Empowered Startups

Located in Kelowna, BC, and serving the Okanagan community. We give entrepreneurs the mentorship, connections, and community they need to build technology-driven ventures. As the Okanagan tech community and companies within it continue to grow, so does our support model. Coined ‘Continuous Acceleration,’ we deliver unique programming for different stages of growth. The reality is, each stage of the entrepreneurial process demands a different set of tools and we are constantly iterating in an effort to meet those needs.

Innovation Rooted in Tradition, Wealth Built in Community

The Fireweed Institute is an emerging virtual and land-based Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Entrepreneurship & Innovation, upholding the vision of a robust and thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem and equitable Indigenous participation in the global economy.

Innovation Island Technology Association (IITA) is a regional partner of the BC Acceleration Network. We deliver the Innovate BC, Venture Acceleration Program (VAP) to Island communities outside of greater Victoria, including the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast. IITA also facilitates other programs such as the DER3 Program (created and launched on Vancouver Island) and other Innovate BC Programs to qualifying clients and applicants including programs and services for NRC-IRAP. Our mission is to support entrepreneurs to start and grow technology companies by providing them with programs and resources they need to succeed. We support business and entrepreneurs build, grow and stay.

Since 2011, Okanagan coLab (Community Lab) has been supporting entrepreneurs and inspired creatives to work in a new way — through coworking. We are a community of people who choose to work together to make our work, our lives, our cities, and our communities better. Our Values Community The coLab community is an eclectic, supportive, and highly talented group of like-minded professionals who realize that good things happen when people work together. coLab doesn’t just rely on its community; coLab is the community. Community is in our DNA. Creativity The term “knowledge economy” is a misnomer. The real impact doesn’t come from knowledge – it comes from creatively assembling knowledge into solutions. Creativity is an essential trait in business – and coLab strives to promote creativity in every way. Collaboration Community + creativity = collaboration. One of the great benefits of working alongside talented, knowledgeable people in a variety of industries is the ideas that are disseminated by osmosis – and then re-formed into cohesive plans through collaboration. At coLab, it’s easy to find that technical or creative whiz to run ideas past. Purposefulness Purposefulness is being aware that each of us is here for a reason. We value our lives by discovering the part we are uniquely meant to play. We discern our intention and focus on it mindfully. We visualize it happening. We set goals and achieve them step by step, resisting distractions. We give each task single minded concentration and excellence. We invest our full enthusiasm into even the simplest job. In the flow of our lives, there are many turns and unexpected events. Within it all, there are lessons to be learned and gifts to receive. Celebration Celebrating and having fun at work is an essential function for building a positive workplace culture, helping our members blow off steam, and fostering new ideas.