The Amplify program accelerates and scales innovative eastern Ontario companies selling into both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) markets, regionally, nationally or internationally. Business owners and their leadership team have a unique opportunity to gain access to advisors, with seasoned entrepreneurship experience to address the unique challenges of successful companies. Partnering with Launch Lab, Spark Centre has expanded access to the Amplify program, creating opportunity for businesses located from Durham to Hawkesbury.
In 2021, Spark Centre and Launch Lab, two of Ontario’s Regional Innovation Centres (RIC), came together to launch the Eastern Ontario Innovation Corridor (EOIC) initiative, working together to support the recognition of the region as a leading innovation district within Canada. Within this collaborative environment, the Amplify program creates a framework for growth and economic sustainability for the region, through supporting founders and leaders as they plan their future growth and expansion strategies.
What does the Amplify program consist of?
- Team of seasoned Advisors with significant entrepreneurial experience
- Personalized 6-month action plan, designed to address your unique business challenges
- Introductions to a network of vetted ‘doers,’ if additional support is required
- Coaching for your leadership team, not just the founders
What is the criteria to participate?
Business utilizes a strong technology and/or innovative component
Post annual revenue of $1MM or higher
Committed to high growth and/or successful succession planning outcomes
Established leadership team or to build out over the course of the engagement
Based in Durham and/or Northumberland regions
Agree to complete work assignments on time and continuously show progress towards hitting growth goals
Work with Spark Centre and Advisory teams to set the plan in motion and continue to execute the action plan beyond the completion of the Amplify program
What type of challenges are typically supported within this program?
- Support in achieving financial empowerment/revenue growth
- Development of a result-oriented Business and/or Marketing Strategy and Implementation Planning
- Determine integrated technology solutions to improve processes and profitability
- Decision making based on data
- Determine integrated technology solutions to improve processes and profitability
- Access to funding, raising and receiving capital
- Planning for succession (pre/post event)
- Team and leadership acquisition and/or development
- Building Scalable National/International Models
Sream 1: Growth Pathway
Scaling Businesses
to New Heights!
FOR BUSINESSES WHO have achieved the $1 million revenue milestone and finding themselves with a set of challenges resulting from success. Amplify’s Growth Pathway is designed specifically for entrepreneurs, who are ready to take their business to the next level but need guidance on how to scale and overcome next level barriers effectively.
- What We Offer
EXPERT GUIDANCE
Work with seasoned advisors who have real-world experience in scaling businesses, sharing insights, supporting strategy development, and actionable steps tailored to specific needs.
CUSTOMIZED ACTION PLAN
Together, we work to create a personalized 6-month roadmap that outlines your growth objectives, and the steps needed to achieve them. From increasing market presence to streamlining operations, we focus on what matters most.
ACCESS TO RESOURCES
Gain exclusive access to tools and resources that can help accelerate the growth trajectory. From marketing strategies and financial planning, to candid conversations provided with a commitment to empowered growth and scale efficiency.
- Why Choose the Growth Pathway?
SCALING A BUSINESS isn’t just about increasing revenue – it’s about maintaining and planning for a sustainable growth trajectory. With our Growth Pathway, business owners learn how to expand their business thoughtfully and strategically, ensuring preparation for every stage of growth. Our program is designed to help address the top challenges being experienced by the business owner and their leadership team, whether that means achieving additional revenue, talent acquisition and retention, developing the leadership team to achieve more, navigating regulatory and compliance issues, financial planning, or setting a solid foundation for long- term success.
DON’T LET UNCERTAINTY HOLD YOU BACK
Join Amplify’s Growth Pathway today and start your journey toward a more prosperous future. Let us help you turn your vision into reality and achieve significant milestones.
Stream 2: Succession Pathway
Secure Your Legacy
and Future!
NEXT STEP PLANNING for the business owner. Whether approaching retirement or thinking about passing the business to the next generation or exiting, Amplify’s Planning for Succession Pathway is here to ensure business owners, maximize the business’s value and ensure a seamless transition.
- What We Offer
SUCCESSION PLANNING
Work with experienced advisors to develop a comprehensive succession plan that enables achieving personal and business goals. Receive support to navigate the complexities of succession, and preparing for whatever comes next.
VALUE ENHANCEMENT
Learn how to showcase business value to buyers or successors. Enhancing the business appeal, from financial health to operational efficiency, and identification opportunities for future growth, make it an attractive proposition.
RETIREMENT READINESS
Understand how to leverage the business as a key asset for retirement. Garner the support of advisory offering insights on financial planning and wealth management, to ensure preparedness to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
TRANSITION SUPPORT
Whether planning to sell, transfer, or pass down the business, support is offered at every step. From legal considerations to emotional readiness, covering all aspects of succession, creating a smooth business transition, ensuring peace of mind.
- Why Choose the Planning for Succession Pathway?
WITH ONLY 35% OF BUSINESSES having a Formalized Succession Planning Process, developing a robust succession strategy is more important than ever.
Without proper planning, businesses jeopardize, receiving the full value potential of their business, and the impact to current employees and the local economy. This program ensures that businesses are not only prepared but also confident in their next steps.
DON’T LEAVE YOUR LEGACY TO CHANCE.
Join the Amplify Planning for Succession Pathway and
take control of your business’s future. Let us help
you create a plan that protects your life’s work and sets
the stage for continued success.
Program FAQs
- In advance of the program launch, a statement of work is agreed upon, to guide the engagement and to support tracking progress. The client is accountable for achieving monthly goals and commitments; Spark Centre Client Success, EOIC Lead and Lead Advisors aid in determining priorities and goal setting.
- Participants commit to attending and access to Advisors by email and or telephone, to review work assignments and execution on plan progress.
- Spark Centre Advisors and participants agree to provide information, as requested, and in a timely fashion.
- Over the course of the 6-month program, business owners and their leadership team may participate in a quarterly business review, supported and facilitated by the Advisory team.
- Spark Centre’s Client Success, an EOIC Team Lead, and Advisors, work together to ensure participants have a productive and positive outcome.
- The business owner and their leadership team are responsible for all business decisions.
- Participants will be able to leverage the connections and resources provided by their Advisory team, Spark Centre, and EOIC, as they arise over the course of the engagement. This enables clients to contract vetted Subject Matter Expert providers who can work alongside them to support the priorities of this engagement while other work is being completed.
Following the 6-month program clients have the following options:
- Request to continue on a month-to-month basis.
- Request a one-time follow-up meeting (90 days in) as a ‘check-in’ to review progress and respond to any pressing strategic or tactical challenges.
- Request details concerning other ‘for-fee’ add-on options, which include: requesting the Amplify Advisors to participate in the participants’ next Quarterly Business Review or leveraging Spark Centre’s vetted network to be introduced to Subject Matter Experts for the purpose of getting work done, after the scope of this engagement is completed.
- Continue to operate on their own using the tools and general learnings that they have learned through the Amplify program.
Want to learn more?
For more information on the Amplify Program, please contact us today!
