ABOUT US

Who we are

We are North Forge Technology Exchange – a non-profit incubator accelerator that works with startups across Canada in technology, STEM and advanced manufacturing from the ideation stages all the way through to Series A. We fuel Manitoba’s innovation economy, providing founders with experienced mentors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, award winning growth coaches and a unique, online four-stage Founders program. We have worked with over 280 companies since June 2020 who have created over 1,700 jobs.

Armed with North America’s largest non-profit fabrication lab (FabLab™), we operate out of 35,000 square feet across Innovation Drive and Innovation Alley in Winnipeg, including, a 4,000 sq foot location in Thompson, Manitoba.

NORTH FORGE TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE BY THE NUMBERS

325+

Start-up companies (since January 2020)

7500+

Prototypes + inventions in the FabLab

$4M+

Digital Prototyping equipment

Joelle Foster
Joelle FosterPresident and CEO
Marney Stapley
Marney StapleyVice President
Whitney Moir
Whitney MoirProgram and Communications Director
Nermin Sa'd
Nermin Sa'dDirector of Global Entrepreneurship
Jordan Labelle
Jordan LabelleProgram Growth Lead
Atif Mumtaz
Atif MumtazProgram Manager
Ashley Wallis
Ashley WallisMarketing Manager
Rose Dominguez
Rose DominguezCommunity Manager
Janean McInnes
Janean McInnesOffice Manager
Lisa Dyck
Lisa DyckExecutive Assistant to the CEO
Emelia Nyarku
Emelia NyarkuFabrication Lab Assistant
Grace Gyolai
Grace GyolaiProgram Coordinator
Rami Saad
Rami SaadProgram Coordinator
Sheen Chan
Sheen ChanCommunications Coordinator
Jeff Stobbe
Jeff StobbeMaintenance Manager
Tina Tenbergen
Tina TenbergenAssistant Maintenance Manager
Shane Li
Shane LiPresident, North Forge East
Don Glenn (Shorty)
Don Glenn (Shorty)Operations Manager, North Forge North
Jerome Conaty
Jerome ConatyEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Rosalie Harms
Rosalie HarmsEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Peter Moreira
Peter MoreiraEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Scott Donald
Scott DonaldEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Daniel Deleurme
Daniel DeleurmeEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Layla Freig
Layla FreigEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Matthew Olsen
Matthew OlsenFabLab Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Brett Zahari
Brett ZahariEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Gordon McLean
Gordon McLeanEntrepreneur-in-Residence
Loren Oschipok
Loren OschipokIP Advisor
Jacquie Neve
Jacquie NeveIP Advisor
Craig Elias
Craig EliasGrowth & Pitch Coach
Joel Semeniuk
Joel SemeniukGrowth Coach
Andrea Kraj
Andrea KrajPitch Coach
Kerry Stevenson
Kerry StevensonBoard Chair
Dan Belhassen
Dan BelhassenVice-Chair
Tracey Epp
Tracey EppBoard Secretary
Diana Axelrod
Diana AxelrodBoard Treasurer
Chris Schmidt
Chris SchmidtBoard Member
Carley Edmundson
Carley EdmundsonBoard Member

OUR SPONSORS

6P Marketing is a collaborative marketing agency that helps you create more passionate consumers and brand connections for better short and long term business results.

We are 6P because it takes more than the old four Ps of marketing – Product, Place, Promotion and Price – to get ahead in today’s highly competitive marketplace. It takes two more P’s – People and Passion – to really succeed.

The best reason to choose BDO comes down to the relationships we build with our clients and communities. Because at the end of the day, ours is a business of people working with, for, and in the service of others. And when you think about it that way, client service becomes more than just client service; it becomes a firm-wide dedication to helping the people we serve succeed – whatever they need, wherever they are, however we can.

Bell MTS is part of Canada’s largest telecommunications company, providing Manitobans with Mobile phone, TV, high speed Internet, and Home phone service.

Block Therapy is a self-care version of Fluid Isometrics. The individual lies on a therapeutic tool called the Block Buddy for a minimum of three minutes in various positions throughout the body. Bamboo is used as the therapeutic tool because, unlike artificial materials like foam or plastic, it shares similar density to bone. With gravity and body weight, the Block Buddy is able to sink deeply into the tissue all the way to the root of your issues. The pressure brings increased blood and oxygen into the area, warming the connective tissue and “melting” the powerful seal between the layers of unhealthy restrictions. The student is taught to use diaphragmatic breathing to increase oxygen absorption up to 6 times the amount, compared to breathing through the muscles of the upper chest. The combination of increased oxygen, the freeing of adhesions, proper posture and alignment form the basis of the Block Therapy/Fluid Isometrics system.

For over 100 years the Bockstael name has been synonymous with construction in Manitoba. From the humble beginnings of a Belgian carpenter, to the fourth generation of family ownership, building is in our blood. We pride ourselves on world-class innovation and a client-first approach to doing business. This is our commitment to serving the province we choose to call home for the next 100 years — and beyond.

McKercher LLP is one of Saskatchewan’s largest, most established law firms, with offices in Saskatoon and Regina. The firm’s deep roots and client-first philosophy have helped them rank in the top 5 in the Prairies by Canadian Lawyer magazine (2023/24). With integrity, experience, and capacity, their over 80 lawyers provide a full range of innovative solutions for their clients’ diverse legal issues and complex business transactions.


For more than 85 years, Princess Auto has been supplying trade professionals, home mechanics or people who simply love building things with the tools and equipment they need to figure it out – whatever that “it” may be. With a unique assortment of tools, equipment and products, ranging from hydraulics to welding, Princess Auto complements the home improvement sector rather than competing with it.

From our Guide to Doing Business in Canada and our Legal Checklist for Successfully Expanding your Business into Canada, to our relationships with angel and venture capital investors, our lawyers are passionate about start-ups and emerging companies and have the knowledge and networks to back it up.

The University of Manitoba’s Smartpark is a 500,000 square foot development in ten buildings leased to 50 local to international research and technology tenants who employ 1,500 researchers and students.  Smartpark’s mission is developing space for lease to knowledge-based companies and startups involved in re­search areas that complement the University’s academic and research mission, including the following broad areas:

  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Engineering and Advanced Materials
  • Health and Biotechnology
  • Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences

OUR START-UPS

OUR PARTNERS
PARTNERS

Interested in supporting North Forge?

From event sponsorships and corporate memberships to service provider agreements and strategic partnerships, there are many ways for you to play a groundbreaking role in the success of innovation in Manitoba – all while increasing your company’s visibility and expanding your business network.

We offer a truly customized program that can be tailored to meet your corporate objectives. Our goal is to not only build a relationship between partners and startups based on product offerings but even more importantly, to foster a reciprocal and mutually beneficial environment.

North Forge provides partners permanent exposure in our multiple locations (U of M and Innovation Alley) and also exposure at an abundance of monthly community events.