“The new Conestoga lab at Communitech will provide our student entrepreneurs with broader opportunities to participate in Waterloo Region’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem,” said Conestoga President John Tibbits. “By providing more access to the tools, knowledge and expertise that will assist in launching successful tech ventures, it will also contribute to future economic growth across our region.” 

To support the Waterloo Region business and innovation community, the Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective also hosts the Gig Lab, Canada’s first business incubator for freelancers, as well as the Sales Lab, Canada’s first incubator for high-tech B2B sales careers. Students and alumni in these programs can provide much needed wrap-around support for founders in the ecosystem.  

“Conestoga entrepreneurs reflect the diverse communities and programming offered by the college, pursuing ventures across a wide range of industries and business models, but approximately 40 per cent of the new businesses in our Venture Lab are tech-focused.” said Rose Mastnak, Director of the Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective. “This new satellite location will connect our founders to the support and community they need to make their businesses a success.” 

Conestoga’s space at the Communitech Hub will be ideally located minutes away from the college’s Waterloo campus which houses Conestoga’s Applied Computer Science and IT programs. Focused on world-leading collaboration and innovation, the Communitech Hub hosts events, welcomes special guests and serves as a collaborative space for a mix of tech companies. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Conestoga and its talented student entrepreneurs to the Communitech Hub and Waterloo Region’s world-class ecosystem of tech,” said Chris Albinson, CEO and president of Communitech. “Our innovation community is strengthened thanks to the support of academic partners like Conestoga who share in our passion for fostering the next generation of tech talent.”  

The Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective team and tech founders will be in the new innovation lab to meet the community during Communitech’s Techtoberfest event on October 13. The event connects Waterloo business leaders and entrepreneurs with investors from around the world.  

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About the Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective:  

The Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective is dedicated to incubating entrepreneurial potential, equipping members of the Conestoga College community with the skills, strategies, and attitudes to create opportunities that will contribute to the economic development of local, regional, and international communities. Programming includes the Venture Lab universal business incubator, the Sales Lab incubator for high-tech sales careers, and the Gig Lab, Canada’s first business incubator for freelancers. 

About Communitech: 

Established in 1997 in Waterloo Region, Communitech was built by tech founders who saw the need for a community of support to help ensure the future prosperity of Canada. Today, Communitech is Canada’s leading innovation hub, supporting a community of more than 1,200 founders by providing accelerated opportunities to access talent, capital and sales.  

Media Contacts:  

For Communitech  

Darcy Greaves  

darcy.greaves@communitech.ca 

For Conestoga 

Brenda Cassidy 

Bcassidy@conestogac.on.ca