News: Innovation And Entrepreneurship

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WHITEHORSE—Yukon University, Yukonstruct, and Yukon Venture Angels, with the support of the Government of Yukon, is providing programming to local entrepreneurs and businesses in the Yukon by partnering with Spring Activator and Volition to run an Investme

WHITEHORSE, YT—YukonGrow, Neighbourly North and Yukon Built are the first three companies to complete the inaugural IncubateNorth program at Yukon University. 

Funding for the linked efforts of Yukon University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Yukonstruct Society supports resilience and growth
 

A key part of Canada’s economic recovery is supporting businesses as they adapt, grow, and move forward from the pandemic. Businesses and entrepreneurs need a strong foundation, built on technological innovation and clean growth to create the workforce of the future.

Across the territories, Northern and Indigenous partners are building a path forward through creativity, collaboration and determination. In the Yukon, this is demonstrated by the united efforts of the Yukon’s innovation community, which has worked closely together to adapt and grow through challenging times.

Yukonstruct and Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship have partnered with Spring Activator to deliver the first Yukon Investment Challenge. This program is designed to support and enhance local businesses and investors, whereby the latter will collectively award one startup with up to $50,000 in investment. The initiative is funded in partnership with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Guelph ON/Whitehorse YT, 11 January 2022 - Canada’s only university north of 60 is joining forces with Canada’s largest food and agri-tech accelerator to advance innovation and commercialization services for the agricultural sector.

Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) and Bioenterprise Canada, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership between Bioenterprise and I&E’s business incubation program, IncubateNorth, will foster collaboration by providing innovation support, resources and commercialization services to start-ups, entrepreneurs, research organizations and businesses in the food and agriculture sector in the Yukon.

Yukonstruct, YukonU Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Creative Lab North are launching Yukon Innovation Week 2021 to engage Yukoners with the theme of building sustainable communities. Yukon Innovation Week offers a week-long series of free events across the territory to spark the spirit of innovation and support Yukoners to tackle tough issues in the North. Following the success of the inaugural event in 2020, Yukon Innovation Week 2021 will run from November 15 to 21.

WHITEHORSE, YT—  Yukonstruct and Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship will provide entrepreneurship support to Yukon communities thanks to a $740,512.50 funding investment from the government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre (FSC). This funding will establish the Yukon Skills Research and Engagement project and the Northern Entrepreneur Development Network aimed at helping rural Yukon respond to the pandemic and prepare for the workforce of the future.

 

WHITEHORSE, YT— The winners of the seventh annual Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP) have been chosen. YukonU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) is pleased to announce that Gúnta Business has won the grand prize of $30,000 for a virtual engagement service designed to meet the needs of northern communities.  

Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) is pleased to announce that a local I&E innovator has moved their business idea through to commercialization. The SUPStick land paddle, invented by Brennan Innovations Inc., is now available for purchase on its newly launched website.

Over the last five years, I&E has helped Joel Brennan, president of Brennan Innovations Inc. and developer of the SUPStick, in making his idea a reality. The SUPStick is an ergonomic dry land Stand Up Paddle (SUP) designed to simulate the feeling of being on water, while using a skateboard on land. I&E played a central role in helping Brennan actualize his idea by supporting him through prototype design, manufacturing and testing, intellectual property protection, and product development.

Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) and Government of Yukon have launched this year’s Yukon Innovation Prize (YIP).  The theme for the 2021 prize is “innovation for recovery” in response to the global pandemic and its impact on the territory. 

The Yukon Innovation Prize has recognized and supported innovative solutions to address local challenges since 2015. YIP prize winners have the opportunity to further develop their ideas for the benefit of the territory, Yukoners and the rest of Canada.  

Yukon University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) is launching a Yukon business incubator, thanks to a $400K contribution from TD Bank Group. Over the next four years, this early-stage business incubation program, IncubateNorth, will support entrepreneurs throughout the territory to grow their businesses locally, nationally, and internationally. 

Yukon University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) is supporting social enterprise throughout the territory thanks to funding from the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals Funding program. 
 
I&E will use this funding to raise awareness about the benefits of social enterprise and support Yukon businesses to incorporate sustainable development goals (SDG’s) into their business practices. This support will address the needs of businesses new to sustainability practises, as well as further enhance Yukon businesses that have already adopted one or more sustainable development goals into their social enterprise.