The startup community in St. John’s is continuing to move forward this week with the opening of its co-working facility and a partnership with Startup Canada.

The innovation community in St. John’s ranges from 150-member multi-nationals like Verafin to single-entrepreneur startups like FundUni and dozens of companies in between. But since late last year, the community has been coming together to accelerate growth. It formed StartupNL late last year, an association that gained more than 100 members in its first few months. Now community members have formed Startup St. John’s, to become one of the first wave of Startup Canada communities , a national pilot project to support entrepreneurs.

What’s more, Common Ground, the shared office space for a range of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creative, has opened its doors at 5 Waterford Bridge Road, St. John’s.

On Wednesday, Common Ground Coworking St. John’s – a non-profit overseen by nine volunteers -- moved into the site which will now be home to more than 15 companies. Common Ground is also actively recruiting community partners that will help outfit the space and assist/provide support to our entrepreneurial members.

“Many entrepreneurs around the city feel isolated and distracted as they work out of local coffee shops and home offices,” said Common Ground Co-Founder Chris Gardner. “Common Ground will provide small businesses with a great location, supportive community, and conveniences they need from a physical office space.”

Startup St. John's will host an open house in Common Ground on May 9.

Startup St. John’s said in a statement it will benefit from its affiliation with Startup Canada because it will link the organization to resources in 14 other Canadian cities, including Fredericton and Charlottetown.

 “By offering this entrepreneur-driven organization, startups in the St. John's area and throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will be connected to the people and resources needed to turn ideas into successes,” said Roger Power, Co-Founder of StartUp St. John's. “No doubt some very successful startups will be formed.”

The organization announced its participation in the Startup Canada project at a press conference yesterday at the offices of the Newfoundland Association of Technical Industries, at which Keith Hutchings, the Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, spoke in favour of the initiative.