The provincial government announced support for a University of New Brunswick (UNB) pilot project aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship in the Saint John region.
The Axis Accelerator, offered through the Saint John campus's faculty of business, aims to boost entrepreneurial spirit in the region by helping entrepreneurs understand themselves as founders, identify lead customers, and build a scalable, repeatable sales strategy.
"We are proud to support this program that will strengthen entrepreneurship in New Brunswick," said Local Government Minister Glen Savoie. "Entrepreneurship drives growth and diversification of our economy, and it contributes to our government's key priorities of energizing the private sector and creating vibrant and sustainable communities."
Savoie spoke on behalf of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Arlene Dunn.
The accelerator pilot has four components:
- an incubator space at UNB's Grand Hall on Charlotte Street
- a sales acceleration program
- facilitation of investor networking and collaboration
- supporting and building entrepreneurial interest among students
"We are so fortunate to have the expertise and knowledge at UNB's faculty of business in Saint John to help foster business excellence in this region," said Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long. "I am happy that our government, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is investing in this new startup incubator that will provide the tools entrepreneurs need to help their businesses succeed here at home and beyond."
Long attended for federal Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, who is also minister responsible for ACOA.
"UNB has a strong history of entrepreneurial activity," said Petra Hauf, the university's provost and vice-president academic. "We are proud to contribute to the ecosystem, supporting the continuation of a strong entrepreneurial effort in the region."
The provincial and federal governments have each invested $127,500 in the pilot project.
