# ONSIDE

> ONSIDE is a Halifax-based nonprofit community accelerator advancing inclusive innovation-driven entrepreneurship. It connects ecosystem partners, produces research and delivers free Start Now Incubator training, mentoring and networking for women and non-binary entrepreneurs across Canada, with a focus on rural and underserved communities.

- **Founded:** 2019
- **Headquarters:** Halifax, Canada
- **Products:** Start Now Incubator, MIT REAP Focus Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Inclusive Innovation Monitor, Radiant Voices, Resilient Ventures, The ONSIDE Podcast
- **Notable:** Launched in fall 2019 after Nova Scotia’s MIT REAP engagement., Sponsored an 18-month MIT REAP Focus Nova Scotia pilot with five regional teams from 2021., First executive director reported deploying CAD 500,000 through the IDE Community Acceleration Fund.

## Products & services

- **Start Now Incubator** — Free hybrid support for Canadian women and non-binary entrepreneurs, including a virtual incubator, education, technical training, advisory services, peer mentoring and connector events.
- **MIT REAP Focus Nova Scotia** — An 18-month regional entrepreneurship pilot beginning in 2021 with five Nova Scotia teams developing local acceleration strategies.
- **Nova Scotia Inclusive Innovation Monitor** — Research and indicators examining opportunities, activity and outcomes in Nova Scotia’s innovation economy, using Brookfield Institute national research.
- **Radiant Voices, Resilient Ventures** — Showcase and networking events for diverse women entrepreneurs; editions documented in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- **The ONSIDE Podcast** — Interviews with entrepreneurs and innovation leaders, including founders of Skinfix, Cheekbone Beauty and Made with Local.

## Achievements

- Launched in fall 2019 after Nova Scotia’s MIT REAP engagement.
- Sponsored an 18-month MIT REAP Focus Nova Scotia pilot with five regional teams from 2021.
- First executive director reported deploying CAD 500,000 through the IDE Community Acceleration Fund.
- 2022–2026 impact report records 2,500+ women accessing Start Now Incubator support, 190+ starting businesses and 320+ sustaining or scaling businesses.
- Radiant Voices, Resilient Ventures editions documented in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — 2022–2026 Impact Report documents national Start Now participation and regional ecosystem work.
- **2026-06** — First executive director Alexandra McCann announced her departure, with her last day June 30, in a LinkedIn statement shared by ONSIDE.
- **2026-07** — Podcast archive published summer rereleases featuring Jenn Harper and Jah’Mila.
- **2026-10** — Events calendar lists October 14 pricing training and an October 15 AI-for-export workshop as upcoming as of October 8.

## Links

- Website: https://onsidenow.ca/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onsidenow/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onside1140
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onsidenow/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/onside
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-08