The collaborative program will leverage the Wesley Clover Alacrity model of start-up founding and funding, which has been deployed around the world and combines the expertise, resources and networks of Wesley Clover (and its local L-SPARK technology Accelerator) with uOttawa Faculty of Engineering’s inaugural Master’s degree in Entrepreneurial Engineering Design (MEED).
As students move through the two-year program, they will spend time at the uOttawa Kanata North campus and intern with local tech companies, many of which are in Kanata North, home of Canada’s largest tech park.
Alacrity Ottawa will focus on developing solutions and startups that target 5G+ networking, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, transportation and healthcare innovation. Given the University’s research strengths in these areas and their relevance to many of the companies in Kanata North, Alacrity Ottawa will initially focus on healthcare by addressing challenges and opportunities in the digital MedTech space.
Successful applicants will form teams to tackle identified industry challenges and teams with viable and potentially scalable solutions will be presented to appropriate investors. If a match is made, teams will secure funding to form a new company and start their journey as a new technology start-up.
Alacrity Ottawa complements uOttawa’s existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, which includes programs such as; MakerLaunch, the Entrepreneurship Hub’s Startup and Scaleup Garage and the Ottawa Health Innovation Hub, which will be housed in uOttawa’s new Advanced Medical Research Centre.
Learn more about Alacrity Ottawa
The Alacrity Ecosystem
More than 10 years strong, the Alacrity Global program, an initiative of Wesley Clover International, is a proven approach to educating entrepreneurs, founding new technology startups, and securing funding to scale these new businesses.
Through the Alacrity process, graduates get exposure to an ecosystem that would otherwise be difficult for young entrepreneurs to access, and investors gain opportunities and insights into young ventures that are already supported by a group of experienced advisors in a solid business framework.
About MEED
The Master of Engineering in Entrepreneurial Engineering Design is a new two-year program that will begin in September 2021. The unique program focuses on engineering design as the foundation for entrepreneurship and, more specifically, on how to design new products or technologies that can be commercialized and that can have a community impact.
The MEED program offers aspiring entrepreneurs academic instruction combined with practical business training and experience in the development of new business ideas and the creation of new companies. Through internships at local technology firms and mentorship from world-class advisors and industry experts, uOttawa graduates will gain valuable experience and insights needed to navigate their way to entrepreneurial success.