CAMP now accepting applications for second cohort
Based on the strong success of last year’s China Angels Mentorship Program (CAMP), the program is being relaunched and is now accepting applications for its second cohort.
CAMP, a joint initiative of Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) and the China Canada Angels Alliance (CCAA), is a virtual incubation program designed to create value for early-stage companies looking to enter the Chinese market. It will help participating companies shape their business models to fit the Chinese market, enter the marketplace and begin to scale their businesses. Additionally, CAMP will provide a gateway for mature Chinese companies looking to partner in North America.
OCE and CCAA will select up to 10 companies to obtain investment and mentorship opportunities from prominent Chinese angels. Initial seed investments from CCAA investors will range from $100,000 to $500,000. There is also potential for co-investment by OCE through its Market Readiness Program, subject to program eligibility and selection criteria.
Through participation in CAMP, companies will build their networks, gain a deeper understanding of key global market trends and opportunities, meet leading Chinese VC and angel investors, visit with top companies in China to gain valuable on-the-ground perspective, work with leading investment and industry mentors, gain direct business ties to the Chinese market, learn valuable cultural insights about the Chinese market, join an expanding CAMP community of entrepreneurs and mentors and receive ongoing support for market expansion in China.
CAMP entrepreneurs will spend the next year or more building a relationship in both Ontario and China with the investors and mentors, learning how to adapt their business plans towards successfully entering the Chinese market. As part of this unique mentorship experience, the companies will travel to China to work with their investors overseas, giving them the unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the Chinese culture and market.
CAMP may consider companies from any sector, however, preference is given to IT-based companies, including healthcare IT, cleantech IT, finance IT, artificial intelligence and sustainability IT.
If you are interested in being considered for the program, please send a one-page venture sheet and investor deck to camp@oce-ontario.org no later than June 20, 2016. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, so early applications are encouraged.
If you have additional questions regarding the program, please contact Vanessa Williamson or any OCE Business Development Manager.
Full details of the program can be found on OCE’s website.