Conexus preparing to help next wave of tech start-ups

With the Conexus Cultivator tech start-up program set to begin a new round later this summer, Moose Jaw folks don’t have to look very hard to find a local success story out of the bi-annual event. Krugo – the brainchild of Moose Jaw’s own Kirk Morrison – was one of the first start-ups to go through the program and launched three years ago. Designed to help group travel outings, the app helps build itineraries, from viewing the venue, confirming attendance and even sending reminders and keeping track of tickets. The app also aggregates event listings in your community, acting as a one-stop shop for things to do at any given time. The site has continued to grow, and while in the days of COVID-19 is less busy than usual, they’re still doing their thing, with 10,000 downloads as of late December. It’s all a product of Cultivator, which begins its next cohort – and the search the next success story, of which there are already 14 listed on their website – this July.

“In just the last two years, Saskatchewan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has flourished as new resources, space and funding was introduced into the province,” Conexus said in a press release. “With these new resources and supports, local startups are no longer looking to leave our province, but build their companies right here at home, in turn adding fuel to our economy and creating new jobs.”

Working through the Conexus START program, Cultivator is a three month ‘pre-revenue accelerator’ designed to help founders take their project from idea to reality, or their already existing product to the next level. Two 12-week cohorts are held a year, focussing on problem validation, customer discovery, product development, investor readiness, pitching and overall founder development.

At the program’s conclusion, founders will pitch their start-ups to a panel of expert judges for a chance to win $10,000 toward helping grow their companies.

While located in Regina, Cultivator will be available online during evenings and weekends, and further changes could be in the works depending on the changing COVID-19 situation.

Saskatchewan-based founders and start-ups can complete a pre-screening application through the Cultivator website, and those who meet eligibility requirements may be contacted for a discovery call. An advisory committee will then select the group for the newest Cultivator class.

For more information, be sure to check out cultivator.ca.