What Co.Labs does

Co.Labs (legally Saskatchewan Collaborates Inc.) is an independent, non-profit technology incubator founded in 2017 and headquartered at 229-116 Research Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The organization operates a multi-stage program portfolio serving Saskatchewan-based tech founders: Co.Learn (open year-round community program for idea-stage founders), Co.Launch (6-week competitive in-person pre-accelerator with cohorts culminating in a $20K no-strings-attached pitch competition), Co.Link and Co.Lead (one-year residency-based incubator programs for in-revenue startups, with 30 spots and free office space). All programs are 100% free with no fees or equity taken.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; instead, it curates and distributes expertise, mentorship, and infrastructure to portfolio startups. The XiR (Expert-in-Residence) program, launched in 2023, provides selected startups with hands-on access to North American functional experts in product, marketing, partnerships, and sales — sourced from companies including SkipTheDishes, Humi, Drop, Picatic/Eventbrite, Neo Financial, Benevity, 7shifts, and Docebo. Co.Labs also provides free office space, professional services (legal via McKercher LLP, accounting via BDO and KPMG), monthly community events, quarterly Founder Meet-Ups, and the annual Uniting the Prairies conference.

Co.Labs is funded entirely through grants and in-kind sponsorships, not commercial revenue. Core funding partners are Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) at $2.6M over three years (2024) plus subsequent tranches, Innovation Saskatchewan as a founding partner since 2017, and the University of Saskatchewan ($120K-$180K multi-year commitments). According to Co.Labs' own reporting, the organization has incubated 230+ startups since 2017, with portfolio companies raising $68.4M in private investment, generating $123.9M in cumulative revenue, and creating 989 jobs. Notable portfolio companies include Coconut Software ($28M CAD Series B, serving RBC and Vancity), TeamLinkt ($8.3M Series A, 3M+ users), Croptimistic ($5.2M Series A), SolusGuard, Luxsonic, and Prairie Robotics.

Name

Co.Labs

Legal name

Saskatchewan Collaborates Inc.

Website

https://co-labs.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Co.Labs (Saskatchewan Collaborates Inc.) is a non-profit tech incubator founded in 2017 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, running free, no-equity programs (Co.Learn, Co.Launch, Co.Link, Co.Lead, XiR) for Saskatchewan-based early-stage hardware and software startups. It is funded by federal and provincial grants and has incubated 230+ startups since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-Profit Operations: Co.Labs is an independent non-profit organization operating as Saskatchewan Collaborates Inc. All programs are 100% free for participants - no fees, no equity taken. The organization is funded through government grants, founding partner contributions, and corporate sponsorships. Revenue comes from PrairiesCan ($2.6M over 3 years), Innovation Saskatchewan, University of Saskatchewan ($60K/year), and program partners like McKercher LLP ($24K over 3 years).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Co.Labs is an independent non-profit tech incubator that delivers free, no-equity programs to Saskatchewan-based hardware and software startups. Its portfolio spans Co.Learn (year-round community program for founders at similar stages), Co.Launch (6-week competitive in-person pre-accelerator ending in a pitch competition with up to $20K in cash prizes), and Co.Link/Co.Lead (one-year residency-based scaling programs for in-revenue startups), supported by the XiR Expert-in-Residence program, free office space, professional services, and a curated mentor network.

Product overview

Co.Labs is an independent non-profit tech incubator offering a multi-stage accelerator program portfolio. The core offerings include Co.Launch (6-week pre-accelerator for idea/MVP stage), Co.Learn (year-round community program for founders), Co.Link (scaling teams with early revenue), and Co.Lead (one-year residency for revenue-generating startups). Additional support services include the XiR Expert-in-Residence program providing North America top-tier mentors, office space access, expert consultation programs, a founder network, professional services (legal/accounting), and community events. All programs are 100% free with no fees or equity taken.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Co.Launch: 6-week competitive in-person pre-accelerator program for early-stage tech startups to accelerate from idea/MVP to market traction
• Co.Learn
• Co.Link
• Co.Lead
• XiR Program

