Venturepark Labs

🥞 We’re flipping excited! 🥞 STAC(S), an alumni of Cohort 16 of our Accelerator program, has launched their highly anticipated gluten-free pancake mix! This organic, gluten-free version of their beloved original mix is made with Canadian-sourced organic ingredients and is just as fluffy and delicious. 🍁 You can now grab a box online or find them in select retail stores. What’s even better? A portion of profits from these boxes, just like their original ones, are shared with nonprofits that support food, youth, or the arts. So, not only are you treating yourself to a tasty breakfast, but you’re also contributing to some great causes! 💛 Get stacking today — check out their new gluten-free mix at STACSOriginal.ca!

Arlene Dickinson and Venturepark's Board of Directors are thrilled to announce the appointment of Marla Larock, MBA as the new President of Venturepark. Marla brings 25 years of marketing and innovation expertise in the food and beverage sector across CPG, retail, and restaurant industries in both Canada and Australia. Marla's experience spans client and advisory roles, where she has successfully driven brand and organizational growth in highly competitive environments. Her impressive portfolio includes work with industry giants like General Mills, Procter & Gamble, Nabisco, Second Cup, Kellogg's, Goodman Fielder, and Australian icon Arnott’s, managing both market leaders and emerging brands. As an accomplished and entrepreneurial leader, she’s an invaluable addition to our team in this time of growth and expansion. Her passion for Canadian-led innovation and fostering growth in this space aligns perfectly with our mission of helping early-stage entrepreneurs thrive and overcome barriers they face by increasing access to resources, mentorship, and networks. In her new role as President, Marla will lead Venturepark in advancing our mission as Canada’s leading accelerator for food, beverage, and wellness entrepreneurs. She is committed to expanding our organization’s reach and impact nationally, and to furthering important relationships with our valued partners. Marla holds an HBA and MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University. Please join us in welcoming Marla to Venturepark!

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our sponsor, BMO Business Banking, and the entire BMO team for attending Demo Day and continuously supporting us and our entrepreneurs. Our programs and initiatives thrive thanks to incredible partners like BMO. Thank you for making it all possible!

In preparation for Demo Day, alumni founders joined us to inspire Cohort 17. We had the privilege of hosting in-person panels featuring founders from previous Accelerator program cohorts the day before each Demo Day. These experienced entrepreneurs shared their journeys and insights with our Cohort 17 members, offering guidance for growing consumer packaged goods businesses. On Tuesday, June 18, Jamie Parker from Canadian Heritage Roasting Company, Graham Matheos from One For The Road Brewing, and Logan Derksen from Simply Cocktails took the stage to engage with our Western Cohort 17 founders, discussing their unique paths to success. A week later, on Tuesday, June 25, Terry M. from MacAllister's Brands and Graydon Moffat from Graydon Skincare captivated our Eastern Cohort 17 founders with their stories and advice. We extend a heartfelt thank you to our alumni for dedicating their time and expertise to support our programs and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Prairies Economic Development Canada I Développement économique Canada pour les Prairies and the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, announced over $21M in federal funding for 14 projects across Alberta, including Venturepark Labs! This funding will drive significant environmental and economic benefits throughout the province and its robust agricultural sector, creating good jobs and helping Alberta organizations seize opportunities in value-added agriculture. We deeply appreciate PrairiesCan's steadfast support in helping us expand our programs and reach for early-stage food, beverage, and packaged goods brands.

If you’ve been a member of our Accelerator program, you know how irreplaceable Michelle Neilson is. As one of our Executives in Residence at Venturepark Labs, Michelle has mentored Cohort 16 and 17 members with her expertise. Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2004 when she co-founded Mclean Organic Foods Inc, Canada’s pioneering organic and preservative-free deli meat company. She and her partner successfully navigated the challenges of building a business, growing the company into a market leader. In 2023, they celebrated a significant milestone by selling the company. Now, Michelle is dedicated to giving back to the entrepreneurial community by supporting consumer packaged goods startups ready to scale. With her extensive experience and background in Fine Arts, Business, and Sustainability, she understands that strong financial and strategic planning are key to success. Equally important, she emphasizes the need for a clear company mission, vision, and core values to guide decision-making. Are you seeking mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs like Michelle? Join our Accelerator program and elevate your business! https://lnkd.in/gYFDvPYG

June was nothing short of a theatrical triumph with Demo Day stealing the show! The curtains rose on a month filled with preparations and enticing presentations from the Cohort 17 founders of our Accelerator program. This year, we doubled the excitement with two Demo Days: one featuring the stars from Western Canada and another showcasing the talents from the East. Each event was a grand stage where our entrepreneurs delivered their best pitches, captivating the audience and earning standing ovations. Keep reading to catch the highlights and behind-the-scenes moments from this unforgettable production!

Kreg and Lee-Anne Alde from Friceys and Gary Hughes from Sobeys sealed the deal with a handshake 🤝 Thanks to their hard work during our Accelerator program, Friceys and many other Cohort 17 founders have earned their spot in the Sobeys Local program! A huge shout out to Sobeys for sponsoring Venturepark and giving entrepreneurs like Friceys the golden opportunity to see their products shine on grocery store shelves. 🌟

June’s Park Person of the Month was Andrew M.! An alumni of Cohort 7 of our Accelerator program and the genius behind Flourish, Andrew is stacking up success as he builds a $100MM breakfast empire! 🥞 Starting his entrepreneurial journey at 19, Andrew managed over 24 online stores with varying success. In 2018, he mixed up something special with Flourish Pancakes, a better-for-you pancake mix that became his 25th venture. Flourish is now the fastest-growing food company in Canada, according to The Globe and Mail, and a leader in the breakfast category across North America. But it’s not just pancakes and syrup for Andrew! Since his time in our program, he has continued to support our initiatives and growing entrepreneurs, and we couldn’t be more grateful for his contributions. Congrats, Andrew! Your passion and drive are inspiring. Keep flipping those pancakes.

Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦 Our mission is to support growing Canadian entrepreneurs, and today we proudly recognize and celebrate the founders in our community. They've got you covered with all the Canada Day essentials! Check out these fantastic Canadian products: 🍎 Start your day with Seta Organic’s Latte blends 🍸 Level up your patio drinks with Birds & Bees Wine and Spirits’ Country Line Vodka 🌶️ Spice up your backyard BBQ with Red Cap Hot Sauce Co.’s Peppa Sauce 💧 Rehydrate with Tuesday Brewing Co.’s Freebomb Pale Ale 🧊 Cool down with Friceys' Creamsicles