by Kensel Tracy, Canadian Bureau ChiefWelcome to life at MaRS, one of Canada’s most unique networking organizations, which is now starting to redefine how networking is changing from individuals trying to find individuals, to groups of individuals trying to help each other all in a common way? This is the way they network; at MaRs.
MaRS is a non-profit innovation centre connecting science, technology and social entrepreneurs with business skills, networks and capital to stimulate innovation and accelerate the creation and growth of successful Canadian enterprises.
MaRS connects the communities of science, business and capital and fosters collaboration among them.
Networking happens physically since research labs, companies of all sizes, business advisors, investors and professional services are all located within the MaRS Centre and then networking is supported broadly through hands-on, advisory services, special events, entrepreneurial programming and through structured networks and an expanding electronic community. In this process, there are many opportunities for entrepreneurs to network, share ideas, combine talents and to support one another to learn and grow.
Located in Toronto’s Discovery District, (two square kilometres that have been designated as the city’s centre of innovation) the MaRS Centre is the gateway to Canada’s largest concentration of scientific research, anchored by major teaching hospitals, the University of Toronto and more than two dozen affiliated research institutes. The Centre is also close to the Bay Street financial district, provincial legislature, key government organizations, arts and cultural attractions.
MaRS is not an acronym. It was originally a file name and the words "Medical and Related Sciences" were later attributed to it. Since MaRS promotes the convergence of a full range of science and technology disciplines, they dropped “Medical and Related Sciences” from their name so now it’s just MaRS. MaRS is also part of many networks and consortia, but it did not emanate from any pre-existing partnership. MaRS is a new and autonomous entity.
MaRS Advisory Services lies at the heart of its mission. It helps Ontario-based companies commercialize early-stage innovations in information and communications technology, nanotechnology and clean tech, life sciences, med-tech and beyond. MaRS also helps a range of social entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses and to generate specific social or environmental benefits as well as revenue.
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Their team of professionals includes experienced entrepreneurs, tech-savvy strategists and market analysts who work with hundreds of clients across Ontario. They offer advice, including business strategy, investor readiness and mentorship, education and through a range of MaRS-produced events. This also includes peer-to-peer offerings and their flagship the CIBC presents Entrepreneurship 101 program. Other services include market Research, which provides access to a range of proprietary databases and skilled market analysts and money, through funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation for business projects and investments of up to $500,000 in seed capital.
MaRS can also help businesses prepare for and provide contacts to angel networks and other venture capitalists. MaRS advisors deliver this range of services in-house through MaRS as well as through the: market Readiness Program (MRP) – a provincially funded partnership assisting entrepreneurial technology companies to accelerate their business growth and Social Innovation Generation (SiG) – a national partnership helping social innovators cultivate organizations, initiatives and companies in Canada.
So if you are a science, technology or social entrepreneur in Canada and wanting to meet a network of individuals, to start, grow, or build a business, it makes perfect sense --- just go to MaRS.
For more information or to contact MaRS, phone 416,673-8100 or email, marsdiscoverydistrict@marsdd.com.
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Kensel Tracy is a Senior Partner and The Marketing Coach with the Corporate Coachworkz Inc. a professional marketing and coaching company located in Ottawa Ontario and Chelsea, Quebec. Kensel is also President of Business over Breakfast
(BoB Clubs) of North America a face to face breakfast business networking and referral organization expanding throughout North America.
If you have an interesting story on networking in Canada, he can be reached at kenselt@sympatico.ca
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