Carleton University’s Lead to Win ecosystem delivers services to technology entrepreneurs for the purpose of creating knowledge jobs in Canada’s Capital Region. It brings together assets, partnerships, and programs at the university and community level. As the keystone, Carleton University, located in Ottawa, Canada, establishes and operates lead projects around challenging problems, supports entrepreneurs to launch and grow their ventures, provides them with access to global partnerships and to a shared infrastructure, and helps them monitor their progress. As of February 2014, the Lead to Win ecosystem has raised $7.75M, reviewed 339 opportunities, graduated 91 ventures, which created 550 jobs, published 400+ articles in our online journal, and received numerous awards.

1. Lead to WinUIIN 20141 Lead to Win
Lead to Win
“An ecosystem approach to making universities
more entrepreneurial”
Tony Bailetti, Michael Weiss, Steve Muegge,
and Mika Westerlund
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2. Lead to WinUIIN 20142
Lead to Win ecosystem
• Carleton University’s Lead to Win ecosystem delivers
services to technology entrepreneurs by bringing
together assets, partnerships, and programs at the
university and community level
• It i) supports entrepreneurs to launch and grow their
ventures, ii) provides them with access to global
partnerships and to a shared infrastructure, and iii)
helps them monitor their progress
• Launched in 2009 in response to the economic
downturn in the Ottawa region triggered by breakup of
Nortel: loss of technology jobs, decreased venture
capital investments between 2000 and 2009
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3. Lead to WinUIIN 2014
Outcomes
• Since 2009, the Lead to Win ecosystem has raised
$7.75M, reviewed 339 opportunities, graduated 91
ventures, which collectively created 550 full-time jobs,
published 400+ articles in our online journal (TIM
Review), and received numerous awards
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4. Lead to WinUIIN 2014
Components of Lead to Win
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Added
value
Specialized knowledge required
Space (facilities)
Opportunity assessment, training,
networking, and trust
Business development experts (desks)
External funding for entrepreneurs
Strategic assets (reviewers, ventures,
process, online journal, theory)

5. Lead to WinUIIN 2014
Process
• Within the Lead to Win ecosystem, startups follow a
four-phase lifecycle (idea to venture + jobs)
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6. Lead to WinUIIN 2014
Impact of Lead to Win
• Unique value points to entrepreneurs include: i)
stronger business opportunity quickly, ii) access to
large and diverse business network, iii) foundation to
sell to first customers, raise funds and attract talent
• Benefits to the region include: i) cost effective delivery
of high-impact, regional-level outcomes, ii) retain value
created by entrepreneurs in the region, iii) attract and
retain investment, talent and opportunities
• Free to founders: New entrepreneurs cannot afford to
pay market rates for the services that Lead to Win
provides – costs of providing Lead to Win are borne by
other stakeholders who benefit from their participation
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7. Lead to WinUIIN 2014
Further information
• Lead to Win website: www.leadtowin.ca
• Online journal: TIM Review, www.timreview.ca
• Master’s program: www.timprogram.ca
• Email: michael_weiss@carleton.ca
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