Small Business Accelerator Program

Structure your market research, grow your start-up or learn about the latest industry trends: The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre’s Small Business Accelerator program provides free tools to help you build your business.

Conducting research can be overwhelming, but our Small Business Accelerator (SBA) program is here to help you. We provide free access to high quality secondary market research and curated lists of resources to make it easier for you to build a successful business.

 

The SBA was founded with support from expert business librarians from the David Lam Library, the SFU Bennett Library and the Vancouver Public Library. It’s our librarians outstanding research skills and in-depth knowledge that makes this initiative valuable to anyone interested in taking their small business and venture ideas to the next level.

 

Businesswoman examining graphs with other working people on background

Program Highlights

  • Industry-specific guides: We developed over 100 detailed Accelerator Guides spanning 18 industries, as well as step-by-step manual on business research.
  • Free resources: Our program gives you free access to a curated lists of resources and blog posts to help you start, run or grow a Canadian small business. Topics include writing your b-plan, finding funding, e-tools and more.
  • Open access directory: Search our directory to expand your network, find opportunities for partnerships across sectors and share your knowledge with BC communities.

 

Learn More  |  Contact Us

 

“The focus on freely-available, local information for very specific types of businesses makes the Accelerator Guides invaluable for entrepreneurs. SBA is my most highly-recommended resource for up-and-coming BC entrepreneurs.”

Chris Burns, Kwantlen Polytech University

“The Community Engagement Librarian (Business Services) was infinitely more useful to us than a prominent North American market research firm that took our money and delivered only the most cursory of reports.”

Leslie Marsh, mediAm digital distribution