Over the last five years, YSpace has supported hundreds of startups from ideation to incubation to scale, through accelerator programs, educational workshops, mentorship, and more.
By fostering a community of changemakers, YSpace supports York University’s mission for local and global impact.
As YSpace celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2023, we took stock of some of YSpace’s biggest milestones so far.
YSpace champions Black entrepreneurship through Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
In summer 2021, the federal government invested close to $3 million for the Black Creek Community Health Centre, in partnership with YSpace, Schulich Executive Education Centre, and TD-Community Engagement Centre. The funding supports Black Canadian businesses in Humber River-Black Creek and resulted in the creation of the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA), co-designed by YSpace. BEA offers a full spectrum of education, mentorship and acceleration supports to more than 350 Black entrepreneurs seeking to establish or grow agri-food businesses. Since BEA’s creation, YSpace has supported 178 ventures – 89% of which are women-led - and have generated over $2 million in revenue.
YSpace expands, opening hub in Georgina
In late 2022, York University opened a new YSpace location in northern York Region, in partnership with the Towns of Georgina and East Gwillimbury. The hub initially supported local start-ups and existing businesses during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its launch, YSpace Northern Entrepreneurship Hub has supported hundreds of local ventures and offers customized resources to entrepreneurs in the region.
YSpace partners with UCalgary hub for entrepreneurial thinking placements
In 2021, YSpace partnered with the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary for Experience Ventures, a federally funded program for college and university students that offers paid entrepreneurial thinking placements at Canadian companies. Students work to create innovative solutions for startups and social ventures, applying entrepreneurial thinking skills to make them future ready. So far, YSpace has overseen 800 placements for York students.
YSpace pursues internationalization, partners with Korean Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA)
YSpace collaborated with KOTRA to host the 2021 Canada Acceleration Program for Korean startups. YSpace provided mentorship and support for Korean businesses interested in gaining a market foothold in Canada. The partnership with KOTRA built on previous international outreach for YSpace, which worked with Chilean food and beverage companies and the Pro-Chile Trade Commission in 2020 to mentor startups entering the United States.
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