Accelerator Centre

10/15/2026

40 startups. 400 attendees. One BIG celebration of Canadian innovation.

Introducing the Accelerator Centre's first-ever Innovation Showcase!

On November 10, we're bringing Waterloo Region's innovation community together for an afternoon of breakthrough technologies, founder presentations and valuable connections.

At the heart of the event is our Innovation Showcase Floor, featuring 40 promising tech startups from across AC:Studio, AC:RevLab, AC:Health, the Aerospace Accelerator and AC:Incubate.

Plus, the top seven companies from AC:Studio Cohort 2 will take the stage for founder presentations, sharing the progress they've made, the innovations they're building and what's next.

Come see innovation in action, meet the founders behind the ideas and be part of what’s next for Canadian innovation!

📅 November 10 | 12-4 PM
📍 300 Hagey Boulevard
🔗 Secure your spot: https://www.acceleratorcentre.com/event-page/ac-innovation-showcase/

10/13/2026

We've got the mentors and you've got the big questions. Let's make some connections!

On October 22, AC Open House: Meet the Mentors is bringing founders face-to-face with experienced experts for an afternoon of 10-minute speed mentorship sessions, valuable insights and conversations that could open new doors.

Whether you're navigating fundraising, refining your strategy or preparing for your next stage of growth, you'll have access to expertise across finance, legal, marketing, product, talent and more.

Come ready to connect, ask questions and discover what your next 10-minute conversation could unlock.

📅 Oct 22 from 1-4 PM
📍 Accelerator Centre HQ
🔗 Secure your spot: https: https://www.acceleratorcentre.com/event-page/ac-open-house-meet-the-mentors/

10/09/2026

Another big win for an AC founder!

Fresh off wrapping up AC:RevLab Cohort 3, Talk Luna has been named a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2026 Milton Excellence Awards!

We love seeing founders in our community recognized for their entrepreneurial drive, hard work and the impact they're making.

A huge congratulations to the Talk Luna team on this well-deserved recognition! We're cheering you on!

See the full list of finalists:

CELEBRATE EXCEPTIONAL MILTONIANS IN STYLE AT THE MILTON EXCELLENCE AWARDS October 21 RattleSnake Point Golf Club Tickets: $185 + HST All finalists and winners will be honoured at the Milton […]

10/08/2026

Sometimes, the best ideas start with a conversation.

We went behind the scenes at Founder Sprint, a monthly get-together where AC founders come together to share challenges, exchange ideas and learn from one another.

It's a chance to step away from the day-to-day, gain fresh perspectives and connect with people who understand what it takes to build a business.

A little collaboration can go a long way. That's the power of the AC founder community!

10/07/2026

Xanadu has secured a CAD $195 million federal commitment, marking the largest investment in quantum manufacturing in Canadian history.

The Government of Canada funding, provided through the Strategic Response Fund, will support Project OPTIMISM and Xanadu’s plans to build advanced quantum manufacturing capabilities in Canada.

The investment will help build the infrastructure needed for fault-tolerant, utility-scale photonic quantum computers while strengthening Canada’s quantum supply chain.

It also strengthens ties to Waterloo Region’s quantum ecosystem through work with the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing and Open Quantum Design.

For founder and CEO Dr. Christian Weedbrook and the Xanadu team, it’s another major step toward building quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.

Read more:

Federal commitment through the Strategic Response Fund for Project OPTIMISM anchors Xanadu's plan to manufacture the components of fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computers in Canada.

10/06/2026

We’re excited to welcome Pulse Law LLP back as an AC Preferred Service Provider!

Pulse Law brings decades of experience across startup, venture capital and business law, paired with a modern, practical approach built for founders.

From formation and financing to growth and exit, their team helps startups navigate the legal decisions that come with building and scaling a business without making things more complicated than they need to be.

We’re proud to continue working with Pulse Law and connecting AC founders with experienced legal support at every stage of their journey.

Welcome back, Pulse Law!

10/05/2026

What could 10 minutes with the right person unlock for your startup?

On October 22, we’re bringing founders, mentors, investors and startup experts together for AC Open House: Meet the Mentors.

Get focused advice through 10-minute speed mentorship sessions, connect with experts across funding, legal, finance, marketing, product, talent and more, and meet people who can help you tackle what’s next.

Raising? Refining your GTM? Building your team? Facing a challenge you can’t quite crack?

Bring your questions. Your next move could start with one conversation.

📅 Oct 22 from 1-4 PM
📍 Accelerator Centre HQ
🔗 Secure your spot at link in bio!

10/05/2026

What could 10 minutes with the right person unlock for your startup?

On October 22, we’re opening the doors at the Accelerator Centre for an afternoon of practical advice, valuable connections and conversations that could move your business forward.

At AC Open House: Meet the Mentors, founders can get focused, one-on-one advice through 10-minute speed mentorship sessions, connect with experts across funding, legal, finance, marketing, product, talent and more, and meet the people who know what it takes to build and scale a company.

Preparing to raise? Refining your go-to-market strategy? Building your team? Tackling your next big challenge?

Bring your questions. Meet the people who can help you find your next move.

A big thank you to RSM and Smart & Biggar for supporting this event and our founder community.

📅 Oct 22 from 1-4 PM
📍 Accelerator Centre HQ
🔗 Secure your spot: https: https://www.acceleratorcentre.com/event-page/ac-open-house-meet-the-mentors/

10/01/2026

September was PACKED at the AC.

We kicked things off with founder-focused workshops, brought 500+ people together for the first-ever Aero Expo in the Waterloo Region, connected the Canadian tech community at our Tech Connect Mixer and welcomed a new cohort of companies to the Aerospace Accelerator.

From Black Friday strategy and protecting breakthrough technology to celebrating Waterloo Region’s growing aerospace, defence and dual-use sector, September gave us plenty of reasons to bring our community together.

A huge thank you to the founders, partners, speakers and community members who showed up and made it all happen.

September, that was a good one. October, you’re up.

09/29/2026

We’re excited to welcome Heather Gawel as the Accelerator Centre’s new AI and Product Mentor!

With 15 years of product experience, including VP of Product and Design roles at U.S. SaaS scale-ups, Heather has spent her career helping teams answer exactly that.

As the founder of Momentum Product Co., she works with founders across customer discovery, product-market fit, concept validation, product strategy and roadmapping, while helping teams find practical ways to use AI to accelerate their work.

Heather brings a hands-on, evidence-driven approach to help AC founders turn customer insights into smarter product decisions and move faster with confidence.

Welcome to the AC, Heather!