Startup Zone, Prince Edward Island's startup incubator, has named Patrick Farrar, the Co-Founder and former COO of Venture for Canada, as its new CEO.
Startup Zone provides resident companies with a workspace, advice in professional services like accounting and law and free information sessions.
Farrar stepped into the position on Monday, succeeding interim CEO Shannon Pratt as she becomes Creative Industries Development Officer for Innovation PEI’s Cultural Development Division.
"PEI is a particularly fascinating ecosystem where startups, businesses and government are working together to promote innovation.” Farrar said in a statement.
“I’ve been watching the boom of Atlantic Canada’s entrepreneurial community over the past few years, and I am excited to return to the east coast to actively support this growth.”
Farrar has experience in both supporting and building early-stage companies. He has been involved in the creation of over a dozen ventures in various sectors and has helped raise millions in financing.
Originally from Halifax, Farrar attended Mount Allison University and Dalhousie University for his Bachelor of Management, Entrepreneurship, and has an MBA in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from Saint Mary’s University.
Startup Zone invites the public to attend its weekly coffee chat this Friday at 10:30 a.m to welcome Farrar into its community. Farrar will be sharing his experiences and plans for the future of Startup Zone.
In March, Startup Zone welcomed nine new companies into its residency program. These are the companies currently working out of the incubator:
- AGAMA specializes in augmented reality and virtual reality experiences, 3D audio, interactive spaces and custom electronic devices. Sergio Fernandez, co-founder and CTO of AGAMA, recently moved to P.E.I. from Colombia through the Startup Visa program.
- Gocanna, founded by Shaman Ferraro and Annie MacEachern is working to connect medical cannabis patients and (impending) recreational consumers with responsible product and service providers.
- Island AquaTech was founded by three engineering students from the University of Prince Edward Island, Jordan Sampson, Dylan MacIsaac and Brett McDermott, who invented a cage flipper for the oyster farming industry.
- Letter Board Company, founded by Diane Sankar, is Canada’s first premium felt letter board company dedicated to providing quality letter boards for your home.
- Smart Catch Systems, founded by Pierre Bassaler-Merpillat, is working to create a traceability solution for P.E.I. seafood.
- Salts of the Earth, founded by Darren Blanchard, is a social enterprise that provides organic salt products from all over the world to raise funds and awareness for charitable groups.
- Maritime Heritage Meats, founded by Jordan Liantzakis, is aiming to start P.E.I.’s first Gourmet Meat Distribution Company focusing on quality, ethically sourced and produced products.
- The Maker Factory, founded by Kevin Brooks, will be a 3D printing storefront, offering pre-printed 3D objects, customizable designs, educational classes, and concierge services to help clients design and create custom items.
- Red Island Cider, founded by Robert Van Waarden, is looking to tap into the potential of craft apple cider. The company will aim to fill this gap by creating a cidery on Prince Edward Island.
Disclosure: Startup Zone is a client of Entrevestor.
