MaRS announces JOLT: New technology accelerator will combine creative design and business expertise to build growth companies
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:56:01 AM
MaRS announces JOLT: New technology accelerator will combine creative design and business expertise to build growth companies
Leading angel investors to fund initiative
TORONTO, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - MaRS today announced the creation of
JOLT, a new technology accelerator dedicated to building high-growth
web and mobile companies that promise to transform the way consumers
and enterprises connect, work and play.
Housed in the MaRS Commons, JOLT will select up to 15 high-potential startups annually, providing
them with space, seed financing and mentorship, as well as access to
partners and some of the top angel and venture capital investors in the
industry. The goal of the program is to accelerate market validation
and, in turn, help these companies secure the capital and talent
necessary to scale efficiently.
"Five years ago, MaRS set out to build a platform upon which the next
generation of technology companies could scale," said Dr. Ilse
Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District. "JOLT is a key component of
this platform, serving the needs of entrepreneurs in the exploding IT,
communications and entertainment space by giving them the tools,
capital and advice required for success, and fostering tomorrow's
growth economy."
To help support and guide startups to market entry, JOLT has attracted
more than 70 experienced entrepreneurs and executives from many of Canada's leading startups, and venture capital, technology
and entertainment companies, including: Polar Mobile, Spark59, Virgin
Gaming, Google, Zynga, Kobo, and more.
"We are very excited to act as a partner in JOLT," said JOLT investor
Jonathan Straus. "A mentor-based incubator enables entrepreneurs to
benefit from the experience of those who have been there before. This
guidance is invaluable in the challenging period of starting a business
and can mitigate some of the risk for early-stage investors."
JOLT is collaborating with a number of key partners who will actively
commit their time, expertise and services to help JOLT companies become
market leaders, including the CFC Media Lab, a unique training and creative production think-tank for emerging new
media developers; and JET Cooper, a leading user design and experience agency. By combining their
expertise in the creative arts and design with MaRS' business-building
experience, JOLT will be a unique Canadian technology accelerator.
The program has also partnered with The Working Group, a top web and mobile development shop in Toronto; Media Profile, one of Canada's most successful public relations firms; Global Accelerator Network, an international alliance of organizations that operate accelerator
programs, championed by TechStars; and Postmedia Network Inc., the largest publisher of English daily newspapers in Canada.
"Postmedia Network is proud to support innovation in the digital space
and help mentor the best and brightest on their path to future
success," said Paul Godfrey, President and CEO, Postmedia Network. "We
are pleased to work with MaRS Discovery District and JOLT to accelerate
great ideas in this country."
Susan McGill will act as the Executive Director of JOLT. A builder of technology
companies and brands, Sue has advised and been actively involved in
over 200 startups in the emerging technology space, with hands-on
experience at DWL (acquired by IBM), MySpace and JUICE Mobile. She has
also worked as an executive at RIM, Yahoo! and CanWest. "A focus on
creative, design and technology elements is critical to the success of
these emerging companies," said McGill. "Our partners' expertise in
these areas, coupled with the guidance of our influential and
experienced business mentors, will assist companies as they progress
through the JOLT program, helping them to define, grow and launch
disruptive, high-growth businesses."
JOLT will announce the call for applications shortly.
About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (http://www.marsdd.com) (Twitter: @MaRSDD) is a mission-driven innovation centre located in
Toronto. MaRS works with partners to catalyze, accelerate and amplify
innovation. MaRS supports entrepreneurs building Canada's next
generation of growth companies.
About JOLT
JOLT (http://www.joltco.ca) (Twitter: @joltco) is a Toronto-based startup accelerator dedicated to
building high-growth Canadian web and mobile companies focused on
startups in the IT, communications and entertainment industries. JOLT
offers these selected companies working space in the MaRS Commons, seed financing and mentorship, as well as access to seasoned partners
and some of the top angel and venture capital investors in the
industry. By combining the expertise of its numerous partners in the
creative arts, design and technology sectors with MaRS'
business-building experience, JOLT provides the selected companies with
business validation, streamlined market entry and a greater opportunity
for success.
About Postmedia Network Inc.
Postmedia Network Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Postmedia Network
Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B), is the largest publisher by
circulation of paid English-language daily newspapers in Canada,
representing some of the country's oldest and best known media brands.
Reaching millions of Canadians every week, Postmedia Network engages
readers and offers advertisers and marketers integrated solutions to
effectively reach target audiences through a variety of print, online,
digital and mobile platforms.
