How matching Alberta entrepreneurs with the right support to start and scale their businesses can be improved

Rebecca Goldsack, COO, Diesel Tech Industries.

Rebecca Goldsack, COO, Diesel Tech Industries.

July 5, 2023

Mount Royal University’s Growth Compass, in collaboration with Alberta Innovates Impact Action Lab, has published results from a consultative study on improvements to entrepreneurial wayfinding across the province.

An 18 month exploratory study conducted across the Alberta Innovation Network (AIN) identified and prioritized a set of actionable insights. Titled ‘Find Your Future’ the project seeks to enhance the connections between entrepreneurs and ecosystem resources in an entrepreneur-centric way, to promote collaboration in solving scale-up and growth challenges.

“There are many ecosystem support organizations working every day to improve the prospects of Alberta entrepreneurs. However, the number of entrepreneurs we need to service continues to grow. Now, more than ever, it is essential for us all to work together to ensure entrepreneurs can find the right support at the right time to start and scale their enterprises” said Carla Otto, Executive Director of Entrepreneurial Investments at Alberta Innovates.

“As entrepreneurs and business leaders, our time is limited. Having clear access points in the support ecosystem and individuals who are up to speed on the programs that can support our business is essential to our future growth” said Rebecca Goldsack, Chief Operating Officer at Diesel Tech Industries, a company in the transportation technology sector and participant in Mount Royal’s Growth Catalyst program.

Alberta Regional Innovation Networks (RINs) reported limited time and resources to develop wayfinding solutions at local levels. As a result, the AIN must continue its investment in this process, with strong leadership from Alberta Innovates. The top three actionable insights that ecosystem support organizations would like to see prioritized were:

  • accelerate the navigator learning curve,
  • enhance communication and transparency, and
  • design a common needs assessment.

Dr. Simon Raby, the study’s author said “it was humbling to meet so many passionately engaged stakeholders across the province. We enter the implementation phase of the wayfinding project with an extremely positive outlook.”

For further information, please contact:

Peter Glenn, Senior Media Relations Officer
403.463.6930
mediarelations@mtroyal.ca