Kootenay entrepreneurs benefit thanks to Access BC

KRIC Executive director Larry Sparks lauds Access BC program

The remote geography of the East Kootenays has many spectacular advantages, but for our region’s budding tech entrepreneurs, access to key learning and growth opportunities can present a challenge.

Enter the British Columbia Innovation Council’s (BCIC) Access BC program, which enables BC tech entrepreneurs to attend conferences and events outside of their region. The program’s aim is to level the playing field by making it easier for BC-based technology ventures to access valuable learning and networking opportunities throughout BC, Canada and abroad.

“In 2013, KRIC had a lot of success in connecting entrepreneurs thanks to Access BC,” said Larry Sparks, executive director of the Kootenay Rockies Innovation Council (KRIC). “We sent a total of four entrepreneurs to conferences, events and workshops, leveraging over $4,000 of travel costs that provided direct benefit to growing East Kootenay businesses.”

Two recipients of the support, Steve Fisher and George Otcenasek of Golden Environmental Mat Services (GEMS), were recently featured in a monthly KRIC Success Story. Both Steve and George were able to attend to attend CETAC-West’s five-day Entrepreneur-to-CEO workshop in Banff, which was a fantastic opportunity for the business partners.

“We both learned a good deal about how to improve our operations,” said Fisher. “It was particularly helpful to hear how other businesses have dealt with the challenges of growing through the case studies.”

He added, “We were able to meet and forge relationships with many companies operating in our target market, and I know we will benefit from establishing those connections. The mentors are solid industry veterans who know and understand our market, and our business is absolutely stronger from the experience.”

Colin Fitzgerald, a Kimberley-based entrepreneur who is about to launch is own high-tech electronics manufacturing company, also attended the workshop. “The support I received from Access BC enabled me to attend this workshop, which gave me key insights into starting and running a small business, and will be a huge asset in the coming months as I launch my new venture in Kimberley.”

With travel costs making many events out of reach for entrepreneurs in the East Kootenay, programs like Access BC provide needed support for growing BC’s tech businesses.

KRIC provides targeted referrals, networking building opportunities and mentorship to technology-related business in the East Kootenay. Its programs are delivered in partnership with BCIC. For more information, visit kric.ca. Learn more about BCIC’s programs.