Catalyst Commons announces expansion and hosting of OVIN Incubators initiative

KITCHENER — Catalyst Commons, a Kitchener, Ont. co-working space, announces the opening of an expansion to its facility. At over 125,000 square feet, this move is meant to position the Catalyst as the Waterloo Region’s leading hub for entrepreneurial innovation.

With the addition of this expansion, Catalyst is also announcing its role as the first operational site under the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Incubators initiative. Announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier this year, this initiative will serve as a catalyst for Ontario’s automotive and mobility sector, accelerating the creation and growth of new Ontario-based companies and connecting them with the global market.

“Catalyst has truly become the home base for builders in Waterloo Region,” says Amber French, Co-Founder of Catalyst Commons. “It’s a place where you can find startups working alongside some of Canada’s top scale-ups, multinationals, investors, community not-for-profits, post-secondary institutions and supporting businesses. Everything you need to start and scale a business can be found under one big roof.”

Founded in 2020 by serial entrepreneurs Kurtis McBride, Amber French and Angela Watkins, Catalyst Commons is an industry-driven centre for businesses of all sizes, promoting collaboration, growth and innovation. Since its inception, Catalyst has reportedly attracted over 150 companies, creating an ecosystem for businesses.

As part of this collaboration with Mercedes-Benz as the first partner, the OVIN Incubators are designed to bridge the gap between applied research and the commercialization of intellectual property, connecting industry leaders, startups, scale-ups and post-secondary institutions. As part of this collaboration, the Kitchener-Waterloo site at Catalyst Commons will host space for entrepreneurs and startups, connecting regional activities in this area focused on building the next generation of Ontario-based automotive and mobility ventures and strengthening the province’s automotive supply chain.

“The future of Ontario’s automotive and mobility sector requires a robust foundation to nurture the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and homegrown companies,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN. “As the first incubator program of its kind in Ontario and across Canada, the OVIN Incubators will leverage Kitchener-Waterloo’s unique regional expertise to build a launchpad for new Ontario-based automotive and mobility ventures. Together, we are strengthening Ontario’s position as a global leader and building the supply chain of the future, driving prosperity for generations to come.”