Since 2010, Venn Innovation has been helping founders and startup entrepreneurs who want to build scalable technology companies. We help them validate their technology, understand their markets through research and insights, connect them with mentors and experts, and access talent and capital through the collaborative technology ecosystem we are nurturing in our region.
As one of Atlantic Canada’s premiere innovation hubs Venn, works with companies across all stages, from ideation to growth, with multiple contact points and programs. We are dedicated to innovation-based economic development in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada through meaningful collaboration with an extensive network of organizations, including the government sector, private sector companies, the academic and research community, and other innovation ecosystem organizations.
In the beginning…
Back in the mid 2000s, a group of Moncton area tech industry leaders and ecosystem partners came together. Inspired by a presentation by Laura Kilcrease, one of the architects of the Austin success story, to an innovation conference in Toronto, the “Moncton Technology Planning Group” formed to explore strategies to grow the tech sector in the Greater Moncton region of southeast New Brunswick. Along the way, the group was assisted by specialists from the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas at Austin. One of their recommendations led to Oulu, Finland being adopted as a benchmark community, and lessons learned from their example were instructive in fine tuning the approach to be taken and the new organization… Tech South East…that would drive the strategy
Change is a constant…
Through the foundational years, the organization’s role and mandate grew beyond the original local focus to serve the tech sector province-wide. In 2014, Tech South East rebranded to Venn Innovation, adding larger physical space for tech community gatherings and events, and an early stage incubator program. Since then, Venn’s program and service mix has evolved with the industry and the innovation ecosystem and today also includes unique program offerings in all four Atlantic Provinces.
Venn Innovation’s current programs and services:
- Venn Garage early stage incubation program… a non-cohort, application-based program that accepts qualified early-stage entrepreneurs and teams to help to develop the startups’ skills and business acumen by helping entrepreneurs better test and validate their idea, acquire customers and funding, and prepare their startup team for successful growth.
- Atlantic Market Intelligence (MI) Program… the MI program is focused on helping tech-based startups from across Atlantic Canada understand their market, key trends involving their technology, their environment, and other elements impacting growth. This program is delivered as a joint effort between Venn Innovation and innovation ecosystem partners in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Atlantic Fintech… is a sector initiative aiming to accelerate fintech industry growth in the four Atlantic Canadian provinces. With a well-connected global network of founders and experts, and strategic partnerships with global fintech hubs and accelerators, Atlantic Fintech is committed to increasing industry knowledge, significantly shortening the learning curve, and increasing visibility for fintech companies, leadership and innovations in the region.
- Community Connections… Greater Moncton has experienced record growth in recent years. As a connector in the ecosystem, Venn works closely with community partners to help newcomers and under-represented groups connect with and be prepared for careers in the technology and business ecosystem in New Brunswick.
- The power of networks… Venn is a long-standing member of Canada’s Tech Network (CTN) and the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA). These relationships significantly extend the geographic reach for our client companies and help us stay abreast of key trends and developments. Venn is also proud to be a founding member of Startup Atlantic, an initiative bringing together leading incubators and accelerators from across Atlantic Canada.
In 2023, Venn Innovation proudly opened our new innovation hub facility in Moncton. The “Junction” provides a flexible hybrid working environment for resident tech companies, community partners and facility users. The space includes meeting rooms, event facilities and a fully equipped learning centre.
As Venn marks 16 years of operations in 2025, we can look back proudly on a legacy of growth of the tech industry we serve, and a record of forging collaborative relationships across the region’s innovation ecosystem. With disruptive technologies like AI driving the evolution of today’s global economy we look forward to continuing to adapt and evolve our approach to supporting the region’s dynamic tech sector.
