District Ventures Accelerator putting $3 million towards 20 entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs in Calgary could get some cash and mentorship towards their budding businesses, and they won’t even have to face the dragons – at least not all of them.

Arlene Dickinson, founder of District Ventures and investor from the TV show Dragons’ Den, will have a hand in kickstarting these small business, as her company has already accepted 47 companies into the accelerator program.

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A total of 20 additional entrepreneurs will be given an investment of $130,000 each beginning in January 2018, and will spend five months increasing their brand’s equity, distribution, sales, and valuation, according to a release from District Ventures Accelerator.

“I’m extraordinarily excited about the growth and expansion of District Ventures Accelerator as an ecosystem for entrepreneurs,” Dickinson said in the release.

“This investment builds on our position as one of the top accelerator programs for early-stage CPG businesses in North America.”

The program is open to early stage food, beverage, and health consumer packaged goods (CPG) businesses, and owners must apply before December 8.

If you’re an early stage 🇨🇦CPG biz in the food or health space apply today. Funding, 5 mth program, mentorship & a demo day to pitch for next stage capital. Huge opportunity to grow. #ag #health #consumergoods https://t.co/umAljoRApg

— Arlene Dickinson (@ArleneDickinson) November 15, 2017

“We receive thousands of applications, and have accepted just 47 to date,” Dickinson said in the release.

“I expect that the opportunity for entrepreneurs to obtain early investment alongside growth programming will definitely increase demand.”

The programs will run with 10 businesses each, with the first starting in January 2018 and the second beginning in July 2018.

“[This investment] represents our commitment to growing entrepreneurialism in Canada and to diversifying our economy by leveraging our country’s expertise in health and agriculture,” Dickinson said.