a pan-York University innovation hub that supports startups and entrepreneurs with some 784 technology, food and beverage, women-led and Black-led ventures supported. YSpace businesses have generated $205 million in revenue, created 1,302 jobs and 1,092 work integrated opportunities since 2018.

Accelerate Newmarket is a consortium of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, Schulich School of Business, YSpace and Treefrog Inc. Through this partnership from 2021 to 2023, the Treefrog Accelerator has supported 370 ventures that have collectively raised more than $30 million.