SOURCE MaRS Discovery District
MaRS Discovery District
CONTACT: Chris Stevenson
Director, Communications
(416) 673-8104
cstevenson@marsdd.com
Leading angel investors to fund initiative
TORONTO, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - MaRS today announced the creation of
JOLT, a new technology accelerator dedicated to building high-growth
web and mobile companies that promise to transform the way consumers
and enterprises connect, work and play.
Housed in the MaRS Commons, JOLT will select up to 15 high-potential startups annually, providing
them with space, seed financing and mentorship, as well as access to
partners and some of the top angel and venture capital investors in the
industry. The goal of the program is to accelerate market validation
and, in turn, help these companies secure the capital and talent
necessary to scale efficiently.
"Five years ago, MaRS set out to build a platform upon which the next
generation of technology companies could scale," said Dr. Ilse
Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District. "JOLT is a key component of
this platform, serving the needs of entrepreneurs in the exploding IT,
communications and entertainment space by giving them the tools,
capital and advice required for success, and fostering tomorrow's
growth economy."
To help support and guide startups to market entry, JOLT has attracted
more than 70 experienced entrepreneurs and executives from many of Canada's leading startups, and venture capital, technology
and entertainment companies, including: Polar Mobile, Spark59, Virgin
Gaming, Google, Zynga, Kobo, and more.
"We are very excited to act as a partner in JOLT," said JOLT investor
Jonathan Straus. "A mentor-based incubator enables entrepreneurs to
benefit from the experience of those who have been there before. This
guidance is invaluable in the challenging period of starting a business
and can mitigate some of the risk for early-stage investors."
JOLT is collaborating with a number of key partners who will actively
commit their time, expertise and services to help JOLT companies become
market leaders, including the CFC Media Lab, a unique training and creative production think-tank for emerging new
media developers; and JET Cooper, a leading user design and experience agency. By combining their
expertise in the creative arts and design with MaRS' business-building
experience, JOLT will be a unique Canadian technology accelerator.
The program has also partnered with The Working Group, a top web and mobile development shop in Toronto; Media Profile, one of Canada's most successful public relations firms; Global Accelerator Network, an international alliance of organizations that operate accelerator
programs, championed by TechStars; and Postmedia Network Inc., the largest publisher of English daily newspapers in Canada.
"Postmedia Network is proud to support innovation in the digital space
and help mentor the best and brightest on their path to future
success," said Paul Godfrey, President and CEO, Postmedia Network. "We
are pleased to work with MaRS Discovery District and JOLT to accelerate
great ideas in this country."
Susan McGill will act as the Executive Director of JOLT. A builder of technology
companies and brands, Sue has advised and been actively involved in
over 200 startups in the emerging technology space, with hands-on
experience at DWL (acquired by IBM), MySpace and JUICE Mobile. She has
also worked as an executive at RIM, Yahoo! and CanWest. "A focus on
creative, design and technology elements is critical to the success of
these emerging companies," said McGill. "Our partners' expertise in
these areas, coupled with the guidance of our influential and
experienced business mentors, will assist companies as they progress
through the JOLT program, helping them to define, grow and launch
disruptive, high-growth businesses."
JOLT will announce the call for applications shortly.
About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (http://www.marsdd.com) (Twitter: @MaRSDD) is a mission-driven innovation centre located in
Toronto. MaRS works with partners to catalyze, accelerate and amplify
innovation. MaRS supports entrepreneurs building Canada's next
generation of growth companies.
About JOLT
JOLT (http://www.joltco.ca) (Twitter: @joltco) is a Toronto-based startup accelerator dedicated to
building high-growth Canadian web and mobile companies focused on
startups in the IT, communications and entertainment industries. JOLT
offers these selected companies working space in the MaRS Commons, seed financing and mentorship, as well as access to seasoned partners
and some of the top angel and venture capital investors in the
industry. By combining the expertise of its numerous partners in the
creative arts, design and technology sectors with MaRS'
business-building experience, JOLT provides the selected companies with
business validation, streamlined market entry and a greater opportunity
for success.
About Postmedia Network Inc.
Postmedia Network Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Postmedia Network
Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B), is the largest publisher by
circulation of paid English-language daily newspapers in Canada,
representing some of the country's oldest and best known media brands.
Reaching millions of Canadians every week, Postmedia Network engages
readers and offers advertisers and marketers integrated solutions to
effectively reach target audiences through a variety of print, online,
digital and mobile platforms.
SOURCE MaRS Discovery District
MaRS Discovery District
CONTACT: Chris Stevenson
Director, Communications
(416) 673-8104
cstevenson@marsdd.com