Canadian Technology Accelerator Silicon Valley

The Canadian Technology Accelerator is a business development program that helps early stage Canadian technology (ICT) startups and SMEs with access to the unique resources of Silicon Valley to achieve business objectives such as acquiring clients, establishing strategic partnerships and fundraising from Silicon Valley investors.

How it works

To participate in the Silicon Valley CTA, company executives (CEO, founders, VP business development) must apply through a competitive process. The program does not take equity and does not invest directly into the participating companies. However, it does facilitate introductions to Silicon Valley's investor community and helps founders prepare for such meetings. There is no fee to apply for the program.

Why Silicon Valley

The San Francisco and Silicon Valley region is the leading global hub for technology, venture capital and entrepreneurship. The area is the home to many of the world's largest high-tech corporations, including the FAANG - Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Alphabet and thousands of start-ups. The Silicon Valley CTA program provides an entry point to qualified Canadian technology firms seeking funding, partnerships and business development services.

About the Program

The CTA Silicon Valley Digital program provides high-potential Canadian companies with a wide variety of services to help them grow at scale. The program includes:

• Access to virtual workshops and 1-on-1 advisory services
• One week in-market programming including participation at a major tech event
• Business development and venture support from partners and industry leaders
• Matchmaking B2B meetings with clients, partners and venture capitals (VCs)
• Networking opportunities with like-minded Silicon Valley entrepreneurs
• And much more!

Virtual Info Session Webinar

Join us for a webinar on the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) program designed for Canadian tech companies looking to tackle the Silicon Valley market in 2020. Speakers include:

• Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah, Canadian Trade Commissioner , Vancouver
• Thierry Lu, CTA Program Manager, Palo Alto
• Jonathan Lowenhar, Founder of Enjoy the Work, Silicon Valley

Topics covered

• Introductions
• Canadian Trade Commissioner Service offer to Canadian businesses
• Overview of current dynamics in Silicon Valley in the wake of COVID-19, particularly the ICT / digital sector
• Overview of the CTA Digital Disrupted Program in Silicon Valley: how we work with Canadian companies and key dates
• Q&A

[fusion_button link="https://digitalnovascotia.com/event/webinar-on-the-canadian-technology-accelerator/" text_transform="" title="" target="_self" link_attributes="" alignment="" modal="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" color="default" button_gradient_top_color="" button_gradient_bottom_color="" button_gradient_top_color_hover="" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="" accent_color="" accent_hover_color="" type="" bevel_color="" border_width="" border_radius="" border_color="" border_hover_color="" size="" stretch="default" icon="" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset=""]REGISTER[/fusion_button][fusion_separator style_type="none" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" sep_color="" top_margin="" bottom_margin="30" border_size="" icon="" icon_size="" icon_circle="" icon_circle_color="" width="" alignment="center"][/fusion_separator]

Who should apply

The program seeks participation from Canada based early-stage tech startups with a solid team, an MVP, and good traction that are building disruptive tech products applied to 5 verticals (or sub-sectors): Education (EdTech), Finance (FinTech), Logistics & Supply Chain (Logistics Tech), Property Management (PropTech), and Retail Tech. Ideally, applicants will already have prior funding raised (Post-Seed) and be preparing to raise a series A round of funding at the moment of applying for the program. Technologies of interest include:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): core algorithms, recognition technologies, service platforms;
• Virtual reality/augmented reality / mixed reality;
• Drones and Robotics: structural and embedded technologies, control systems, management platforms
• Sensors and loT: sensing hardware, middleware, connectivity

Applicants should meet most, or potentially all of the following criteria:

• revenue-generating business
• experienced and passionate executive team
• a fully-built and validated product with a differentiated technology
• specific goals and a clear strategy to enter Silicon Valley
• financial resources for time spent in-market

If a startup has been bootstrapped but the rest of the criteria have been met, it can still qualify.

Program dates

CTA Digital Disrupted Fall 2020Start Date: July 27th End Date: September 18th Accepting applications starting: May 15th CTA Digital Enterprise Spring 2021To be announced For more information, please contact the Program Manager: thierry.lu@international.gc.ca. [fusion_button link="https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/tcs-sdc/cta-atc/silicon_valley.aspx?lang=eng" text_transform="" title="" target="_self" link_attributes="" alignment="" modal="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" color="default" button_gradient_top_color="" button_gradient_bottom_color="" button_gradient_top_color_hover="" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="" accent_color="" accent_hover_color="" type="" bevel_color="" border_width="" border_radius="" border_color="" border_hover_color="" size="" stretch="default" icon="" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset=""]Apply Now[/fusion_button]