Communitech HYPERDRIVE – a $30+ million incubator program that aims to takes tech startups from seed level to Series A-ready in 24 months – has kicked off their ‘Get Your HYPERDRIVE On’ tour. Join one of the sessions below to learn more about the program and how it can help you. The HYPERDRIVE team will be on hand at these sessions, along with other startups, mentors and experts, to answer your questions, trade tales, and give you the low-down.

If you are in Vancouver: Join Communitech and the BCTIA at Steamworks Pub, 375 Water Street, on Wednesday November 14th. The fun rocks from 5:30pm to 7:30pm with free food and drink! Register here.

If you are in Toronto: You can meet the Communitech team AND Polar Mobile CEO Kunal Gupta as they co-present this tour stop on Tuesday November 20th at the Polar Mobile office at 156 Front Street West, from 6pm to 8pm. Food and drinks will be served. Register here.

If you think you have what it takes to apply for HYPERDRIVE’s amazing 24-month program, come and have a drink with the team and quiz them about all things startup.

Fluxible is a new conference this September that brings user experience and design experts from around the world together for two days of workshops and talks. The team at Research In Motion® (RIM®) is especially excited that our own Dan Gärdenfors (Senior Concept Designer of The Astonishing Tribe) has just been announced as closing keynote speaker.

While I was making my way back from the BlackBerry® 10 Jam World Tour and @StartupFest in Montreal, I had the chance to speak with Mark Connolly, one of the organizers of Fluxible, about the origin of the conference, who should attend, and what the event means to the region of Waterloo.

Thanks for taking time to talk with us. Who should register for the conference?

Fluxible was conceived for UX practitioners and researchers – but it’s also a great opportunity for developers, product managers, and others who want to learn about designing front end interfaces and experiences.

I took a look at the agenda and you’re definitely taking advantage of the event spaces here in town.

Yes, we’ve had great support from Communitech. We’re starting at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, which is where the main talks will be. We then move to Kitchener City Hall for a Saturday evening party, and then finish at the Communitech Hub on Sunday with the workshops. It’s very exciting.

What does Fluxible mean to the Waterloo region?

As you likely know, design has become crucial to the success of products and companies in the last several years, and the Waterloo Region has developed the same focus on design that has been visible globally. Bob (Bob Barlow-Busch) and I, as long time champions of uxWaterloo Communtech Peer 2 Peer (P2P), have seen this increased interest and awareness firsthand. To us, the awareness is another sign of the maturation of the region’s transformation into a digital economy. Fluxible is not only an opportunity to show what’s happening in Waterloo Region to the larger UX world, but also to bring the larger UX world to Waterloo Region. In addition to Dan as a keynote speaker, we have an amazing lineup of speakers who will be delivering terrific talks and workshops. Do check them out.

Definitely sounds like it’s going to be a great event.

We think so too! This is the first event of its kind in the area, and we’re really looking forward to attendees coming in from the region, the province, and around the world. It’s an opportunity to network and have a great time.

Early bird registration is open now and available until July 31. For information, check out the Fluxible site. The Fluxible conference takes place on September 22nd and 23rd, 2012.

Attention entrepreneurs of the world! There’s a new kid on the incubator block looking for you. HYPERDRIVE is an amazing program to help people with incredible ideas and the drive to succeed to build competitive and world-leading companies.

Research In Motion (RIM) is a funding partner for HYPERDRIVE, and we’re thrilled to work with the team there to let the BlackBerry® developer community know about this opportunity. At HYPERDRIVE, it doesn’t matter where you’re from – as long as you bring a truly stellar idea and the drive to turn it into a world-leading company.

There are a few important things that make HYPERDRIVE stand out from the pack:

• A three-month “sprint” at the beginning of the program at the Communitech Hub within the Tannery District in Waterloo, Ontario (a.k.a. Canada’s Silicon Valley), where you’ll plug into a rich network of experienced entrepreneurs, tech industry heavyweights, executives-in-residence, and fellow start-up renegades.
• You’ll also spend a week in New York City, meeting with US funders, partners and potential clients.
• Insider access to Canada’s top Angels, VCs and other funding partners, and help in foreign markets too.
• Once you’re back home, you’ll receive hands-on guidance from a global network of mentors who will bring their expertise to your challenges for up to 24 months.
• You’ll have access to $100,000 of in-kind support to keep your business engines firing.

And did we mention it’s open to anyone in the world?

HYPERDRIVE accepts a maximum of 10 companies, three times a year — but you have to be up to scratch. This $30-million-plus incubator program isn’t just exciting, supportive and fun – it is a very real boost to building your business.

The program offers initial funding of $55,000 (equity and loan), plus a $150,000 convertible note when you finish the sprint, AND $500,000 from leading VCs at four-month intervals when you’re ready to scale. Basically, HYPERDRIVE provides the money, the knowledge, and the connections to help you turn your idea into a top-flight company.

Applications close June 4th — apply today at www.communitech.ca/hyperdrive!