When Acadia students return to school this September, a new facility will be available to help them launch viable businesses and social enterprises. Thanks to financial support announced Wednesday by the federal and provincial governments, the Acadia Entrepreneurship Sandbox, known as the LaunchBox, will open on the 5^th floor of Patterson Hall alongside businesses and organizations that are already part of the Acadia Rural Innovation Centre.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) will contribute a total of $350,000 to the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre to fund its core activities, including $100,000 specifically earmarked for the LaunchBox. The Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education has committed $150,000 over the next three years for the LaunchBox. 

“Our Government is pleased to support the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre as it continues to work with entrepreneurs and deliver key initiatives such as the APEC Certified Business Counsellor Program and business incubation services,” said Rob Moore, Minister of State for ACOA. “The Centre’s new Sandbox Initiative will play a key role in the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region by giving young entrepreneurs an opportunity to create the essential link between research investment and industrial benefit.”

"Government knows the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in moving the province forward," said labour and Advanced Education Minister, Kelly Regan. "This region, along with Acadia University has a long history and successful record when it comes to innovation. The launch of the Entrepreneur Sandbox at Acadia will help Nova Scotians, and more specifically Nova Scotian youth, to create even more successes."   

In the LaunchBox, students will be encouraged to be creative, to think “outside of the box” and to form interdisciplinary teams. They will be connected to other entrepreneurs, advisors, business faculty, technical experts, other tenant companies, community partners, mentors, and financing opportunities. They will develop and hone their skills by participating in a variety of events and training opportunities, and they will be challenged to test their business/product ideas using established methodologies. The purpose of the LaunchBox is to create a rural-based entrepreneurial ecosystem for students throughout southwest Nova Scotia.  

“The Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre has been assisting students and entrepreneurs in the community for many years and is pleased to be able to continue to deliver its programming thanks to ACOA’s assistance and that of the Government of Nova Scotia,” said Findlay MacRae, Executive Director of the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre. “We are excited to be able to deliver additional programming through the Sandbox initiative and provide targeted programs that will help inspire our entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

The Acadia Rural Innovation Centre was formally launched two years ago through funding from ACOA and the Province of Nova Scotia. It currently houses three Acadia research Institutes focused on wine and agri-business, tidal power, and data analytics alongside a business development consultant from Innovacorp and business startups in the IT sector. In addition to an office and workspace, the Centre provides business consulting, training and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs. Through the Centre, entrepreneurs can also connect with professionals such as lawyers, accountants, and specialist in commercializing research.

For more information about Acadia Rural Innovation Centre and the LaunchBox, visit

http://www.acadiaentrepreneurshipcentre.com/launchbox.

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