The California Market Access Program for Canadian Technology Companies
September 9-15, 2009
Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria

Is your early-stage company looking to have access to the California market, including partners, investors and Fortune 500 global ICT firms?

If the answer is yes, we want to work with you!

Application deadline is August 21st. See below for more information.

The first round of Canadian Regional Boot Camps will include stops in the following ICT cluster regions:

Wednesday, September 9 – Winnipeg
Thursday, September 10 – Saskatoon
Friday, September 11 – Calgary
Monday, September 14 – Vancouver
Tuesday, September 15 – Victoria

Facilitated by:
Mr. Chris Gill, President of Silicon Valley
Association of Start-up Entrepreneurs

This one-day bootcamp-style program will feature experienced investors from both the Silicon Valley and San Diego markets, and is specifically designed to help facilitate access to the California market.

Pitch Preparation topics will include:

• What are California investors looking for?
• Presenting your go to market strategy and your business model. Is your business fundable?
• How to effectively present the problem, the opportunity and the solution
• Presenting who’s on your team, establishing credibility etc.
• How to present your evaluation of the competition

Pitching Session to a Review Board of Investment Professionals

• 10-minute company pitch to local and California investors
• Instant pitch feedback by the Board

Networking Event

• Unwind after an intense day of preparation and presentations
• Opportunity to spend quality time with local as well as California-based investors, participants and entrepreneurs in an informal setting

What’s next for my company?

Following the Regional Boot Camp, the Board will identify the early stage companies with the best chances for success in California for the next phases of the program, which are scheduled to take place in both Silicon Valley and San Diego.

Next phases will enable selected companies to get maximum exposure to VCs, Angels, business partners and potential customers in order to secure the financing, commercial alliances and revenues they need to accelerate their growth.

Silicon Valley

In October 2009, the Palo Alto Consulate in conjunction with the Plug & Play Tech Center will provide a program to host companies down to Silicon Valley as they present to potential investors and partners.

Starting in 4Q’09, select companies will be invited on a competitive basis to participate in the Canadian Technology Accelerator of the Silicon Valley (at Plug and Play Tech Center), with three months of fully subsidized rent, access to Plug & Play’s services (coaching, local events, introductions to Angels and Venture Capitalists, talent acquisition, etc.) as well as specialized support from the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.

In spring 2010, select companies will be able to participate in “Launch: Silicon Valley”, a key global launch platform for SMEs.

San Diego

The boot camps are phase one (READY? phase) of a multi step program called LEAP! Canada. Shortly after the Regional Boot Camps, selected start-ups would participate in an intensive 3-day program (NEXT! phase) developed to further advance the knowledge of efficient partnership creation, deals, product IP protection, competition awareness, valuation and financial planning, and management, boards and advisors.

Companies with potential to succeed will then advance to a 3 month mentoring program (LEAPFROG phase), to further support their commercialization needs and interests in the San Diego market.

Canadian Technology Accelerators in the Silicon Valley and San Diego

Silicon Valley

The Canadian Technology Accelerator of Silicon Valley is located at the Plug and Play Tech Center, a successful high-tech mecca for entrepreneurs in the heart of Silicon Valley where over 150 technology start-ups from over 20 countries work closely together to build innovative companies. The purpose of the Canadian Technology Accelerator is to accelerate the success of start-ups by leveraging a strong network of mentors and advisors. Companies in the accelerator, in collaboration with Plug and Play Tech Center, will have access to:

• Early stage funding from top tier Venture Capitalist firms and Angels
• Corporate partnerships with Adobe, Apple, eBay, Google, HP, Intel, Intuit, Microsoft, Oracle/Sun, Symantec, Yahoo! and many more...
• Experienced mentors and advisors to sit on company boards
• Dedicated recruitment team to help start-ups source for talent
• Full service flexible office and event facilities in Sunnyvale, CA
• Full data-center facilities with on-site IT services
• The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service suite of specialized services

Government of Canada Trade Office in Palo Alto

More information on Plug and Play may be found here
www.plugandplaytechcenter.com

San Diego

LEAP! Canada, the Canadian Technology Accelerator of San Diego, is a program driven by the Consulate of San Diego and an elite Advisory Council of private and public sector leaders within San Diego’s commercialization ecosystem. This council will work closely with the Consulate to further prepare Canadian companies and provide access to:

• Corporate partnerships with Qualcomm, Kyocera, Nokia, Sony…
• Experienced mentors and advisors to sit on company boards
• Seed funding from top tier Venture Capitalist firms and Angel networks
• Identification of R&D partners
• Local market programs such as MarketLink, SpringBoard, SD Venture Forum…
• The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service suite of specialized services

Government of Canada Trade Office in San Diego

More information on LEAP! Canada may be found here
www.leap-canada.com

Contact Information

Your local Regional office of the Trade Commissioner Service:

Winnipeg
Frank Fazio
Email: frank.fazio@ic.gc.ca

Saskatoon
Alison Demaria
Email: alison.demaria@international.gc.ca

Calgary
Emily McLaughlin
Email: emily.mclaughlin@international.gc.ca

Vancouver
Monika Surma Eyestone
Email: monika.surma@international.gc.ca

Victoria
Mazen Mahfouz
Email: mazen.mahfouz@international.gc.ca

Trade Commissioners in sponsoring California Consulates:

San Francisco/Silicon Valley
Rick Rasmussen
Trade Commissioner
Consulate General of Canada
Tel.: 650-543-8821
Email: rick.rasmussen@international.gc.ca

San Diego
Mario Diez
Trade Commissioner
Consulate of Canada
Tel.: 619-615-4288
Email: mario.diez@international.gc.ca

Application Information

We encourage you to apply early, since the number of participants that can be accommodated may be limited. Depending on location, applications might have to be closed early if a sufficient number of applicants qualify. Within a week after close of applications, those that have qualified to participate in the formal Pitching Session will be advised, as well as those that are invited to sit in on the information sessions and other activities (including a waiting list for Pitching sessions if they can be expanded).

Application form