COVID-19 UPDATE
1855 is committed to complying to all Provincial government orders and providing a safe working space for our community.
Amidst the ever-evolving COVID-19 regulations, our office is closed to the public. We have made a shift to virtual programming and events during this time. 1855 staff will continue to work from home and provide services remotely until further notice.
We will stay informed through the Durham Region Health Department and the Stop the Spread Business Information Line and continue to update our community as changes develop. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@1855Whitby.com if you have any questions. The 1855 Team is happy to help!
We appreciate your continued support and cooperation as we navigate these special times together.
The 1855 Philosophy
A strategic initiative that began with the Town of Whitby and the CEO of 360insights, 1855 was created to fill a defined gap that existed in the innovation ecosystem in the Durham Region.
The vision is to provide support for established high-potential tech and innovation companies to accelerate growth and land within the community, expanding the Innovation District in Downtown Whitby, ultimately becoming the growth arm for a robust Eastern Innovation Corridor from Pickering to Kingston.
new life, old roots
1855 has made its home in the former provincial Land Registry Office, a heritage site dating back to 1873.
As the Durham Region population grew, the Registry relocated in 1987. Many years later, the building was purchased by the Town of Whitby, as part of the vision of the late Peter LeBel, Commissioner for the Town of Whitby. His goal was to make Whitby a fundamental contributor to the tech and innovation ecosystem within the Eastern Innovation Corridor. Peter aligned with tech industry leader Jason Atkins, CEO of Durham's largest technology company, to create 1855 - a place where high-potential tech companies could receive growth support locally, staying within the community with access to capital, top talent, and strategic business influencers. The Town made an extensive retrofit and investment in this historical facility, formed a private-public partnership, and 1855 was established as its own not-for-profit organization.
Delivering a BOUTIQUE approach
Accelerated Programming in Play1855 PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED BY STRATEGIC PARTNERS.
Because of these partnerships, 1855 curriculum spans topics such as advanced sales and marketing, stakeholder communications, growth consulting, executive mentorship, IP/trademark protection, AI, client and investor presentation readiness, talent optimization and acquisition, scaling model analysis, R & D, cyber security protocols, and more.
GROWTH-CENTRIC learning:
Office HoursLawyers in Residence
Collaborative Workshops
Lunch & Learns
Leadership Consulting
Presentation Coaching
Connections to prospective clients, channel partners, & investors
EVENTS:
Media Days
Public Open Houses & Seminars
Investor Conferences
Signature Thought Leadership Events:
1855 MASTERCLASS
INNOV8 AM
Impacting the Regional Economy
1855 was brought to life because of a gap in the innovation ecosystem. There are a range of local supports for start-up companies stemming from the Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD) to idea conceptualization, product validation, seed funding, and business incubation at Spark Centre. There was no entity along the Eastern Innovation Corridor (Pickering to Kingston) to advance companies under all facets of the tech and innovation sector, to the global stage.
Innovation
Creating Jobs
1855 has commited to supporting 75 companies and creating 750 new local jobs over its first five years.
large-scale Growth
Within 5 years, the GDP from the Regional ICT sector will be approx. $739MM, of which 1855 will have contributed $45MM.
1855 LEADERSHIP
DENNIS CROFT
CEO, 1855
Alexandra Flewell
Marketing, 1855
an esteemed Board at the helm
1855 IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, LED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
"1855 provides a long-awaited invaluable service to tech entrepreneurs. As the CEO of 360insights, a company that has received growth support from a Toronto accelerator in the early days (and still operates a satellite office from there), we recognize the power that comes from having access to the right expertise and opportunities. We have a strong board at the helm and the right leadership in place. Tech companies reach out to me all the time looking for guidance, asking where to go, what to do next, how to advance. As we turn the page on our founding year, we strive to be the place innovators think of when needing next-level support. To those entrepreneurs, this is for you."
JASON ATKINS - CHAIR, 1855 BOARD & CEO, 360INSIGHTS
Jason Atkins
CEO360insights
Jeff Quipp
Founder & CEOSearch Engine People Inc.
Brion Hendry
Partner, Assurance & Accounting LeaderGTA, BDO Canada
David Lahey
FounderPredictive Success Corp.
Peter Dillon
Technology, Privacy, & Franchise LawyerSiskinds Law Firm
Matthew Gaskell
CAOTown of Whitby
Isaac Wanzama
Founder & Chief Strategistgeekspeak Commerce
1855's Member Community
Members receive a white-glove experience in a dedicated, creative working environment with access to accelerated programming and connections to industry leaders, investors, and prospective clients. Above all that, collaborations and synergies with like-minded peers make the 1855 opportunity a game-changing one for driven entrepreneurs.
ANCHOR CLIENTS
In addition to accelerating companies, these organizations also work from 1855. These anchor clients align with 1855's objectives because they compliment what we are trying to do. They drive innovation in our community, provide invaluable advisory support for the members, provide a pool of top tech talent as companies expand, assist with real estate needs for companies looking to relocate here, and foster the landing strategy to acquire working space in the community upon exit.
Partners who lead
These investing partners believe in our vision and are here to support the journey to growth.
1855 Whitby chooses partners skilled in many areas of expertise so they can be mentorship assets to the acceleration program.
A NOD TO OUR ECOSYSTEM PARTNERS
To uphold the lofty vision of 1855, it takes a village of support from strategic partners within the innovation ecosystem. We look forward to developing new partnership synergies, further collaborations with these organizations, and the continuance of a culture of extraordinary engagement through innovation.TOGEHTER WE CAN (AND WILL) MAKE A GREATER IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY!
Contact Us
