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The Navigate Business Incubator, under the guidance of its manager, Allison Rowe, has been offering all the resources a new start-up needs to take business to the next level.

"The incubator is a one-stop shop and a catalyst for growing start-ups to launch or jumpstart businesses," said Rowe, adding that the incubator also provides direct access to other entrepreneurs, expert advisors, mentors, HR support, training, learning opportunities and networking events, and access to potential funders, business partners and clients.

Ms. Rowe joined the Navigate team as the incubator manager in the fall of 2019.

Hailing from Corner Brook, Ms. Rowe has more than 26 years of experience in program management, education and business development domestically and internationally. For the past two years, she has been running entrepreneurship programs at Grenfell Campus and CNA Corner Brook Campus both with the Navigate Business Incubator and the Atlantic Canada Study and Stay™ NL Program, an entrepreneurship and employment program helping international students start businesses here in the province.

"I've always enjoyed helping others reach their full potential," said Ms. Rowe. "Assisting entrepreneurs on their journey towards making their start-up dream a reality is deeply satisfying. I love seeing people succeed and make a living from something they are passionate about."

Ms. Rowe has worked for such organizations as the Permanent Delegation of Japan to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, and for global management consulting firm, Mckinsey & Company, where she was based in Montreal. She also spent a number of years managing not-for profit organizations locally. Additionally, she spent more than a decade living and working in France and Japan, has extensive experience in international education and relations, and speaks several languages.

"I'm hoping that the diversity of my experience in corporate, government, non-profit and education will foster a collaborative cross-sectoral approach to growing the local entrepreneurial ecosystem," she said. "I'm passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed, connecting people and ideas, and helping to find solutions for difficult challenges."

When asked what drew her to the role, she laughed and said that she has often thought her ideal job would be "Idea Person."

That wish became a reality when she began assisting entrepreneurs through the ideation process of developing their business ideas.

"I'm a big picture person," she said. "Definitely outside of the box. I love creative ideas and innovation, sustainable new ways of approaching problems that help modernize traditional models while also creating new ones. I also love connecting the dots between people, problems and solutions. We can accomplish so much more when we all bring our strengths and ideas together. Incubation is where the rubber meets the road, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem is the Autobahn!"

Navigate Business Incubator membership

The Navigate Business Incubator offers two types of membership: Voyager and Trailblazer membership, each with its own associated benefits.

Here are the perks and details for each membership type:

Voyager Member - Personal Office Suite

Voyager Member Application Eligibility - Am I ready?

Requirements:

Trailblazer Member - Use of Co-working Space

Trailblazer Member Application Eligibility - Am I ready?

Requirements:

About Navigate

Navigate is a partnership between Grenfell Campus and the College of the North Atlantic Corner Brook Campus to help entrepreneurs from the early start-up stage through to prototype and product development and onward to commercialization and implementation. Navigate's services fall under three main pillars: the Business Incubator (located at the CNA Campus), the Makerspace (located at Grenfell Campus) and the Entrepreneurship Centre (located at both Grenfell and CNA campuses).

Over the past two years, the Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre, Incubator and Makerspace have offered over 120 events and activities from workshops and networking sessions to boot camps, pitch competitions, design collision competitions, maker nights and startup weekends with over 7,300 total participants. In 2020, fifteen of these events were virtual to assist entrepreneurs and ensure continued support for businesses throughout the pandemic.

Contact us

For more information and to become a member please contact Allison Rowe, Business Incubator Manager at allisonr@grenfell.mun.ca.

Learn more about Navigate’s programming and services at http://navigatesmallbusiness.ca/.

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PLEASE NOTE: While our drop-in centres are currently closed due to the pandemic, Navigate is still here to offer support virtually. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date on upcoming events and opportunities.