Since opening its office last summer, TechBA Vancouver has already helped sow seeds of success for Mexican and Canadian technology companies.
TechBA is an initiative funded by Mexico’s Ministry of Economy that helps small and medium-sized companies in digital media, information and communications technology, life sciences and agri-foods build partnerships and a market base in western Canada and other international markets. (See “Techs-Mex mix sees expansion opportunities in Metro Vancouver” – issue 1098; November 9-15, 2010.)
Federico Goroztieta, CEO of TechBA Vancouver, said, “TechBA acts as a matchmaker, pairing companies and investors from both countries through our consultants to create bilateral business opportunities. Companies from Mexico learn about the in and outs of doing business in Canada, while Canadian companies are taught insight into the unique intricacies and diversity of Mexican culture and business.”
So far, TechBA Vancouver has exceeded its first-year goal of accelerating the business introductions of 19 Mexican companies to western Canadian counterparts. Strategic alliances have been made with various local businesses, including the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, BCIT, the Discover Parks Trust, the Centre for Digital Media and the British Columbia Innovation Council.
One of TechBA’s most important strategic partnerships is with Wavefront, the Vancouver-based and government-backed wireless commercialization and research centre. Together they are promoting Canada’s wireless industry to Mexican technology developers.
Wavefront has also been commissioned by TechBA to produce an analytical study of Canada’s wireless industry and will help introduce Canadian companies to Mexico’s 85 million-subscriber wireless market.
Originally, the Mexican government had favoured Seattle over Vancouver to locate a TechBA accelerator in the Pacific Northwest. After the province’s efforts during the 2010 Integrated Business Hosting Program to promote B.C.’s information and communications technology, digital and life sciences sectors, the Government of Mexico decided to expand into Vancouver and Seattle simultaneously.
In a congratulatory message to TechBA, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment Margaret MacDiarmid said, “As one of only eight global locations, it’s a real compliment to the strength of B.C.’s technology sector.”