Innovation and entrepreneurship were hot topics at a recent gathering of alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs at ONRamp – a new, collaborative workspace in Toronto where Queen’s- and Kingston-based start-ups can network and grow. The May 15 event was the first of many meet-ups set to take place in the facility.

In February, Queen’s University formalized a partnership agreement with the University of Toronto-led space, gaining use of its meeting and workspaces. Three other university partners are also members of ONRamp, including McMaster University, the University of Waterloo, and Western University. Launched in 2017, ONRamp has since been utilized by 50 startups, and currently has 600 active users.

“Entrepreneurship is hard, and networking is vitally important to support start-ups,” says Jim Banting, Queen’s Assistant Vice-Principal (Partnerships and Innovation). “A lead, a connection, or insight into a marketplace all help a start-up to succeed. Queen’s membership in ONRamp provides prime location for Queen’s and Kingston-based start-ups to work and hold meetings with potential investors, customers, suppliers, and government officials while visiting Toronto.”

A number of entrepreneurs from a variety of start-ups were in attendance at the first-ever Queen’s gathering at ONRamp, including: Spectra Plasmonics, Limestone Analytics, Elentra, Mero Technologies, BizSkills Academy, Leading Minds Lab, AdaptiveX, and Craft Tapp.

For more information about ONRamp, or how to access ONRamp facilities and programs via Queen’s membership, contact Amanda Gilbert, Communications Coordinator at Queen’s University’s Office of Partnerships and Innovation. The ONRamp initiative is the latest innovation partnership for Queen’s, adding to other partnership efforts in Kington, Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, and in Upstate New York. Visit the office’s website for information about all Queen’s innovation initiatives.

Upcoming ONRamp events will be posted on the Queen’s events calendar.