Empowering Italo-Canadian Entrepreneurs and First-Generation Canadians
CIBPA Toronto Announces the Second Cohort
of Its Incubator Program - Italia360
[Toronto, Ontario] - The Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association, CIBPA, is excited to announce the launch of the second year of Italia360, our incubator program developed in partnership with world-leading tech incubator DMZ, tailored to support first-generation Canadians, individuals with Italian heritage, and newcomers to Canada. Italia360 offers an unparalleled opportunity for students to develop a business under the guidance of industry leaders and innovators.
Building on the success of its inaugural year, the 8-week part-time program demonstrates CIBPA's commitment to supporting aspiring student entrepreneurs with the tools to develop and market their business ideas. The program's distinctive offering, "The Italian Touch," brings an additional layer of mentorship from accomplished Italo-Canadian business leaders committed to sharing their knowledge and expertise to guide entrepreneurs toward success.
The program offers participants mentorship from CIBPA and DMZ's network, customized coaching with industry experts, and exclusive workshops conducted by CIBPA mentors. At the end of the program, students will participate in a dynamic pitch competition, for a chance to win a trip to Italy, providing them with invaluable global business insights and exposure to the Italian market.
“Italia360 provided me with the opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals about how to launch my business the right way. My grandparents immigrated to Canada from Italy and started their own company, it's always been my dream to follow in their footsteps and start my own business. Italia360 gave me the confidence through fellow-Italian mentors that I could achieve my entrepreneurial goals." said Sofia Beraldo, Founder of Fuori and Italia360's inaugural pitch competition winner.
The second edition offers additional opportunities to the selected student teams thank you to the additional partnership with YSpace - York University.
The program would not be possible without the program sponsors' outstanding support:
Trailblazer Partner: Deloitte, RBC and Pace Law.
Change Maker Partner: CIBPA Education Foundation, COSTI, Longo's, Markham, OMERS, OMNI, YSpace, TAG Talent Garden.
Under the auspices of the Italian Consulate General of Italy.
Students who are newcomers, first-generation Canadians, or have Italian heritage can now apply to the Italia360 program. Applications close on May 24, 2024.
For more information on how to apply, visit: https://dmz.torontomu.ca/italia360
About CIBPA Toronto
CIBPA Toronto, established in 1952, is the premier non-profit member organization representing the interests and views of the Italo-Canadian community. Its goal is to promote and foster the business, professional, cultural, and social interests of its members. Additionally, it is committed to investing in future generations by providing bursaries and scholarships to students in need. Through its Education Foundation, CIBPA Toronto has distributed an estimated $1.2 million to over 1,000 students. For more information about CIBPA, please visit https://toronto.cibpa.com/
About DMZ
DMZ is a world-leading startup incubator based at Toronto Metropolitan University that equips the next generation of tech entrepreneurs with the tools needed to build, launch and scale highly impactful startups. By providing connections to customers, coaching, capital and a community, DMZ's customized approach helps innovators reach the next milestone in their entrepreneurial journey – whatever that might be. Through its award-winning programming, DMZ has helped more than 820 startups raise $2.59 billion in capital and create 5,000+ jobs. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with globally-accessible programming, DMZ has a widely recognized international presence with offices in Vietnam, India and the U.S., and partnerships across North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Learn more at https://dmz.torontomu.ca/