Products and services

• Co.Launch A 6-week competitive in-person pre-accelerator program that helps Saskatchewan-based founders at the idea/MVP stage validate their market, test their business model, and refine their pitch, accelerating 3-5 top tech startups from idea/MVP to market traction.
• Co.Learn A community-focused program connecting founders at similar stages with 1:1 calls, Founder Meet-Ups, and curated resources, operating with continuous year-round intake.
• Co.Link A scaling team program for startups progressing from initial revenue to product-market fit, focused on high-velocity growth, investment, and repeatable sales traction.
• Co.Lead A scaling team program for startups in pursuit of high-velocity growth, investment, and product-market fit, offering 30 spots with open intake for the one-year residency-based incubator program.
• XiR Program (Expert-in-Residence) An expert-in-residence program providing North America's top functional-area experts (XiRs) to support high-potential Saskatchewan startups with hands-on mentorship in financing, sales, marketing, partnerships, and product strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 230 startups incubated, $68.4M private investment raised, $123.9M revenue generated, 989 jobs created
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability15 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• McKercher LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Saskatchewan's startup law firm providing legal services to Co.Labs companies. Renewed partnership contributing $24K over 3 years for in-kind legal services. Since 2018, has dedicated over 1,500 hours of in-kind legal services to over 150 founders, helping with incorporation, governance, and fundraising. Partner Joe Gill leads the Technology and High Growth Startup Group.
• University of Saskatchewan (USask)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Key supporting partner since Co.Labs inception in 2018. Committed $180K over 3 years ($60K/year), effectively doubling their sponsorship from previous years. Provides Co.Launch prize money ($20K cash prize) and enables success of 14+ cohorts. 87 Co.Launch alumni have been USask alumni, students, or faculty. In 2024, renewed commitment with $120K over 3 years.
• BDO CanadasupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting partner providing professional services and expertise to Co.Labs startups.
• KPMGsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting partner providing professional services support to Co.Labs startups in the in-revenue program.
• Saskatoon Audio VisualminorOthersEvent support partner providing audio visual services for Co.Labs events and programming.
• Nick Gray (XiR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert-in-Residence (XiR) with expertise in product development and long-term strategy. CEO of MapMind and former VP Product at Humi & Drop. Has led 1:1 workshops with Co.Lead executive teams to refine product vision and strategic planning.
• Michael Gaudet (XiR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert-in-Residence (XiR) with expertise in marketing and growth. Currently CRO at LINK and previously Head of Performance Marketing at Neo Financial and Director of Sales & Marketing Operations at Benevity. Helps startups refine ideal customer profiles and scale marketing efforts.
• Jayesh Parmar (XiR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert-in-Residence (XiR) and serial founder-turned executive coach. Best known for founding Picatic, acquired by Eventbrite in 2018. Provides coaching to founders on performance and psychology.
• James Moncarz (XiR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert-in-Residence (XiR) specializing in developing partnerships at tech scale-ups. Previously worked at 7shifts, Docebo, and Ceridian, leading Partnerships strategies. Supports Co.Labs startups in building partnership capabilities.
• Kendall BishopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarketing Leader mentor with experience as Director of Marketing Strategy, Growth Verticals, and SKIPREWARDS and Director of Marketing, Brand, and Campaigns at SkipTheDishes. Now Founder & CEO of Badass Growth Co. advising Seed to Series A startups.
• Suheil ThadanicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSales Leader mentor with experience as Head of Enterprise Sales at Y Combinator startup Accord. Previously Strategic Account Executive at Series C company Vivun and managed accounts at AppDirect for F500 companies.
• Nick GraycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct Leader mentor with experience as VP of Product at Humi and Drop, and Head of Product at Roadmunk where he led teams to drive $100M in growth and 100M users. Now Founder at MapMind advising companies on product roadmaps.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Communitech: Canadian tech innovation hub in Waterloo, Ontario operating accelerator programs and founder support services. Direct peer as another Canadian regional tech incubator with similar cohort-based programming and government/university partnerships.
• Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based tech incubator and one of the most active US seed-stage investors. Comparable non-equity / low-equity regional tech incubator supporting hardware and software founders from idea through scale.
• Techstars: Global tech accelerator running 13-week cohort programs with mentorship focus. Highly comparable to Co.Labs' cohort-based, mentor-driven model; differs in being for-profit with equity stakes and international scope.
• Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator running 3.5-month cohort programs for aspiring founders. Comparable to Co.Labs' pre-seed Co.Launch offering; differs in equity model and global rather than regional focus.
• Y Combinator: Premier global tech accelerator running cohort-based programs for early-stage startups. Most directly comparable to Co.Labs' Co.Launch/Co.Lead cohorts in structure, though YC takes equity and operates globally rather than regionally.
• Creative Destruction Lab: Canadian seed-stage program based at Rotman School of Management supporting massively scalable tech ventures. Comparable as a Canadian tech accelerator targeting early-stage founders with mentorship-driven cohorts.
• 500 Global: Global venture firm and accelerator running multi-stage programs for early-stage founders worldwide. Comparable cohort-based accelerator model targeting pre-seed to Series A startups, though with global scope and equity-taking model.

Regional players

• DMZ: Toronto Metropolitan University's tech startup incubator providing programs, mentorship, and office space to early-stage founders. Direct functional comparable as another Canadian university-affiliated tech incubator.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting science and tech ventures with programs, mentorship, and capital connections. Adjacent peer operating a similar incubator/accelerator model in a different Canadian region.
• Alberta Innovates: Alberta's provincial innovation corporation funding and supporting tech R&D and startup commercialization. Regional peer as another Western Canadian government-backed tech innovation enabler with overlapping agtech/cleantech portfolio themes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/colabsyxe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saskatchewan-collaberates-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/colabsyxe
• Xx.com/colabsyxe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Co.Labs