Intake Process

Intake is a mixed application + webinar process to set you up for success with any Parkdale Centre program.

  1. Apply
    Online
    Intake applications are reviewed for acceptance quarterly.

    • Ongoing

  2. Intake Invite
    Email
    Once accepted, you will receive an Intake invitation, welcome email, and webinar invite.

    • 5-8 weeks

  3. Intake Reviews
    Self-directed & Online
    Complete all Intake deliverables successfully to apply to any program.

    • Ongoing

  4. Ongoing programs
    Self-directed, Webinars
    Participate in startup, women founders, media or Future Skills programs.

    • 5-18 months

  5. Check-ins
    Office Hours, Email
    Active participants receive regular check-ins and support during program participation.

    • Ongoing

Join Programs

  • Participation is free, and covers early stage startups, women founders, future skills, and media lab. Complete an Intake application to get started.
  • Program Overview
    • Women Founders program for building capacity in leadership and growing your startup with entrepreneurial support.
    • Early Stage Startup program for early stage startups looking to establish new milestones to grow their companies.
    • Media Arts, News & Journalism program, to create and grow podcasts, as well as for career building in journalism.
    • While participation is free, active program participation & engagement with regular check-ins is required for your success.

Early Stage Startups

  • Schedule
    • Applications are Open
    • Metrics + Outcome Focus
    • Self-Directed Roadmap
    • Program Sessions
    • Ecosystem Support.
  • Supports entrepreneurs with a focus on preparing for user growth, traction development, team growth, revenue growth, and fundraising.
  • Program Overview
    • You are an entrepreneur who has and/or looking to incorporate a new business in Canada.
    • You can commit to setting and meeting revenue and growth goals during 9-18 months of programs.
    • You have or will build a sustainable business model with potential for scalable market growth.
    • You are willing to execute program requirements, meet milestones, and stay on track with consistent programs towards your Parkdale Centre Roadmap.

Capacity Building for Investment Preparedness

  • Schedule
    • Applications are open
    • Self-led online modules
    • Scheduled webinars, workshops and guest led sessions.
  • Focuses on providing accessible and inclusive leadership, business training and entrepreneurship skills to self-identifying woman and/or non-binary founders.
  • Program Overview
    • You are an entrepreneur who self identifies as a woman and/or non-binary and have and/or are looking to incorporate a new business in Canada.
    • You can commit to setting up a Roadmap with traction and revenue goals for your business over a period of 9-18 months.
    • You are looking to work on and/or have a sustainable business model with potential for market growth.
    • You are looking to strengthen your self-advocacy and partnership strategies to sustain your business development.

Future Skills

  • Program Schedules
    • Year-round enrollments with flexible session timings.
  • Parkdale Centre offers a blend of skill-building programs, including diverse technological and innovative fields.
  • Program Highlights
    • Explore digital marketing, project management, and other tech fields to enhance career prospects and entrepreneurial ventures.
    • Participate in in-depth workshops focusing on UX Design and AI, curated for practical learning at Parkdale Centre.
    • Benefit from gender-inclusive courses, ensuring diverse and equitable access to cutting-edge skills and knowledge.
    • Utilize Parkdale Centre's network and resources to apply these new skills effectively in professional settings.

Media Lab

  • Schedule
    • Use templates for production structure + criteria + outreach
    • Online workshops covering each topic
    • Self-led online media + business resources.
  • Program Overview
    • This program is centered around planning, recording and growing your media project using a structured schedule with weekly deliverables.
    • Our media template will help you create a show structure, organize your project, and plan your show notes to give your logistics a boost.
    • Participating in Intake will provide a business and operations focus to your project, with a clear Roadmap of Goals and outcomes.
    • Use our guides to setting up your project for sharing on all platforms to publish your productions.
    • Manage and produce your media project remotely, connect with an ecosystem of talent, get professional audio support.

For Participants FAQs

  1. Our History & Goal
    Started in 2017, Parkdale Centre is an early stage startup incubator in Toronto providing accessible & equitable programs to entrepreneurs Ontario and Canada.

  2. Parkdale Centre's Mandate
    Parkdale Centre is an incubator & accelerator that supports entrepreneurs to start and grow their business, with a focus on equity, accessibility, and inclusion for underrepresented founders.

  3. Where are you located?
    We operate online, supporting participants from the GTA, Ontario, and across Canada.

  4. How do Programs work?
    Our thesis focus' on data driven, socially aware, scalable business models. We support all founders with space and time to start, grow, and scale solid businesses via programs, frameworks, and ecosystem support.

  5. How can I get involved?
    We're always looking for advisors to join our ecosystem to offer mentorship for entrepreneurs. If you're interested in joining as an advisor, please reach out to our team by emailing contact@parkdaleinnovates.org.

  6. Are you hiring?
    Yes, send us an email: contact@parkdaleinnovates.org

  7. What is it like to work with the Parkdale Centre team?
    We're a remote team that uses Asana, GitHub, and other software to manage asynchronous communication and collaboration. All projects have proactive project management, and that means we're communicators first, planning and keeping track of our work online.

  8. I'm interested in joining your Board of Directors
    Our Board members bring a diversity of senior skills, experiences, and relationships that contribute to the strategic growth of our organization. If you're interested, please share your proposal with our team directly at contact@parkdaleinnovates.org

  9. Our organization is interested in partnering with Parkdale Centre
    Please send an email to contact@parkdaleinnovates.org, or connect with one of our team members via LinkedIn to follow-up.