How the Accelerator Centre is making a global impact in the R+T Park

This spring, two major showcase events brought Waterloo’s innovation community together to celebrate a new wave of startups tackling challenges from clean energy to community health. Hosted by the Accelerator Centre (AC), the AC:Studio Innovation Showcase and the Global Impact Creator Showcase offered a front-row seat into the future of Canadian entrepreneurship. 

From idea to impact

Launched in 2022 with $10 million in support from FedDev Ontario, AC:Studio is designed to eliminate early barriers for founders and accelerate them from idea to impact. Over the course of three years, the program has supported 100 early-stage companies through three phases, culminating in a final cohort of 25 startups. 

These founders received up to $100,000 in seed funding, one-to-one mentorship, and tactical support from partners including Uvaro, SnapPea Design and Conestoga College. 

The results are clear. Since its start, AC:Studio companies have created 597 jobs, launched 104 products, filed 88 pieces of intellectual property and raised more than $62 million in investment. Collectively, the cohort has generated over $27 million in revenue. 

“These aren’t just numbers,” said AC CEO Ruth Casselman during her remarks at the AC:Studio Innovation Showcase on March 26, 2025. “They are real, tangible impacts on the Canadian economy. These accomplishments are proof that investing in early-stage founders pays off both to the economy and to society.” 

“These accomplishments are proof that investing in early-stage founders pays off both to the economy and to society.”

– Ruth Casselman, CEO, Accelerator Centre

The diversity of founders was equally noteworthy. Sixty-three percent of the startups in the first cohort were women-led, 26 percent were newcomers to Canada and five percent were Indigenous. Casselman emphasized the inclusive nature of the program, noting that “we saw incredibly talented people stalling before they even got started. It wasn’t a lack of hustle. It was the barrier to entry.” 

Held at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, the Innovation Showcase also marked Casselman’s first year as CEO. The afternoon featured founder panels and a keynote from Uvaro founder Joseph Fung, who reminded the crowd that “founding a company is not a solo sport.”  

Fung, who started his first company out of the AC, spoke candidly about the importance of community and responsibility in entrepreneurship. “We’re not just building companies. We’re showing the way you can build companies in Canada,” he said. 

Making a global impact 

That theme of meaningful impact continued the following week during the Global Impact Creator Showcase on April 3, 2025. The event highlighted entrepreneurs who are using innovation to address social and healthcare challenges. The program encourages participants to explore bold ideas, even those that don’t follow traditional startup paths. 

“Sometimes what the participants learn is that there is no commercial solution to this,” said Tabatha Laverty, Chief Operating Officer at the AC. “This is something that needs to be tackled by governments or the not-for-profit sector. That’s still valuable and still a key learning.” 

The showcase featured initiatives such as biomedical engineering student Hana Karim’s portable x-ray project in Kenya and Lidya Konlan’s mushroom farming initiative, which aims to empower women in Ghana.  

“My biggest goal is to bridge the healthcare gap for low-income communities,” Karim said. “I think a lot of change should be made in low-income and middle-income communities… but it starts by going out.” 

Innovation happens here 

Participants from both showcases credited the AC with providing the resources, mentorship and environment needed to bring their ideas to life. The AC’s location within the David Johnston Research + Technology Park plays a key role in that support. 

“We’re surrounded by world-class talent, research partners and a startup ecosystem that thrives on collaboration,” said Jennifer Dawe, Manager, R+T Park. “Being here in the R+T Park means AC founders don’t have to go looking for opportunity, it’s built into the community.” 

“We’re surrounded by world-class talent, research partners and a startup ecosystem that thrives on collaboration.”

– Jenn Dawe, Manager, R+T Park

That community-minded spirit is part of what Casselman hopes will continue beyond graduation. “The whole idea of the AC is we put everything we can into all of our clients while they’re with us,” she said. “Then they move on. That’s the goal. But I hope we’ve also instilled a sense of responsibility back to the community. I used to be a founder at the AC. Now I’m here helping the next generation.” 

With new AC:Studio cohorts aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals already underway, the future of innovation in Waterloo Region is in good hands. 

As the AC continues to evolve, one thing is clear—the R+T Park is more than just a location. It’s an engine for impact, collaboration and inclusive growth that’s shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Canada.