Mobile Accelerator Program
The purpose of the Mobile Accelerator Program (MAP) is to foster the growth of Ontario mobile businesses. This will be done by identifying high potential Ontario mobile start-ups and to get behind those companies with access to research infrastructure and commercialization support to increase their chances for success.
There are three components to the MAP. The first component is a workshop series comprised of six half-day workshops designed to improve executive business skills, the second component is an on-going effort to connect companies with talent and mentors, and the third component is a six-month period of incubation and commercialization support.
Participants in the MAP program will have free access to other MEIC related programs including Mobile Forums, which is an event series offering presentations and networking opportunities with companies offering new and innovative technology solutions for creating mobile products/services.
The MAP program is a trial project that will launch in January 2012 and run until March 31, 2012.
Overview
Workshops for Growing Mobile Businesses
This six-week program will provide intensive half-day workshops on key business issues pertinent to mobile business success. The workshops will take place at Toronto City Hall, and the program is as follows:
- Market Opportunities - January 19th, 2012
- Business Models - February 2, 2012
- Accessing Markets - February 16, 2012
- Financing - March 1, 2012
- Attracting and Retaining Talent - March 15, 2012
- Sales Strategies - March 29, 2012
Schedule details are available here: http://www.meic.ca/map-schedule
Connecting with Talent and Mentors
The workshops will provide opportunities for mobile developers, producers, and designers to connect with students and academic faculty members, for their production, research, and product testing needs, as well as with potential business mentors, for their business development needs. During the incubation stage of MAP, MEIC and its partners will act as a matchmaker to connect companies to mentors on an as needed basis, which means that companies will not be assigned one mentor; rather, companies will be connected to specific types of mentors based on their needs at the time of need. Over the course of the incubation period, companies may be connected with several mentors.
Incubation
Companies with mobile projects and links to students and/or faculty members at MEIC partner institutions will be incubated for at least six months.
Target Audience
MAP will target the following three types of companies:
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Startup businesses building mobile applications whose products would be conceived, developed, and sold within one year—mostly for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry platforms.
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Established businesses developing mobile applications for future networks, who could benefit from MEIC’s access to research infrastructure to test their product’s usability, market potential, and technology by linking them to a range of contributing stakeholders including prospective consumers.
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Businesses exploring the collaborative development, distribution, and interactive play of mobile applications over the expanding capabilities of the mobile internet.
Program Participant Eligibility
Program registration is open to MEIC company members only. Acceptance is on a first-come-first-served basis, and the program will accept a maximum of 40 companies.
Acceptance into the program does not guarantee incubation support. A minimum of six companies will be offered incubation at MEIC’s OCAD U location. Selection will be determined based on the best fit between the company and the incubator operator.
The minimum cost of an MEIC company membership is $250.00, and it is good for one year and sending a maximum of three people per company to any MAP workshop. Attendance for more than one person from each company at each workshop is not a mandatory requirement of the program.
Partners
Contact
For information on MEIC membership and to register for the Mobile Accelerator Program, please contact: kwebb@meic.ca or at 416-977-6000 x4363.
Registration
Funding for MAP is provided by the City of Toronto and NRC IRAP.