Working with other partners throughout the region, Planet Hatch is trying to rustle up a group of founders and other startup lovers to make up an Atlantic Canadian contingent at the International Startup Festival in Montreal in July.

Sally Ng, the Executive Director of the glistening startup hub in Fredericton, said in an interview Monday her organization and others in the region are trying to get a group together to fill a bus to attend the festival.

Now in its sixth year, the Startup Festival gathers together more than 2,000 founders, investors, and analysts from more than a dozen countries. Startupfest offers a unique blend of deep content, inspiring stories, unbeatable networking, and unmistakable festival vibe. The event will be held July 15 to 18.

Two years ago, more than 50 East Coasters attended the Festival and last year an Atlantic Canadian tent at the Startup Festival allowed startups such as Moncton-based Qimple and Brownie Points of St. John’s to demo their products. Ng is hoping that tradition can be resurrected this year.

Planet Hatch and Pond Deshpande Centre are trying to work with a group of sponsors to reduce the cost of attending the event and make it possible for more people to attend.

“If an individual entrepreneur wants to go to the event, the cost (including transportation, accommodation and admission) would be about $900,” said Ng. “We’re trying to bring the cost down to about $450.”

If any startup lovers are interested, they can simply register here to reserve their spots. First come, first serve. Once sponsorships are confirmed, participants will be asked to purchase their tickets at the discounted rate.

As well as working on the voyage to Montreal, Ng is busy with a range of tasks at Planet Hatch. The space will host one of the three Launch cohorts of PropelICT this summer, so nine companies (seven from Fredericton) will be moving in in the next week or two.  

While she will be one of the mentors working with this group, she also hopes to reach out to some of the 160 companies that applied to Propel and didn’t make it to ensure they learn from the experience and apply again.