Innovation Saskatchewan Invests $210,000 in USask’s Opus for Start-Up Development Support

The funding will support Opus programming streams that target different timelines in the entrepreneurship lifecycle to drive startup development.

• Idea2Explore (i2Explore) provides year-round opportunities for anyone at USask to explore entrepreneurship through events and curated meetings with advisors.
• Innovate2Build (i2Build) runs annually over 10 months as successful program applicants participate in bi-monthly workshops as well as mentor and advisor meetings.
• Impact2Market (i2Market) runs long-term and offers targeted mentorships for i2Build graduates by requiring participants to meet business growth milestones.
• Opus Student Ambassador Program, is a student-led initiative that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with business acumen and an entrepreneurial mindset through engaging campus activities.

Opus pre-accelerator programming focuses on commercializing deep tech innovations that are research-based, equipping founders with the necessary skills for startup development and facilitating their progression to other accelerators and incubators like Co.Labs and Cultivator.

“Opus plays an important role in Saskatchewan’s innovation ecosystem and helps to add capacity for research-backed entrepreneurs and startup founders in academia,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan. “This partnership boosts the province’s innovation network and further strengthens Saskatchewan’s economy through the development of innovative new ideas that become successful businesses.”

In its pilot year, Opus supported over 12 startups engaging with over 88 stakeholders ranging from community and business leaders, entrepreneurs and ecosystem service providers.

“The world needs innovation mobilized into action. To do this, universities need to spread our knowledge and strike the right partnerships within our community and within industry to create transformational change,” said Alix Hayden, Director, Innovation, Mobilization and Partnerships. “Through the support of Innovation Saskatchewan, Opus will continue to be able to provide support for our innovators. They will continue to access the tools, the networks, the connections and mentorship to help turn their discoveries into solutions the world needs.”