Today we’re announcing the launch of the Canadian Blockchain Market Accelerator program here in Seattle, WA. The program, a partnership between Global Affairs Canada and the WTIA Cascadia Blockchain Council, will play a vital role in the advancement of the blockchain industry and represents a significant stride toward making the Cascadia region a global hub for blockchain development.

The eight-week program will provide six blockchain startups the opportunity to receive customized, one-on-one technical and business development mentoring from blockchain experts based in the Pacific Northwest, an area of advanced startup leadership within the industry.  The five Canadian blockchain startups are Virgil Systems, TerraHub, Mavennet Systems, Inc., MetaDigital, Inc., and BlokSec Technologies, Inc. With six weeks of remote-based engagement and 1.5 weeks of in-person activities in Seattle, startups will gain powerful and robust resources to pursue opportunities with leading enterprise partners and receive curated introductions to prominent investors, prospective clients and partners in the region. Throughout the five-phase program, founders will receive expert guidance on their business model, as well as significant feedback on their pitches to support the launch of their companies and achieve scale.

“Blockchain as an emerging technology reaches far beyond the Cascadia region, and we want to play an important role in that expansion. With this program, we can aid creative and ambitious founders and their teams with the right business tools and training to excel giving them the exact support they need most,” said Arry Yu, Cascadia Blockchain Council Chair. “By investing time and energy in developing these companies, we will drive broader impact throughout the industry, reaching into Canada and beyond.”

“The Canadian government values the transformative nature of blockchain, including its application across many facets of the economy, and is committed to supporting Canadian enterprises that are harnessing this technology to generate significant economic growth,” said Brandon Lee, Consul General for Canada in Seattle, and Chief Digital Strategist for Global Affairs Canada. “This market accelerator program provides Canadian companies a unique opportunity to strengthen cross-border economic partnerships, as well as to propel Canada’s blockchain industry forward in the development of this revolutionary technology.”

The Canadian Blockchain Market Accelerator launches in January 2020 and runs through March, culminating in a Demo Day where participants will pitch their companies to an audience of investors, mentors, corporate partners, and government officials.

The Accelerator Program is primarily funded through the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle.

For more information about the Canadian Blockchain Market Accelerator, email Robert Fiddick, Trade Commissioner at robert.fiddick@international.gc.ca.