Amidst a global pandemic causing heightened uncertainty, technological advances creating an accelerating world, and the growing public awareness around global inequalities, the future remains a vast unknown for the next generation most impacted by the economic effects of COVID-19. Despite this, youth are stepping up to the plate armed with a distinct perspective and drive to solve some of Canada and the world's most pressing problems from the future of fentanyl drug testing, a fossil-free fashion future, work from home software, remote personal training, access to education, and more. Young entrepreneurs can and are making waves to create a better future for all of us while also building on the core competencies needed to thrive in the future of work for themselves through an entrepreneurial context such as empathy, complex problem solving, leadership, communication, creativity, and resiliency. It is our mission at the League of Innovators to shorten their path to success and fuel the fire they have as the next generation of Canada's entrepreneurs, changemakers, and innovators.

With that, here are five reasons why young entrepreneurs across Canada should apply to the League of Innovators Labs accelerator program.

The League of Innovators is a national Canadian charity supporting young entrepreneurs from discovery to acceleration through a suite of accessible programs. Labs is the League of Innovators’ premier 12-week accelerator program empowering young entrepreneurs all across Canada. The Labs program is delivered virtually with leading workshops, Ask Me Anything Sessions (AMAs), mentorship, coaching, and an ongoing support network for young people to succeed! 

1. Join a growing national community of other young entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Connect with people embarking on a similar journey as yourself and get support, feedback, friendship, throughout the 12-week program and beyond through live sessions, our Slack community and our alumni community hours. Chances are that there is someone else who has been through it or felt similar challenges and wins as you have and will have. 
2. Empower yourself with learning resources to grow your knowledge base, entrepreneurial skills and mindset. The Labs program equips you with access to our resource bank, a venture package of perks and discounts exclusively for our community, and a directory of folks who can support you through milestones. In Labs we dive into three program pillars around: Founder First, Getting Your House in Order and Building Connections through each week’s theme. Some examples include The Brand, The Team, The Roadmap, The Raise, The Pitch and more!
3. Build your confidence and expand your understanding of what’s possible for you and your startup. At the end of the Labs program, we celebrate at the Founder’s Showcase event where you pitch your startup to a curated panel (don’t worry we work with you to get there!). It’s so amazing to see all the incredible growth achieved throughout the 3 quick months. Even week to week in the Labs venture huddle peer groups that meet for an hour during the program with other founders in the Labs program working in a similar industry and stage, there is so much knowledge transfer and week to week transformative learning. 
4. Network with industry experts, serial entrepreneurs and investors. Each week there are about four hours of live workshops to build your knowledge through lived experience and technical knowledge. Get ready to apply learnings as you go and build your toolkit of knowledge to draw upon when you need it most. Not to mention office hours and the opportunity to connect with people who can help move the dial in building your business. 
5. Did we mention that the Labs program is: No Fees. No Equity. No Strings Attached. You can be anywhere in Canada with an internet connection building any type of startup business, emerging non-profit or social enterprise in any industry. Diversity creates the conditions for innovation to happen! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

To date, The League of Innovators has worked with 400 young entrepreneurs across Canada who have become Forbes Top 30 Under 30, Peter Thiel Fellows, Fast Company World Changing Ideas, and yes have scaled their startups to wildly successful businesses.

In sum, the pandemic has revealed many inequities whether it’s education, gender inequalities, racial injustice, environmental injustice, and so much more. These disparities have created a larger divide and amplified the need for immediate innovation and entrepreneurialism action across sectors. Who better to help inform how we build a better future than the next generation of leaders thinking about these problems every day - and doing something about it? The League of Innovators is here and we can’t wait to support them in their journey in building tomorrow’s businesses today. 

Are you ready to accelerate your startup? Fuel your fire with Labs by applying to the Labs accelerator for youth-led startups! You can access the application here. Some key dates for you: Applications are open until July 5, Batch 7 of the 12-week Labs national virtual program starts September 7, 2021.

Got questions after all that? Want to say hi or partner with us? Reach out to Acceleration Programs Director, Annika, at annika@theleagueofinnovators.com