NEWS RELEASE
TOWN OF NEWMARKET
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Today, at the Collision Conference in Toronto, the Town of Newmarket and Treefrog Inc. announced that the Treefrog Accelerator (the Accelerator) successfully received designation from the federal government as a Start-up Visa organization.
Canada’s Start-up Visa targets immigrant entrepreneurs with skills and the potential to build businesses in Canada that are innovative, create jobs and can compete on a global scale. This designation provides Treefrog, a homegrown award-winning digital transformation agency, the opportunity to invest in or sponsor international entrepreneurs through the Start-up Visa program.
“We are very excited to be working with Treefrog to help provide local and international businesses with the skills necessary to succeed in the North American market, not just today, but well into the future,” says Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “As we continue to celebrate and recognize our diverse community, the Start-up Visa program will continue to bring skilled and innovative immigrant entrepreneurs to Newmarket and grow the community’s talent, diversity and entrepreneurial eco-system.”
The Treefrog Accelerator was designed to give startup businesses the tools and knowledge they need to succeed within the North American market. The first offering from the accelerator was a regional program, “Accelerate Newmarket.” This program is a partnership with the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce and York University. After incredible success with the regional program, the Start-up Visa designation and expansion into international programming is the next evolution in supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Newmarket. As a strong supporter, the Town of Newmarket is investing in the Accelerator as part of the town’s Economic Development Strategy. Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit are driving forces of the strategy, along with attraction, marketing and community vibrancy.
"We are so excited to offer the Treefrog International Start-up Visa program. It builds on a strong and successful regional program. We are proud to extend our programming to international entrepreneurs that will contribute to the strong network of businesses in Newmarket and the York Region,” says James Daigle, executive director of the Treefrog Accelerator.
The Accelerator is a five-week program that includes practical workshop learning, personalized mentorship, pitching skills and much more. It culminates in an open house where startups can meet with investors, thought leaders, government and other stakeholders to showcase their growth. It is the only program of its kind in the northern Greater Toronto Area.
York Region is home to over 4,500 information and communications technology (ICT) companies in a broad range of categories. It is also adjacent to the Toronto-Waterloo region corridor, which is the second-largest technology cluster in North America and one of the fastest-growing technology hubs. The Accelerator can draw on this vast resource to introduce Accelerator participants to true thought leadership in technology, business, strategy, finance and marketing. For more information on the Accelerator, visit this website.
Click here to find out more about why Newmarket is the perfect location for your business.
About the Town of Newmarket
Just north of Toronto, in the central York Region, the Town of Newmarket is home to 90,000 extraordinary people. As one of the most densely populated communities in Ontario, Newmarket may be small in area, but big things are happening there. Google E-Town Award recipient, voted best Main Street in Canada and is recognized as one of the world’s 21 most intelligent communities are just a few highlights. The door is always open; there is a place for you here. Find out more here.
About Treefrog Inc.
Based north of Toronto in Newmarket, Treefrog is the Swiss Army Knife of digital transformation. They enthusiastically solve programs and provide leadership that results in successful digital transformation for a wide range of partners. Since 1989, the frogs have empowered over 500 companies by improving their online brand, processes and offerings.
About the #YRtech Pavilion at Collision Conference
York Region is Canada’s second-largest tech hub, with more than 4,500 tech companies, 54,000 businesses and 600,000 jobs. York Region is proudly hosting the #YRtech Pavilion at this year’s Collision Conference, in collaboration with its nine cities and towns, to share the amazing stories of innovation, partnership and business expansions occurring within the Region’s tech ecosystem.
The Collision Conference is North America’s fastest-growing tech conference, bringing together over 35,000 people and companies redefining the tech industry.
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