The Southeast Techhub (SETH) is launching a first-of-its-kind startup incubator in Weyburn through their innovative Rural Innovation Startup Ecosystem (RISE) program.
Executive Director for SETH, Gordon More, explains The Southeast Techhub was created by the City of Estevan in 2022 coming out of the Coal Transition Fund. A consultant was brought in, who recognized the potential for innovation in this part of the world.
“A lot of people who live here are aware of how innovative we are, because we just have to get things done. So it was a recognition of that.”
More explains SETH is based on three pillars, economic development for the region through innovation and technology, community development, and startup incubation or accelerators, that is, the RISE program.
Program Director for the RISE program, Steven Hansen, explains his background as an entrepreneur in the oil and gas, and agriculture fields. He says he struggled to find supports and programs in rural Saskatchewan for a tech startup and instead had to work with the Co.Labs in Saskatoon.
Hansen explains the program will fill that gap in rural communities through igniting innovation and entrepreneurship.
“We're starting to see more people coming up with ideas, especially in the energy, the agriculture, the mining sector. We want to find these rural founders and give them the supports that I got through Co.Labs in a very rural setting."
“A lot of our founders are working full-time jobs. They work in the oil and gas industry. They work on the farm. They can't necessarily just uproot their life to go and join an incubator in a completely different community. So we want to take those resources that I've seen in other places and provide that for founders in a rural setting.’
RISE will provide one on one mentorships, group masterclasses, and an annual pitch competition for new entrepreneurs in the region.
This will be one of the first incubators to cover an entire region in North America, More attributes this to the people of Saskatchewan.
“It's something I think Saskatchewan and our region could be proud of because I can't think of any other place something like this could start. It's because we are entrepreneurs and we're innovators and it's just already ingrained in our culture.”
More says the start of RISE and the furtherance of innovation and technology will benefit the province as a whole, noting challenges to our key industries including U.S tariffs, and disruptions in the energy sectors.
“It's hard for just the average person to feel comfortable about their income, about their wages, about their future. The best way we can solve that is by diversifying. And I want to be really clear - that means we add new, additional industries into our community so that we can have five or six industries in our community, not just the three. So, if one or two are getting hit, the rest will help hold the others up and keep our overall economy good.”
Within the region, Hansen says he wants to encourage local startups to stay in their hometowns, noting startups like Seed Hawk air seeder technology beginning here in Saskatchewan.
“My belief is that we have a lot of smart, innovative people in a rural setting that just need a shot at having their idea listened to and maybe fostered a little bit. I want to see these people get the same type of opportunities that they would get if they went to Regina or Saskatoon without having to actually leave their community.”
SETH and RISE are hosting a grand opening and meet and greet this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 102 Coteau Avenue. The event will feature a free barbeque and opportunities to network with the SETH and RISE teams.
Hansen explains that they want people to be aware of their presence in the community and the resources they can provide.
“We want to make sure that when someone says, ‘I have an idea of this good business’ that they have somewhere to go and that there's enough exposure that we're on the radar. So someone can say, ‘oh, you have a good idea, you should check out RISE’.”
Register for the event HERE.