Lazaridis Institute Hits the Road to Spread Their Scale-Up Message Across Canada

Sometimes the best way to find new companies and talented entrepreneurs is to just go to every big city and make the introductions yourself.

The Lazaridis Institute has opened up applications for their next Scale-Up Program, which brings in 10 promising tech companies to grow their business. Along with the newly-opened applications, Lazaridis is embarking on a 15-city tour to help companies across Canada gain insight into how they can successfully scale.

The Scale-Up Program is now in its third year and helps tech founders overcome the traditional problems involved in growing a business to the next stage of global competition. The program, based out of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, customizes an approach to overcoming typical growth constraints and leans heavily on actual executable methods of resolving those challenges.

After the first Scale-Up Program ran, every single one of the 10 enrolled companies increased their revenues, while nine of the 10 launched a new product or service, increase exports and found external financing. Scale-Up alums include Unata, Showpass, Tulip Retail and Flytographer. Those companies have gone on to respectively be acquired by Instacart, partner with Facebook, win a highly-regarded pitch contest, and raise $40 million—so you’re in pretty good company if you work with Lazaridis.

“Each year the Lazaridis Scale-Up Program brings together 10 of Canada’s most promising tech companies to work with global experts, grow their networks and prepare for their next round of financing,” said Kim Morouney, managing director of the Lazaridis Institute. “Canadian tech, Canadian talent. The time is right for Canadian tech entrepreneurs to take the world stage. We’re doing what we can to make that happen.”

The Canadian tour begins on June 5 and runs until the end of the month, making 15 stops. It hits every capital city in each province with a few stops in between.

Lazaridis will use these tour stops as an opportunity to host conversations that impact the biggest and most important aspects of scaling a company. Chris Yeh will be featured on all the stops as well, as he is one of the originators of the Blitzscaling method that “prioritizes speed over efficiency in an environment of uncertainty and allows a company to go from ‘startup’ to ‘scaleup’ at a furious pace that captures the market.”

Tech companies also have a chance to learn about what Lazaridis is doing with the Toronto-based Hockeystick. Just over a year ago Lazaridis and Hockeystick partnered to create a data repository for Canada’s startup ecosystem, and it officially launched this month. The free platform helps businesses of all sizes look for everything from investors to potential accelerators to join.

“This tour is an opportunity to connect with tech ecosystems across the nation. We want to share our research, invite companies to take advantage of this new data platform, and learn how we can all work together to scale Canada’s tech companies,” said Morouney. “Our goal is to uncover the resources and foster the talent tech companies need to grow—and to stay here in Canada.”

Applications for the next Scale-Up cohort close on July 27.