🎉🎉2024 has been an incredible year for us! 🎉🎉 We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to work with such amazing entrepreneurs, sponsors, and partners within the Venturepark community. Thank you, 2024, for the unforgettable memories and remarkable achievements. As we eagerly step into 2025, we are filled with excitement for the incredible moments that lie ahead and we're happy to have you on this journey with us! Happy New Year!
About us
Venturepark is the place to create, build, and scale your CPG business. Founded by Canadian Dragon's Den star Arlene Dickinson, our mission is to push the potential of Canadian entrepreneurs. Since 2015, we have delivered non-profit programs in support of Canadian entrepreneurs, including Canada's top accelerator for consumer goods. Our graduates represent some of the fastest-growing companies in Canada and collectively sell over $200M annually. In addition, our incubator kitchen in North York, Ontario, provides manufacturing space to emerging food brands, and our programs support the launch of new product innovation. Collectively, Venturepark helps over 100 early-stage CPG brands a year. Great businesses can change the world, and we're lowering barriers for entrepreneurs to succeed. Over 85% of our program participants identify as a member of an equity-deserving group. Together with our ecosystem partner, District Ventures Capital, we have contributed over $1.6B in economic output and created thousands of jobs. Are you ready to push your potential? Get in touch with us today.
- Website
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http://www.ventureparklabs.ca
External link for Venturepark
- Industry
- Business Consulting and Services
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Calgary, AB
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Specialties
- Strategic brand and marketing planning, channel and distribution strategy, creative development, sales, public relations, operations, digital technology, e-commerce, consumer-packaged goods, food and beverage, health and wellness, marketing, growth, innovation, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and food processing
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
2540 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3S3, CA
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Get directions
76 Densley Ave
North York, Ontario M6M 2R3, CA
Employees at Venturepark
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Craig Hanna
Private Equity Investor Driving Growth and Impact in Sustainable Food 🌍📈
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Melissa Martin
CEO at Wean Green
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Andrea Pember, CPA, CA, MPAcc
Finance Leader | Venture Capital
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Arlene Dickinson
Arlene Dickinson is an Influencer Managing General Partner at District Ventures Capital
Updates
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✨ 2024: A Year of GROWTH! ✨ From welcoming new team members and adding visionary board members to hosting our first-ever summit with over 350 attendees (🤯) and working with over 120 Canadian founders — this year has been nothing short of incredible! 🌟 Thank you for being part of this journey. We cannot wait to share what’s in store for 2025…it’s going to be an exciting year!! 🎉 Arlene Dickinson Marla Larock Marlis Bens Kalyan C. Katherine Puhl Marlis Bens Lucy Shields Stella Antonio Serene Martin Rob Horricks Michelle Neilson Jessica Lau Mike McNeil Andrea Pember, CPA, CA, MPAcc Robert Faulder Glen Price Ashton Sequeira
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Last week, Cohort 18 had the incredible opportunity to pitch to the Sobeys Look for Local program—a meaningful step in showcasing their products and stories to the Sobeys team. 🛒🇨🇦 This session, made possible through our foundational sponsorship with Sobeys, provides our Accelerator Cohort members with the chance to connect directly with a key retail partner. Whether it's starting the journey toward getting listed in Sobeys stores or exploring opportunities to expand their presence, this program helps local businesses take important strides in their growth. 🌟 A heartfelt THANK YOU to the Sobeys team for your time, support, and dedication to fostering local entrepreneurship. 🙌 And to our Cohort 18 members who presented—great job, and best of luck with your one-on-one continued conversations with the Sobeys team! Gary Hughes Stacey Sousa Sheri Evans Stephanie Amos Christopher Wiltse Paul Shaw
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Thank you to BMO for your partnership in helping entrepreneurial businesses in the Canadian CPG space both thrive and grow! We are grateful for all the support, knowledge and encouragement you provide founders!
