News & Events

Today a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between BSE Institute Ltd. (BSEI), Ryerson University and Ryerson Futures Inc. (RFI) from Toronto, Canada. The document outlines a partnership to create BSEI-Ryerson Digital Media Zone, a new India-based incubator for entrepreneurs to fast-track their startups and connect with mentors, customers and investors. The collaboration between BIL, Ryerson and RFI lays the groundwork to help young entrepreneurs expand into both the Indian and Canadian markets and also touches on a broad spectrum of areas in the domain of entrepreneurship development and professional development education.

The signing ceremony was organized on July 29, 2103 at the BSE. Several dignitaries from the finance industry, academia and media were present to witness the launch.

BSE Institute’s CEO & MD, Mr. Ambarish Datta said, “Entrepreneurship and innovation are critical for the growth of any economy, as has been evidenced in the USA, Germany, Israel and many other countries around the world. Youth unemployment and underemployment is prevalent in India and needs to be addressed on a war footing.  Setting up of new enterprises can contribute in a major way to address this issue. Apart from creating wealth and boosting the economy, new businesses also create significantly larger number of jobs than established ones. Hence we need to ensure that there are many new enterprises and they get the required support to succeed.

The BSEI-Ryerson Digital Media Zone will offer startups expert guidance and mentoring to refine their concept, help them get their business up and running and also connect them with investors for securing capital.”

Mr. Sheldon Levy, President and Vice-Chancellor of Ryerson University, added: “This initiative is an important first step towards creating a new bridge between Canada and India that provides young entrepreneurs unprecedented international opportunities. As Canada’s university leader in entrepreneurship, we’re excited to contribute to this venture that will support innovation and prosperity in both countries.”

“The signing of today’s MOU enables us to forge networks of angel investors across Canada and India,” added Matt Saunders, President and Managing Director of Ryerson Futures Inc. “These initiatives will help increase the odds of success for early-stage start-ups while giving them access to new markets. We are proud to share our expertise towards this partnership that will strengthen India’s startup ecosystem and provide a boost for both countries’ economies.”

The BSEI-Ryerson Digital Media Zone will be built on a unique model developed at Ryerson University that has attracted international attention. The Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ) is one of Canada's largest incubators and multidisciplinary co-working spaces for young entrepreneurs. Infused with the energy and resources of downtown Toronto, this hub of digital media innovation, collaboration and commercialization is home to both startups and industry solution-providers. The DMZ leads the way in experiential learning and business success by creating a unique ecosystem of education and entrepreneurship. Emerging leaders fast-track their product launches and grow their companies in this supportive community by connecting with mentors, customers and each other. Since opening in April 2010, the DMZ has stimulated Canada's digital economy by incubating and accelerating 92 startups and launching 142 projects. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca/dmz. For further information on the BSE Institute Ltd., visit www.bsebti.com.

The first initiative through the partnership between BIL, Ryerson University and RFI will be the launch of ‘The Next Big Idea’ competition. The competition seeks to discover India’s most innovative companies who are looking to use a presence in Ontario, Canada, as a vehicle to expand to North America. The winner will receive the opportunity to incubate their company for three weeks in the DMZ at Ryerson University, including flights and hotels. Using the DMZ as a landing pad, the entrepreneurs will receive mentorship, business development advice and gain valuable international experience. The competition opens August 12 and closes August 30, 2013.

The Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ) is one of Canada's largest incubators and multidisciplinary co-working spaces for young entrepreneurs. Set atop Yonge-Dundas Square, and infused with the energy and resources of downtown Toronto, this hub of digital media innovation, collaboration and commercialization is home to both startups and industry solution-providers. The DMZ leads the way in experiential learning and business success by creating a unique ecosystem of education and entrepreneurship. Emerging leaders fast-track their product launches and grow their companies in this supportive community by connecting with mentors, customers and each other. Since opening in April 2010, the DMZ has stimulated Canada's digital economy by incubating and accelerating 92 startups and launching 142 projects. For more information about the Digital Media Zone, visit www.ryerson.ca/dmz.

Ryerson University is Canada’s leader in innovative, career-oriented education and a university clearly on the move. With a mission to serve societal need, and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community, Ryerson offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Distinctly urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 38,900 students, including 2,300 master’s and PhD students, nearly 2,700 faculty and staff, and more than 140,000 alumni worldwide. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth: externally funded research has doubled in the past four years. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada’s leading provider of university-based adult education. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lauren Clegg
Media Relations Officer
Digital Media Zone, Ryerson University
416-979-5000 x 2997
lauren.clegg@ryerson.ca