Our series profiling CVCA’s new members continues, providing insight into the organizations in our community.
We’re thrilled to profile a new CVCA member, Launch Kawartha!
Tell Us About Launch Kawartha.
Launch Kawartha is an innovation and entrepreneurship organization based in Lindsay Ontario, serving the broader Kawartha Lakes region. Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses through a combination of financing, advisory services, mentorship, and community-building initiatives.
We work with founders and businesses across multiple stages of growth, from aspiring entrepreneurs launching their first venture to established operators scaling and adapting their businesses. Through programs such as Community Futures, Invest Kawartha, Kawartha Ventures, mentorship opportunities, networking events, and access to capital, we are helping build a stronger and more resilient innovation ecosystem in rural Ontario.
Launch Kawartha was created to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial ambition and access to support in smaller communities. We believe geography should not limit innovation, investment readiness, or business growth.
What Is Launch Kawartha’s Focus?
Our focus is on building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kawartha Lakes by supporting high-potential founders, local businesses, and community-driven innovation. We believe that rural and smaller urban markets represent a major untapped opportunity for entrepreneurship in Canada.
Through Launch Kawartha, we provide entrepreneurs with access to mentorship, business strategy support, funding pathways, investor readiness coaching, and connections to industry experts and partners.
We are particularly excited by businesses that combine innovation with community impact, companies that create jobs locally, strengthen regional economic resilience, and contribute to sustainable long-term growth. Our approach is collaborative and ecosystem-focused, bringing together municipalities, educational institutions, investors, service providers, and entrepreneurs under one umbrella.
Who Are the Key People at Launch Kawartha?
Launch Kawartha is led by Corey Norman, Executive Director, an experienced innovation and organizational development leader with a background spanning entrepreneurship, economic development, strategic foresight, and business transformation.
Prior to joining Launch Kawartha, Corey worked as a consultant within Deloitte’s Human Capital Consulting division, advising organizations on organizational design, innovation, leadership, and strategic growth.
Corey holds an honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Global Studies, and Business, a Graduate Diploma in International Project Management, and a master’s degree in strategic Foresight and Innovation.
An interesting aspect of Corey’s leadership philosophy is his strong belief that smaller and rural communities can become highly competitive innovation hubs when entrepreneurs are given access to mentorship, capital, strategic guidance, and collaborative networks. Having grown up in Lindsay Ontario and later returning to the region with his family, Corey is deeply committed to helping position Kawartha Lakes as a destination for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community-driven economic growth.
What Is Launch Kawartha Excited About?
In the immediate future, we are excited about the continued growth of entrepreneurship and innovation across Kawartha Lakes and surrounding communities. We are seeing increasing momentum from founders who want to build scalable businesses while remaining connected to smaller communities and a high quality of life.
We are particularly encouraged by the growing interest in regional innovation ecosystems, rural entrepreneurship, and community-driven economic development. More founders are realizing they do not need to be located in major metropolitan centres to access mentorship, talent, capital, and growth opportunities.
Long term, Launch Kawartha is focused on helping position the region as a destination for entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment. We see significant opportunity for smaller communities to become powerful centres of innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment across Canada.
We are also excited to continue expanding relationships with investors, ecosystem partners, and organizations like the CVCA to help connect local founders with broader national opportunities and networks.