We had the privilege to sponsor and participate in the Venturepark Summit! A special highlight was hearing Arlene Dickinson in conversation with Robin Stewart discussing insight in the entrepreneurial landscape specifically related to CPG. The event was an incredible opportunity that brought together innovators, founders, partners and industry members to discuss the future of entrepreneurship and business growth. We’re proud to support ventures that drive change and create meaningful impact!
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At Venturepark, we empower entrepreneurs to grow their CPG brands. We focus on providing the tools, connections, and support needed to succeed in today’s competitive market. Here’s what you’ll gain as part of our community: ✨ Customized one-to-one mentoring sessions ✨ Cutting-edge content and insights from industry speakers ✨ Scaling and growth strategies based on your product ✨ Opportunity to present to Sobeys buyers in an exclusive online event + one-on-one personal follow-up calls for listing/growing through their LocalProgram ✨ A supportive network of founders who’ve been where you are or who are on the same path as you 📢 Applications are now open for Cohort 19! This is your opportunity to take your business to the next level. Applications close January 15, 2025 & Cohort 19 starts February 2025! #CPGEntrepreneurs #CanadianBusiness
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It was wonderful to see some familiar faces from our current and past Venturepark cohorts exhibiting their fabulous products at the One of a Kind Show last weekend! 🎉 If you’re heading to the show, be sure to check out: 🌸 Cathy Munro with Bramblehill Farm 🍯 Jesse Abbass & Jake Mahoney with The Halifax Honey Company 🍵 Sarah Wilcox & David O'Connor 歐佳德 with Genuine Tea 🌱 Adhavan Thirumaran with Thirus Gourmet 🌿 Rhaelyn Gillespie & Jessica Donati with Mintier ☕ Laura Richard with Saltwinds Coffee Company Ltd. 🥣 Kunal Datta & Zahra Kanji with Passport Pantry The show runs until Dec 1st and with over 600 artisans in attendance, it’s a fantastic way to support small businesses. Don’t miss it!
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As we reflect on Venturepark Summit we’re filled with gratitude for this community! 💙 Thank you to our 350+ attendees, inspiring speakers, incredible sponsors (Sobeys BMO Business Banking, Tree of Life Canada, Prairies Economic Development Canada), and the amazing CPG community for making this event unforgettable. Here’s to the connections, insights, and energy that will fuel the future of CPG! 🚀 Stay tuned for more 👀 #VentureparkSummit
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🎉 Huge congratulations to Sarah Wilcox and David O'Connor 歐佳德, our incredible Cohort 6 Alumni, on an exciting new chapter! 🙌 Goodfood Market (TSX:FOOD) has acquired a majority stake in GenuineTea 🎉✨ Sarah and Dave’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Over the past decade, they’ve built Genuine Tea into a beloved tea favourite, stocked in top coffee shops like 49th Parallel and Balzac’s, and sold at Whole Foods and online. 🌱☕ With this acquisition, Genuine Tea will scale even further as Sarah and Dave continue to grow the brand as equity partners, now with the support of Goodfood’s expertise and infrastructure. 🚀💼 Congratulations again on this milestone, and here’s to even bigger things ahead! 🍵💚 #CanadianEntrepreneurs #CPGInnovation
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🌍 Welcome to Cohort 18, Walt Kalkan Vice President of Social Enterprise in partnership with @ADRACanada!🎉 ADRA has been empowering communities for over 40 years, providing vital services in 100+ countries. Their NEW social impact venture, HopeWorks Canada, promises to enhance the beautifully established humanitarian work of ADRA Canada and equip a new generation with essential skills in an evolving global market. They’re launching Hope Harvest, a line of snackable cashews from Ghana, driven by a powerful mission. 🥜 After local farmers were forced to burn their cashew trees for coal due to unfair pricing, ADRA stepped in to rewrite this story. By ensuring fair prices, they uplift farmers and strengthen entire communities. 🌱 Each bite supports sustainable growth and reinvests in Ghanaian development. Snack with purpose! Walt has joined the Venturepark Accelerator to learn how to successfully launch and scale this impactful project. We’re excited to support Hope Harvest on this journey! ✨