Tim Jackson appointed CEO of Accelerator Centre in Waterloo

By Benjamin Bach, the Wealth Team on February 11, 2010 in kitchener waterloo

One of the reasons that Kitchener Waterloo attracts so much attention from investors across the world is that the region is a hub of high tech companies (read: Life in a High Tech Powerhouse, 3rd article down) that continue to innovate and grow. In that light…

Exciting news announced yesterday: Tim Jackson (@timothyjackson on twitter) has been appointed CEO of the Accelerator Centre in Waterloo. The Accelerator Centre is one of the premier high tech incubation centres in the world, housing 26 hi tech companies. It is in the Research and Tech Park at the University of Waterloo, across from RIM, Google, and more.

Congrats Tim!

Tim Jackson new CEO of Accelerator Centre
TheRecord.com

WATERLOO – Technology entrepreneur Tim Jackson is taking on another assignment.

Jackson, a partner of venture capital firm Tech Capital Partners and a board member of several local non-profit organizations, is the new chief executive officer of the Accelerator Centre, a technology business incubator in the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park.

He also has been appointed associate vice-president of commercialization at the university, it was announced today.

“His dynamism and passion for entrepreneurship have been instrumental in building Waterloo Region’s technology leadership on the world stage, and his hands-on leadership will be invaluable in advancing commercialization technologies incubated within the university setting,” UW president David Johnston said in a news release.

The Accelerator Centre was launched in 2006 to help accelerate the growth of emerging technology businesses. It offers supports services as well as office space, and currently is home to more than 25 startups.

Jackson, who previously served as the centre’s vice-chair, will continue in his role as partner of Tech Capital.

Jackson co-founded the Waterloo-based venture capital firm with Andrew Abouchar after serving as chief executive officer of PixStream, a video networking startup that was shut down in 2001, just months after Cisco Systems bought it for $550 million.

Tech Capital invests in technology companies that serve the wireless, communications, new media and internet markets. Local companies it has invested in include Sandvine, Covarity, Avvasi, Coreworx, Livehive Systems and Metranome.

Jackson also has a high profile in the non-profit sector. He is the president of the board of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, chair of the Waterloo Public Library Board and chair of the board of Centre in the Square. He recently completed a term as chair of the board of the Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum.

Jackson also has been a key player in efforts to have Kitchener and Waterloo hold a referendum in this fall’s municipal elections on the issue of holding merger talks between the two cities.

He also has been heavily involved in efforts led by the Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region to boost funding for local arts organizations.

At the Accelerator Centre, Jackson succeeds Tom Corr, who recently was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Centres of Excellence.