The Catalyst Commons co-working hub in Kitchener, Ont., has received a major expansion.

The facility has added approximately 125,000 square feet to its premises. The expansion marks Catalyst Commons as the inaugural operational site under the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Incubators initiative. Announced earlier this year by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the OVIN program aims to bolster the province’s automotive and mobility sector by fostering Ontario-based companies and connecting them to global markets.

“Catalyst has truly become the home base for builders in Waterloo Region,” said Amber French, co-founder of Catalyst Commons. “It’s a place where you can find startups working alongside some of Canada’s top scale-ups, multinationals, investors, community non-profits, post-secondary institutions, and supporting businesses.

“Everything you need to start and scale a business can be found under one big roof.”

Since its founding in 2020 by entrepreneurs French, Kurtis McBride and Angela Watkins, Catalyst Commons has attracted more than 150 companies. The ecosystem includes startups, scale-ups, and reknown industry leaders such as Bloomberg, IMAX, and Miovision.

The newly expanded space at Catalyst Commons will also house entrepreneurs and startups participating in the OVIN Incubator. The partnership aims to strengthen Ontario’s automotive supply chain by promoting innovation and connecting regional expertise to global opportunities.

“The future of Ontario’s automotive and mobility sector requires a robust foundation to nurture the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and homegrown companies,” said Raed Kadri, head of OVIN. “As the first incubator program of its kind in Ontario and across Canada, the OVIN Incubators will leverage Kitchener-Waterloo’s unique regional expertise to build a launchpad for new Ontario-based automotive and mobility ventures.”

“This partnership with OVIN marks just the beginning of an exciting journey,” said French. “We’re committed to building a sustainable, entrepreneur-led innovation model, and we’re exploring additional collaborations to enhance our incredible community.”

Photo: Courtesy of Catalyst Commons