ventureLAB and Barrie coworking space, The Creative Space (TCS) announce a partnership collaboration aimed at helping build a Barrie-based global start-up ecosystem
BARRIE, ONTARIO, December 7, 2015– ventureLAB and Barrie’s coworking facility, The Creative Space (TCS) are pleased to announce a partnership collaboration aimed at helping build a Barrie-based global start-up ecosystem.
The Creative Space is a valued partner in the City of Barrie’s business development strategy, which includes fostering business growth, investment and attracting and retaining a talented workforce. ventureLAB is a provincially recognized and funded not-for-profit, an Ontario Regional Innovation Centre and part of a collaborative network called the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE). ventureLAB supports the commercialization of business ideas in York Region as well as Barrie, Simcoe County and Muskoka District as an important delivery partner on innovation initiatives that drive economic growth and job creation.
The partnership will further connect Barrie innovation hub partners to the Ontario wide innovation hub and serves shared objectives, including bringing innovative solutions to market, mobilizing and increasing access to investment capital, and driving job creation.
“We’re delighted to announce this collaboration between The Creative Space and ventureLAB,” said Karen Dubeau, Director of Partner Engagement at ventureLAB. “It takes an ecosystem to raise an entrepreneur. Partnering with The Creative Space will help create opportunities for innovative companies in Barrie to access an increased number of resources to help them grow locally and globally. We are excited about this and very much look forward to our collaboration.”
“Since launching the Creative Space in 2009, we’ve been doing all we can to nurture the startup community in Barrie, said Chad Ballantyne, Tummler at The Creative Space, Barrie. We knew early on we needed strategic partners to really see this thing spark. We see this partnership as one of many key relationships in the Barrie startup eco-system, including the City of Barrie, Georgian College, the County of Simcoe and others.”
The agreement between The Creative Space and ventureLAB strengthens the collaboration of all the innovation partners in Barrie and Simcoe County. ventureLAB anticipates developing entrepreneurial programs at TCS along with those of Barrie innovation partners including Invest Barrie, Georgian College, The Georgian Angels, The Barrie Small Business Centre and others.
About The Creative Space
The Creative Space (@acreativespace) is coworking space which gives freelancers, start-ups and micro-businesses the opportunity to work and collaborate in a creative community focused atmosphere. Visit www.thecreativespace.ca for more information.
About ventureLAB
ventureLAB (@ventureLABca) is a non-profit Regional Innovation Centre, which cultivates, supports and celebrates innovative entrepreneurs. Located in York Region, an integral leader in the Digital Corridor, ventureLAB supports entrepreneurs at all stages across York Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka District and the GTA. ventureLAB is the place where talented entrepreneurs get help bringing their innovation to market. Visit www.venturelab.ca for more information.