CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - P.E.I. startup companies now have another bridge they can cross to connect with off-Island talent, markets and capital.
P.E.I. Bridge is a joint initiative between Island Capital Partners and Startup Zone.
“Our mission is to build a global network of accomplished professionals and experienced entrepreneurs, across industries, to share their experiences and knowledge, and commit to helping P.E.I. companies,” said Alex MacBeath, CEO and managing partner of Island Capital Partners, who officially launched the initiative at Invest Atlantic in Charlottetown recently.
“It’s all about guidance. It’s all about mentoring and steering in the right direction. It’s about connectivity and it’s about helping to scale the ecosystem and scale individual companies.”
On the mentoring side, MacBeath is aiming to have about 100 business professionals with national and international experience involved in the initiative. The mentors will be divided between professionals living or spending summers on P.E.I., and Islanders working nationally and internationally. The mentors will become involved by invitation only.
“It’s all about guidance. It’s all about mentoring and steering in the right direction. It’s about connectivity and it’s about helping to scale the ecosystem and scale individual companies.”
- Alex MacBeath
Early stage P.E.I. companies with significant growth potential that are interested in participating don’t have to be residents of Startup Zone or be involved with Island Capital Partners, said MacBeath, But they do have to undergo a screening process to determine if they are eligible to participate.
Besides startups and mentors, the initiative is also looking for P.E.I. Bridge sponsors – companies with a strong presence on the Island that are willing to provide financial support.
More information about the P.E.I. Bridge initiative as well as how to get involved can be found at peibridge.com.
MacBeath also co-chaired last week’s ninth annual Invest Atlantic networking event with Patrick Farrar, CEO of Startup Zone.
MacBeath said he was pleased with how the event turned out, especially in terms of putting investors and startup companies together in the same room, as well as giving P.E.I. companies more exposure.
“One of the things we wanted to do was attract investors more broadly than just P.E.I. and Atlantic Canada – from other parts of the country, which we did,” he said. “Some of those investors were interested in doing more deals in Atlantic Canada.”