Vancouver, CANADA – February 16, 2021 - Foresight, Canada’s cleantech ecosystem accelerator, is partnering with Aqua Forum, a Canadian innovation platform dedicated to early-stage startups in the water sector, to help transform watertech solutions into viable businesses through the AquaHacking Challenge.
Foresight’s accelerator program for early stage startups, Kickstart, will be integrated into both AquaHacking 2021 Challenges: the Western Canada Challenge and the Mille Îles River Challenge. All registered teams will have access to the Express edition of Kickstart in phase 1 of the competition. The selected finalist teams will be offered a more developed and interactive edition of the program in phase 2 of the Challenge. Kickstart offers training and coaching to help entrepreneurs explore their customer’s problem, identify market opportunities, and craft a value proposition. It will be offered in both English and French, creating the opportunity for pan-Canadian involvement.
“We are excited to share our proven successful programs with the next generation of watertech innovators,” says Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight. “Through our work with the waterNEXT initiative, we’re tapping into an exciting array of opportunities. This partnership with Aqua Forum will add to the impact we’re creating for the future of water.”
“Collaborating with Foresight to strengthen the AquaHacking Challenge offering is of tremendous benefit to the passionate young innovators who will come through our program this year. This kind of alliance, where we leverage our respective programs, is incredibly valuable for the growing watertech sector in Canada,” says Kariann Aarup, Director of AquaHacking.
The Kickstart program will focus on developing the entrepreneurial skills of AquaHacking Challenge participants as they build their innovative solutions to freshwater issues and help ready them for the business and tech ecosystems they will find themselves in after the Challenge.
About Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre
Foresight is Canada’s cleantech ecosystem accelerator. Foresight supports the identification and validation of cleantech opportunities and the successful commercialization of solutions. We bring together industry, government, academia, investors, and innovators to address today’s most urgent climate issues and support a global transition to a green economy. Find out more at www.foresightcac.com and waterNEXT.ca. Follow on Twitter @ForesightCAC.
About Aqua Forum
Aqua Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of water issues among Canadians. Its flagship program, the AquaHacking Challenge, is a tech innovation competition that engages young Canadians in developing entrepreneurial skills and creating tech solutions to address freshwater issues. Since 2015, from 8 editions of the Challenge, 28 watertech startups have been established and continue to be active to this day. Find out more at https://aquahacking.com/en/ and follow us on social media @AquaHacking.
For more information, please contact:
Astrid Nunez
604-358-5079
anunez@foresightcac.com
Laurence Basso
438-299- 4399
laurence@aquahacking.com
