David Mousavi Announces Plans to Establish Startup Technology Accelerator in Ward 23 - Willowdale to Drive Innovation and Create Jobs
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) September 29, 2014 -- Councillor Candidate for Ward 23 - Willowdale David Mousavi, alongside fellow Schulich MBA alumni, Stuart Browne, CEO of the venture capital fund Pycap Venture Partners, announced today his plans to establish a startup technology accelerator in Ward 23 - Willowdale.
"North York was to be a major business centre within Toronto, but that vision fell aside to more condominiums with residents commuting downtown for work rather than finding gainful employment in our area," Mousavi said.
"With so many diverse communities and eager, but underemployed, youth with a burning entrepreneurial spirit and drive, our community is losing out on all of the economic potential we could be benefiting from. Startup technology is a burgeoning sector that we have to take advantage of to create local jobs," he added.
“Economic development is best accomplished through small businesses, and considering tech startups have the fastest growth potential, it makes perfect sense to create a startup tech accelerator that will help cultivate and support them,” said Pycap Venture Partners Founder & CEO, Stuart Browne, a former classmate of Mousavi and MBA alumni of the Schulich School of Business. "So it makes complete sense to try to position something right in the middle of all the action," he added.
"There's a huge opportunity here and with the right political leaders who have the vision, great things can happen in our city through the startup tech sector." said Browne.
"When David and I first spoke about this idea months ago, it immediately made sense. Willowdale is right in the middle — between York University and Seneca College, downtown and the rising economic powerhouse of the "905" — great transportation options in public transit and a highway that can get us to Kitchener-Waterloo without dealing with major traffic jams downtown, all make this an attractive proposition," Browne added.
For years, businesses in Ward 23 - Willowdale have been struggling and commercial tenancy vacancy rates are rather high, leading to many landowners foregoing constructing commercial office towers in favour of residential towers, which have led to further traffic congestion and infrastructure strain in the area.
"I want Willowdale and North York to be a major innovation sector within Toronto and this accelerator will be one of my first priorities as the local councillor to make this happen," said Mousavi. "We deserve better. It's time for change."
Patrick Smith, David Mousavi Campaign, +1 647-225-9819, [email protected]
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