In 2022, an artificial intelligence and machine learning-fueled social impact accelerator hosted its first cohort of businesses to grow their ventures in the community safety and wellness space. The first-of-a-kind global accelerator, TELUS Community Safety & Wellness Accelerator (CSW), offers participating companies business development, mentorship, data, funding, and pilot customers in Edmonton and the surrounding area to help them commercialize their idea around the globe.
The benefits of the program include the following:
1:1 Mentorship
Access to partnerships
Access to global funding and VC network
Access to first customers and customers in new locations via our network
Access to deep, specialized mentorship
Extensive coaching that meets the needs of your start up
Proven curriculum
Space in Edmonton is available for on-site support and connections to explore all that Edmonton and Alberta have to offer
Access to resources and information about visas and investment attraction to support your start-up scaling in Canada
Access to grants for travel and connection to support to relocate to Canada
CSW is bringing a Silicon Valley approach to the Edmonton social impact space. With founding partners – such as Alchemist Accelerator, the Edmonton Police Foundation, Innovate Edmonton and Alberta Innovates – the accelerator allows startups to gain access to an established network of investors (through Alchemist’s global network of 30,000
entrepreneurs and mentors) and offers a boost to those in need to move past the seed stage.
Further, once the cohort is graduated, the ScaleGood Fund – a social impact venture capital fund – aids in the follow-up investments for companies to further expand into the community safety and wellness space. By allowing this space in the Alberta ecosystem, CSW is leading a revolutionary change to turn the tech sector from a Unicorn style business model to a more regenerative approach. Welcoming the confluence between social and technological innovation is the step required to move towards a stewardship approach to caring for humanity.
Author:
Megan (she/her) is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in hospitality, data management, criminal justice, and situational crime prevention. As Interim Lead for the Centre for Social Impact Technology, she utilizes systems thinking and multidisciplinary approaches to address complex problems. Megan’s expertise in public interest technology has been recognized, and she has published research on cult practices in social media and Indigenous parole conditions. With a BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice and numerous accolades, including the 2023 Centennial Gold Medal, Megan is actively involved in community initiatives, particularly focused on homelessness and vulnerable populations.
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