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UNB entrepreneurship pilot gets government funding

Saint Stephen, NB, Canada / 98.1 Charlotte FM
UNB entrepreneurship pilot gets government funding

From left to right: Portland-Simonds MLA Trevor Holder; Local Government Minister Glen Savoie; Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long; UNB vice-president Dr. Petra Hauf; UNB MBA program director Dr. Shelley Rinehart, and Axis Accelerator director Matt George. Image: Regis Phillips



The provincial and federal governments are funding $120,750 each to a University of New Brunswick (UNB) pilot project to strengthen entrepreneurship in the Saint John region.

The Axis Accelerator offered through UNB Saint John’s Faculty of Business will boost entrepreneurial spirit by helping entrepreneurs understand themselves as founders, identify lead customers, and build a climbing sales strategy.

“We are proud to support this program that will strengthen entrepreneurship in New Brunswick,” said Local Government Minister Glen Savoie.

“Entrepreneurship drives growth and diversification of our economy, and it contributes to our government’s key priorities of energizing the private sector and creating vibrant and sustainable communities.”

The accelerator pilot has four components:

  • an office workspace called the incubator at UNB’s Grand Hall building
  • a sales acceleration program
  • facilitation of investor networking and collaboration
  • supporting and building entrepreneurial interest among students

“This pilot project is very exciting for our BBA and MBA Programs and the campus in general,” said Dr. Shelley Rinehart, director of the MBA program and acting associate dean of Graduate Studies.

“Faculty, students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship and sales will have an opportunity to work on their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their sales skills or offer their thoughts and ideas to assist entrepreneurs in the space.”