The provincial government is injecting nearly $150,000 into southeast Saskatchewan’s technology sector in an effort to help rural startups launch and scale locally.
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On May 25, Innovation Saskatchewan announced it will invest $149,000 over three years in the Southeast TechHub (SETH) based in Estevan. The funding is earmarked for the hub’s Rural Innovation Startup Ecosystem (RISE) program, a regional incubator aimed at keeping technology companies in their home communities.
Warren Kaeding, the minister responsible for innovation Saskatchewan, said the investment is designed to build a stronger province-wide economic footprint.
“This investment helps more people build companies in their own communities, strengthening industries and creating high-quality jobs,” Kaeding said in a release.
The RISE program will mirror urban tech accelerators like Saskatoon’s Co.Labs and Regina’s Cultivator. It will offer rural entrepreneurs mentorship, founder programming, and capital pitch opportunities that are typically harder to access outside of major cities.
In addition to business development, the funding will help SETH partner with regional post-secondary institutions to deliver tech training to rural and Indigenous participants.
Gord More, executive director of SETH, welcomed the provincial backing as a major win for regional representation.
“This investment is a signal that rural Saskatchewan belongs at the centre of the province’s innovation story — not at the edge of it,” More said.
SETH was founded in 2022 and focuses heavily on supporting innovation in key regional sectors, including energy, mining, and advanced manufacturing.
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