Exciting news! RADIUS Ventures is currently recruiting up to eight “Trampoline” ventures and five “Slingshot” ventures. We are specifically looking for impact ventures that seek to address a wicked societal or environmental challenge as a core part of their business model. At this time we are not excluding any sectors, although we will favour those sectors targeted by downstream investors (local economy, sustainable food, etc.). RADIUS Ventures is distinct from other accelerators in its hands-on approach to entrepreneur and venture development. Our goal is to ensure that every venture that works with us has a clear change in trajectory after working with us.
Trampoline (4 month program)
Our Trampoline program is our incubator for pre- or early-revenue companies. The core purpose of the Trampoline offering is to help emerging entrepreneurs to answer this question: “Are we really going to do this? Does the world need it? Do we want to give this to the world?” Our offering is designed to allow entrepreneurs to develop their own business venture, while immersing themselves in an experience that provides a deep exposure to social innovation, entrepreneurship, and start-up venture management.
Program elements include:
• immersion in design thinking, lean start-up and other theoretical/methodological frames;
• cultivation of their own early stage venture;
• participation in design labs and other Innovation activities; and
• experience with a more mature venture through joining the team of a Slingshot venture.
Slingshot (6 month program)
Our Slingshot accelerator program is designed to get ventures market ready and investor ready. For this hands on
program, we are looking for impact ventures that:
• have been in existence for at least six months
• have achieved market traction (e.g., beta client
commitment, $100,000 to $1million in annual
revenues, etc.)
• are moving out of a “prototyping” phase, ready
for formal market entry or rapid growth, and/or
seeking their first third party funding.
We offer a range of hands on services to our Slingshot ventures, including office space, mentorship, back office support, team enhancement, and funding connections.
Mentors
At RADIUS Ventures, Mentors are external advisors that provide guidance and expert advice. They are not a part of the management team but have expertise and experience to share that can help an entrepreneur get and stay in business.
RADIUS is actively recruiting experienced entrepreneurs and technical experts to mentor our Trampoline and Slingshot clients on a volunteer basis. We seek both relationship-based Mentors that will commit to meeting with the same venture at least once per month, as well as technical Mentors that are interested in meeting with ventures on a one-off basis to impart their valuable knowledge. If you know of somebody that you believe fits this description, we’d love to connect with them! Please contact Director of RADIUS Ventures, Donovan Woollard, at dwoollard@radiussfu.com.
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) are experienced entrepreneurs that are looking to join (temporarily or permanently) a team coming through the accelerator.
While EIRs will provide mentorship to Trampoline ventures from time to time, their primary function is to join and shape the teams of Slingshot ventures. These are proven entrepreneurs that are actively seeking new ventures to build and shape. EIRs are a crucial part of the RADIUS Ventures community and can directly contribute to the success of a new venture (through bringing experience and – sometimes – capital).
Vancouver is lucky to have a growing number of seasoned impact entrepreneurs. We know some of them already. We don’t know all of them. Please help us to expand our network.
Funding and Fees
Running an accelerator and delivering our services costs money that many start-ups do not have. For this reason, RADIUS will establish a unique funding relationship with each venture, including some or all of: fee-based services, performance-based pay, or equity in the venture. We are not limited to working with ventures that can pay for our services on a monthly basis.
Again, we seek your support in identifying ventures, mentors, or entrepreneurs-in-residence that could gain value from our program. We’re excited to hear back from you!
