Since 1988, the J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) has been a catalyst for entrepreneurial success.
Nearly 80 per cent of the start-ups it supports thrive, a remarkable achievement in the competitive start-up ecosystem.
"We help ventures advance to their next stage," said Inball "Belle" Cobber, program manager at the Centre, which operates within UNB's engineering faculty.
The Centre offers three distinct programs to support entrepreneurs, including the Energia Ventures accelerator. This 12-week hybrid program focuses on sales, investment readiness, mentorship and networking, combining online sessions with in-person components in Fredericton.
Entrepreneurs thrive at Energia Ventures
Four founders who took the Energia Ventures program in the 2024 fall semester praised it.
Nazli Temur founded Xena Vision to develop an AI-powered security system using existing CCTV cameras to detect threats in real time and alert authorities, aiming to prevent tragedies and make cities safer.
"We need to be close to academia to maintain a competitive advantage and ensure our societal impact," said Temur.
"The program looked unique because it involves a university, professional businesspeople and government development experts."
Georgie Cox, based in the U.K., presented Beluga Pods, a social impact start-up addressing loneliness through a scalable, human-centred approach to rebuilding community through a safe, private and non-overwhelming app.
Beluga Pods uses a staged approach to combat loneliness, incorporating cognitive behavioural therapy principles and virtual reality technology. The company has over 5,000 sign-ups and received several grants. It aims to launch a beta app in the U.K. in 2025.
"[Energia Ventures] has helped Beluga Pods in many ways, making us confident about our future plans to be the next big app that helps people while tackling loneliness and breaking the stigma," she said.
"I learned so much, as an individual and a business," said Cox.
"Energia Ventures helped us get to the next stage to be more focused and clearer in our messaging. It helped us work on our pitch and get it in good shape for Demo Day, which is crucial for an early-stage business looking to raise funding.
"We found a new community in Fredericton with all the amazing people we worked with and met."
Brent Downey of Urban Stalk Inc. addresses North American farming, including climate change and labour shortages which have led to significant inventory loss that costs $99 billion annually in Canada alone.
Urban Stalk has developed integrated hardware and software pod systems to grow 30 different crop varieties while reducing environmental costs and increasing yield predictability. Its Harvest Link platform facilitates local, resilient community relationships, reducing spoilage and labour costs.
"Urban Stalk Inc. was looking to fundraise our seed round, and when researching sector-aligned venture capital, Energia Ventures appeared in our search," said Downey.
"We gravitated to Energia Ventures as it was Canadian, locally grounded and has support networks in our expansion region of interest, Atlantic Canada."
Downey said the quality of the education he received will be integrated into business practices, enabling quicker optimization of sales and commercialization efforts. This will help improve practices, boost digital business, increase revenue and achieve profitability by the end of 2025.
Kaival Patel presented NeoApps.ai, a platform that simplifies no-code and low-code app development, enabling faster, cheaper and more accessible business application creation.
"What interested me about Energia Ventures is its focus on emerging fields and its emphasis on innovation, which supports start-ups," said Patel.
"I learned that the program is extensive and covers all the key areas a start-up needs to focus on, such as talking to customers and solving their problems, understanding the financial importance for start-ups and focusing on marketing and HR.
"I gained insights into government resources for start-ups. It provided recognition within the start-up and New Brunswick business communities."
A platform for success
The four entrepreneurs pitched their ventures during the Energia Ventures Demo Day on Dec. 10 at UNB's Wu Conference Centre.
Attended by partners, angel investors and stakeholders, the event provided a platform for participants to showcase their progress and seek investment opportunities.
Temur called Demo Day "a rare opportunity" and "a well-connected ecosystem with caring, professional people" that helped her start-up.
"I believe we will keep our connections and grow together."
A comprehensive approach to entrepreneurship
Energia Ventures combines technical and business insights, helping start-ups refine prototypes, define customer strategies and prepare for investor outreach.
Each cohort undergoes rigorous vetting, ensuring only the most promising ventures participate. While Atlantic Canadian companies are prioritized, the program also attracts national and international participants aligned with its goals.
The Centre also runs the Summer Institute, for ideation-stage companies, and Scale-up Atlantic, for established firms seeking rapid growth.
"These programs support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey," Cobber said. "We help companies launch, grow and scale while maintaining deep relationships with our alumni."
The Centre's academic offerings include diplomas and master's programs in technology management and entrepreneurship, nurturing the next generation of innovators.
Alumni such as Sam Poirier (BScME'19, MTME'19), founder of Potential Motors, exemplify its impact. Poirier, who progressed through both the Summer Institute and Energia Ventures, was recently named one of Forbes' Top 30 Under 30 in Transportation and Mobility.
"Programs like ours empower entrepreneurs to turn ideas into reality," Cobber said.
"We're here to support those who dare to innovate."
