Owen Egan
McGill’s globally recognized Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship has a new home. It celebrated its official opening at an event on Sept. 11.
Located on the ground floor next to the main entrance in the Bronfman Building, the Centre serves as a hub for McGill’s entrepreneurs. Its new, highly visible space includes co-working spaces and private meeting rooms ideal for fostering collaboration. It’s open to startups with at least one McGill affiliated co-founder.
“Many startups don’t yet have their own office, but they can come to the Centre to work,” said Marie Josée Lamothe, Academic and Executive Director of the Dobson Centre. “When you have several ventures doing that, it creates an environment where they can exchange ideas and build a community.”
Since its founding in 1988, the Centre has supported thousands of ventures, created over 10,000 new jobs and raised $3.7 billion in funding. It currently serves over 470 active startups originating from 11 McGill faculties, including startups that are addressing each of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“We have already built one of the most successful university entrepreneurship ecosystems in the world, and this spectacular new facility will help us reach the next level,” said Yolande Chan, Dean of the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management.
A track record of success
The Centre is recognized a global leader among university incubators.
Earlier this year, it was named America’s Most Impactful Initiative and the top global university innovation ecosystem by the Accreditation Council for Engaged and Entrepreneurial Universities. PitchBook just ranked it No. 1 in Quebec and Canada for producing the most successful startups, as well No.1 in Canada for supporting the most women entrepreneurs. It was also ranked a top-five world university incubator by UBI Global and the U.S. Association for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship.
Karina Gasbarrino, COO of the health-tech company Sonaro and alumna of the Desautels Faculty of Management, is one of the many entrepreneurs who has benefited from the supportive community provided by the Centre.
“Through its programs, we’ve been able to meet with investors, business partners and fellow entrepreneurs who have become invaluable mentors,” she said.
Over the coming year, Gasbarrino said she plans to use the Dobson Centre as a place to bring together her team, leveraging both the co-working space and the private breakout rooms.
“For over three decades, the Dobson Centre has helped members of our community transform their ideas into purpose-driven companies,” said Deep Saini, President, McGill University. “In doing so it has also helped build a startup ecosystem that is not only collaborative and inclusive, but also making a positive social and economic impact here at home and around the world.”
Dobson’s numerous global partners include MESH, the innovation incubator of Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Fuelling the entrepreneurial spirit
The Dobson Centre was founded by the late John Dobson, alumnus of the Desautels Faculty of Management and an influential investor and philanthropist.
The Centre’s new space is the result of a gift from the John Dobson Foundation and Formula Growth Limited, both established by John Dobson.
“We consider this gift an investment in Canada’s next generation of creative and innovative business pioneers” said Randy Kelly, Chairman of the Foundation and CEO of Formula Growth Limited.
Going forward, the Centre aims to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit among all members of the McGill community.
“Entrepreneurship can sometimes feel isolating, but being part of a supportive community can make all the difference,” said Kika Armata, Associate Director, Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship. “With the new dedicated space at Dobson, staff, students, and founders have the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and grow alongside partners and investors, breaking the solitude and fostering their development as entrepreneurs.”