May 05, 2016
Genome BC and BCTIA Collaborate to Support the Future of Healthtech in BC
Innovative new program advances growth-stage healthtech and life sciences companies
Vancouver, BC – Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) and the British Columbia Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) today announced the launch of HyperGrowth:Life, BC’s first cohort-based program designed to advance tech companies in the healthtech and life sciences industries.
Building on the demonstrated success of the BCTIA HyperGrowth program, HyperGrowth:Life is a 12-month cohort-based program providing revenue and sales support to growth-stage tech companies in healthtech, digital health, life sciences, agritech and related industries. Programming begins in July 2016, and includes workshops, mentorship, and advisory support from industry leaders and practicing executives at some of Vancouver’s top companies.
“This partnership with the BCTIA is pivotal in advancing our entrepreneurship and commercialization stream, and simultaneously supporting growth for BC-based companies,” says Dr. Alan Winter, President & CEO of Genome BC. “Genome BC is partnering with established accelerators and incubators to help drive BC’s bioeconomy.”
Genome BC and BCTIA are also collaborating with organizations and accelerators such as Accel-Rx, the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), entrepreneurship@UBC, InterfaceHealth, SFU Innovates, TELUS Health, and Wavefront.
“This is an unprecedented collaboration among the life sciences community,” said BCTIA President & CEO, Bill Tam. “Programs like HyperGrowth and HyperGrowth:Life inspire everyone involved and encourage a sense of community that we have not experienced in other programs. By harnessing the power of our partners, volunteers, and community-at-large, we have found a way to create real, lasting change for these companies. This results in a culture of ‘paying it forward’ that we’re proud to see continue well beyond the program itself.”
Applications are now open for HyperGrowth:Life. To be eligible, companies must be in healthtech, digital health, life sciences, agritech or related industries, with demonstrated early-success in commercialization and a readiness for advanced growth. To learn more, and to apply, visit www.bctia.org/HGlife.
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About Genome British Columbia:
Genome British Columbia leads genomics innovation on Canada’s West Coast and facilitates the integration of genomics into society. A recognized catalyst for government and industry, Genome BC invests in research, entrepreneurship and commercialization in life sciences to address challenges in key sectors such as health, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, agri-food, energy, mining and environment. Genome BC partners with many national and international public and private funding organizations to drive BC’s bioeconomy. In addition to research, entrepreneurship and commercialization programs, Genome BC is committed to fostering an understanding and appreciation of the life sciences among teachers, students and the general public. www.genomebc.ca
Genome BC Media Contact:
Jennifer Boon
Communications Manager, Sectors
Genome BC
Mobile: 778-327-8374
Email: jboon@genomebc.ca
#genomebc @genomebc
About BCTIA
The BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) is guided by our vision to make BC the best place to grow a tech company. For more than 20 years, the BCTIA has helped to grow our province’s tech cluster to over 9,000 companies that employ nearly 90,000 people, and that now outpaces the resource industry in terms of economic contribution to the province.
Our mission is to help tech companies grow, and it is supported by our core values: Be of Service, Succeed Together, and Pay it Forward. www.bctia.org
BCTIA Media Contact:
Wendy Turnbull
Director, Marketing & Events
BCTIA
Direct: 604.602.5231
Email: wturnbull@bctia.org
