Volta, the co-working space for startups in downtown Halifax, has yet to complete its first month of operation, but it is already fleshing out its programs and partnerships, which will benefit young companies in the region.
The “startup house”, as its founders have dubbed it, has struck partnerships with MentorCamp and with St. Mary’s University’s new Masters of Technology, Entrepreneurship and Innovation program. Executive Director Milan Vrekic has also unveiled the list of programs for the startup community.
About 13 tech startups now occupy the shared office space on Spring Garden Road, which is also the home for Build Ventures, the $50 million regional venture capital fund that happened to launch at about the same time as Volta.
Volta and MTEI announced today that those students in the program who are working full-time for a startup will be granted space in the facility, where they will have an opportunity to interact with the more experienced entrepreneurs. MTEI, which will begin in September, is a single-year Master’s program that works with entrepreneurs and business execs who want to adopt innovation to push their businesses forward.
“The energy in the Volta space and the diffusion of it to technology entrepreneurs will be enormously value-creating,” said Dawn Jutla, the Director of the MTEI program. ”Our students will be working with real issues in the trenches and with unsurpassable community support.”
MentorCamp Founder Permjot Valia said over the weekend that his Halifax-based company’s head office will be in Volta, where it can advise young companies. MentorCamp organizes one-day events in which dozens of international mentors come together to work with six to 10 startups. Since beginning in Halifax in 2011, MentorCamp has organized events in all Atlantic Provinces and is moving into South Africa, Turkey, Arkansas and other locations.
Meanwhile, the organizers are developing a range of programs for the startup community, including lectures and discussions, “Peer 2 Peer Meetups” (in which a Volta member leads a discussion on a subject) and even movie nights. Details are available on the Volta website.
Volta grew out of discussions between GoInstant Co-Founder Jevon MacDonald, the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency and others, and is supported by a range of sponsors.