For many early-stage companies, turning early traction into a sustainable business requires more than a foot in the door. It requires support to navigate each stage of the journey with the right resources and connections.
In Waterloo, a region known for its density of talent, research and entrepreneurship, the Accelerator Centre (AC) has been actively helping businesses move from start-up to scalable, investment-ready businesses since 2006.
As Canada’s #1 private business accelerator, AC’s model offers a unique approach: a founder-first, high-touch model to support businesses at all stages. “We really pride ourselves in working with companies from across all sectors at all stages. We help companies from ideation through to Series A,” says Tabatha Laverty, Chief Operating Officer at the Accelerator Centre.
To understand how the AC supports companies beyond programs and into real, sustained growth, it helps to look at what this high-touch model actually looks like on the ground – and how it strengthens our ecosystem built on connections and collaborations.
The Accelerator Centre building in Waterloo
Inside AC’s structured path to scaling
At the Accelerator Centre, high-touch means that rather than a generic curriculum or a one-to-many support model, founders are paired with dedicated mentors who stay closely connected and involved in the day-to-day activities of the program.
“Our team is deeply embedded with founders from day one. This means that the companies get one-to-one support from our mentors, preferred service providers and our support network throughout their journey,” adds Laverty.
Yet another key part of AC’s value lies in its structured programs and a proven roadmap.
“Entrepreneurship is a big job. Sometimes founders don’t know what they don’t know,” says Laverty. “A big benefit of the AC programming is that we’ve developed a clear roadmap for building a business, so founders can avoid common missteps early on and focus on building in the right direction.”
This approach is backed by scale and outcomes. Over the years, the AC has supported more than 1,000 startups, helped founders raise over $2B in investment and built a network of more than 400 alumni companies. That network includes names like Axonify, Clearpath Robotics, Intellijoint Surgical, Miovision and Voltera – all of which have scaled globally.
The AC’s programs also help businesses connect into the broader ecosystem – whether that’s industry partners, hiring networks or potential customers.
A further layer of this support is investment readiness.
“We help founders understand when they’re ready to raise. Beyond that, we’re working with them to make sure the fundamentals are in place before they meet with potential investors,” says Laverty. This ensures that conversations with investors are focused and productive from the start.
But in a landscape where founders have access to more resources than ever, support alone is no longer enough.
“Founders today have access to more resources than ever. That’s exactly why we push ourselves to raise our game – building programs that stand out, making connections others can’t, and helping companies move faster than they would on their own.”
" The magic of [the] Waterloo region is that we come together and work in the best interest of businesses. This is what happens at the AC and across the entire ecosystem. "
Tabatha Laverty
Chief Operating Officer at Accelerator Centre
A connected path to scale
In practice, the focus on outcomes doesn’t stop at the AC programs but extends into how founders navigate the broader ecosystem. Beyond structural programming and high-touch support, AC’s impact extends beyond its own walls.
“Our aim in supporting founders is to create a connected journey where they can move through the resources available – in sequence or in tandem – and get the right support at the right time,” shares Laverty.
On the ground, this means operating as a part of a deliberately collaborative network with partner organizations like Communitech, MIX and Velocity. “Our relationship with other hubs and incubators in the region is wonderful. As a part of Waterloo region’s ecosystem, our aim is to create a true network of support.”
This collaboration shows up most clearly in how founders navigate our ecosystem. A student entrepreneur, for example, may start their journey at Velocity and later transition to AC when they’re ready to focus on scaling, commercialization and sales strategy.
“We also work closely with Communitech through the Scale Up Platform,” says Laverty. “Companies can develop their go-to-market approach with Communitech in their GTM Track and come to us for support scaling their sales processes through AC:RevLab.”
This collaboration is intentional – where each organization works together to close the gaps in the founder journey.
And the result is a more continuous experience for scaling companies – one where support is connected, complementary and designed to help them scale without losing momentum.
Waterloo: Where collaboration becomes a competitive edge
What the Accelerator Centre reflects internally is mirrored across our community’s broader ecosystem. Waterloo has long been defined by its strong sense of community and collaboration – a region where innovation doesn’t happen in silos but is supported by a tightly connected network of support.
“The magic of [the] Waterloo region is that we come together and work in the best interest of businesses,” notes Laverty. “This is what happens at the AC and across the entire ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, this connected foundation is positioning our community to emerge as a leader in emerging technologies. “We’re starting to see momentum across defence and dual-use innovation,” shares Laverty, alongside continued strengths in areas like quantum and AI.
“With the support of this ecosystem, I’m hopeful that we’ll continue to see our region’s entrepreneurs thrive in Canada and internationally and really affirm our place globally as a leading innovation ecosystem.”
It’s not just the strength of individual organizations like the AC, but how they work together with ecosystem partners and resources that define Waterloo’s competitive advantage.