Founder Launch
For idea, research, and prototype teams that need customer discovery, technical validation, and a credible first pilot plan.
Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
Canada's regional AI venture engine.
A Port Hope launchpad built to support 100 AI startups a year across products, pilots, infrastructure, talent, and responsible commercialization.
01100 startups per year
A national ambition from Port Hope: help Canadian AI founders build faster in every sector.
02Multiple startup tracks
Launch, accelerator, infrastructure, and sector-pilot paths for different founder stages.
03Canada-first AI growth
Workspace, mentors, partners, pilots, and capital preparation aligned around national competitiveness.
FoundersWorkspaceMentorsPilotsComputeCapitalCommunityGrowthFoundersWorkspaceMentorsPilotsComputeCapitalCommunityGrowth
Founder & Project Director
Dr. Anurag Kumar Sinha
The vision and execution behind AI Venture Park. Dr. Sinha is a serial entrepreneur, engineer, and innovation leader building a practical AI startup hub for Port Hope and the region.
in Connect on LinkedInAdvanced manufacturingMedical technologyStartup ecosystemsCommunity economic growth
The Accelerator
Four practical paths for founders building Canada's AI advantage.
Inspired by the strongest accelerator ecosystems, AI Venture Park is designed as a working platform: one application, several tracks, clear milestones, and support matched to the stage of each startup.
idea -> MVP
AI Accelerator
A six-month growth track for incorporated or incorporation-ready AI startups moving from MVP to market, pilots, and fundraising.
Compute & Infrastructure
A partner track for startups building data, model, agentic AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and sovereign compute solutions.
Sector Pilots
Applied AI support for healthcare, education, manufacturing, civic services, climate, agriculture, finance, and local industry.
Application Process
Simple intake, serious review, direct support.
Teams do not need perfect polish. They need a real problem, a focused AI approach, and the willingness to move quickly from application to proof.
Prepare
Share the problem, AI approach, team, stage, target customers, traction, and support needed.
Apply
Submit one application for the track that fits best. We review fit across all AI Venture Park programs.
Review
A practical review checks founder commitment, AI depth, market potential, responsible use, and Canada impact.
Pitch
Shortlisted teams meet mentors and partners to test assumptions, clarify milestones, and select the right support path.
Build
Selected startups enter structured sprints for product, pilots, customer access, infrastructure, and fundraising readiness.
Operating System
A six-month builder rhythm for product, market, pilots, and capital.
90-day traction goals
Set clear targets for customer discovery, prototype quality, data readiness, pilot design, and first revenue signals.
1:1 expert sessions
Technical, commercial, legal, and sector mentors work on the startup's real blockers.
Workshops that ship
Hands-on sessions for product strategy, responsible AI, go-to-market, procurement, and investor materials.
Demo, partner, and investor access
Founder showcases connect startups with customers, municipalities, colleges, corporates, funders, and infrastructure partners.
Benefits & Resources
Support that meets the startup where it is.
The goal is not generic advice. The goal is measurable movement: stronger product decisions, better pilots, clearer funding paths, and more Canadian AI companies ready for market.
Who should apply
- AI is a core part of the product or operating advantage
- A committed founder team or a clear technical lead
- A real customer problem with room for national or global scale
- Evidence of progress, or a credible plan to reach first proof
- Willingness to build responsibly and contribute to Canada's AI economy
Workspace and operating base
Selected teams can access incubation space in Port Hope, giving founders a place to work, meet partners, host pilots, and build momentum.
Mentorship built around AI companies
Founders get practical guidance across product, model strategy, data readiness, sales, pricing, procurement, governance, and financing.
Pilot and partner pathways
We help teams move toward real deployments with regional employers, public-sector leaders, academic partners, and industry operators.
Investor and demo readiness
Startups refine metrics, narrative, technical proof, and commercial milestones before investor meetings, showcases, and demo days.
Official Launch
Thursday, July 23, 2026. Loyalist College, Port Hope Campus.
A public launch for a first-of-its-kind regional AI innovation hub designed to position Port Hope as a serious contributor to Canada's emerging AI economy.
3:00 PM
Arrival & NetworkingAll attendees
3:20 PM
Welcome, Land Affirmation & RemarksMark Kirkpatrick, President, Loyalist College
3:25 PM
RemarksMP Lawrence
3:30 PM
RemarksMPP Piccini
3:35 PM
RemarksMayor Olena Hankivsky
3:40 PM
RemarksChamber of Commerce
3:45 PM
RemarksDr. Anurag Kumar Sinha
3:50 PM
AI Keynote AddressGuest AI Speaker
4:00 PM
Ribbon Cutting CeremonyRegional partners
4:05 PM
Networking & RefreshmentsAll attendees
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Main Entrance, Loyalist College Port Hope
Regional Coalition
Education, government, business, founders, and infrastructure in one field.
The long-term vision is not only incubation. It is a regional AI economy where startups, talent, applied research, and compute capacity reinforce each other.
Loyalist College
Town of Port Hope
Regional business and Chamber partners
AI founders and mentors
Infrastructure and data-centre collaborators
Events
Programming for founders, partners, and the AI community.
AI Park & Incubation Centre Official Launch
Loyalist College, Port Hope Campus
A launch ceremony with regional leaders, founders, academic partners, ribbon cutting, and networking.
Founder Intake Sprint
Port Hope, Ontario
Application review sessions for AI startups seeking workspace, mentorship, and pilot support.
Applied AI Infrastructure Roundtable
Port Hope, Ontario
A partner forum on data-centre readiness, responsible compute, talent, and regional economic development.
Startup Applications
Apply for the next AI Venture Park intake.
Use this application for launch-stage support, the accelerator, infrastructure mentorship, sector pilots, or workspace access. We review every application for the program path that can create the most progress.
Contact & Location
AI Venture Park is tied up with Loyalist College in Port Hope.
Connect with the partnership team for startup intake, program questions, launch details, and collaboration opportunities.
Campus partnerContact personGurkaran
Business development and strategic partnership lead
Phone+1 (647) 466-0062
LocationLoyalist College, Port Hope Campus
10 Pine St S, Port Hope, ON L1A 3E7