June 25, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is grateful for the input from partners, funding recipients, committee members and other regional stakeholders who have taken the time to help inform our next three-year Strategic Plan for 2027-30. We are also pleased to provide an update on the status of the DAAP 4.39 action item.
Accelerate Okanagan, Kelowna BC, RevUp Program
Okanagan tech industry continues to grow despite pandemic
Local technology companies use mentors through the Accelerate Okanagan “RevUP” program to realize rapid growth.
The tech industry in the Okanagan is rapidly expanding and growing at a rate of 15% per year. Today, the industry drives over $1.67B in economic activity in the region and employs about 12,500 – a number that is continually increasing. Across all business sectors, technology is streamlining processes, enhancing communications, automating product creation and so much more.
Okanagan tech startups have benefitted from RevUP, a home-grown program designed to support businesses transitioning from startup to rapid growth. Through the RevUP engagement process, company CEO`s, founders and senior leadership team members are paired with experienced business mentors, “Executives in Residence (EIR)”, to guide the creation of sustainable and scalable business systems. To date, the Rev Up program has assisted over 80 companies and put the Okanagan on the map as a leading region for tech talent and investment.
Key drivers for growth stage companies
The RevUP concept (originally titled “Traction” in its pilot period) was designed in 2016 by Accelerate Okanagan in partnership with Wavefront and the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council. Through a national economic impact study that included consultation with numerous entrepreneurs across the Vancouver, Victoria, and Okanagan regions, it was determined that more hands-on support was need for business between the startup and growth stage. Scalable revenue models, efficient operational procedures, and strategies to secure additional capital, were key drivers of company growth and expansion into new markets.
Partners in RevUP success
To assist in the creation of the next phase in the business accelerator program, Accelerate Okanagan approached the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior of British Columbia (ETSI-BC, formerly Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust) to secure $25,000 in grant funding. As regional economic development trust, ETSI-BC saw the opportunity to support an emerging sector and support business growth and new job creation. This grant was then followed with $50,000 in funding from Innovate BC (formerly BC Innovation Council), $116,000 from NRC-IRAP through Wavefront and self-generated income of $97,500 to bring the RevUP initiative to fruition. The launch of RevUP was one of the first in Canada dedicated to supporting growth-stage businesses.
This combined funding directly allowed Accelerate Okanagan to secure a curated group of EIRs to provide mentorship and innovative business support. EIRs come from a diverse array of industry backgrounds and carry extensive experience in business growth measures. Participating companies are matched with an EIR for a six-month engagement to develop customized plans, to solve business pain points and determine potential areas for opportunity.
Technology emerging in all sectors
Since the RevUP program launch, demand has been evident with an instant influx of companies. Typical participating companies have between 10-50 employees, average revenues of $2M and come from all industry sectors, including agriculture, mining, tourism, and health sciences. To date, the 80 plus participating companies have created over 360 local tech-based jobs and many businesses have expanded into larger offices within the region. These companies are now seen giving back to the community who gave to them through charitable donations, sponsorship opportunities and the hiring of talented, local staff. Global investment into locally based businesses has continued to grow.
Local talent, international buy-In
The growth of the tech industry within the Okanagan through the assistance of programs such as RevUP has attracted people to the region not only for lifestyle, but for career stability. Talent pools are growing, wages are kept competitive within the industry as a whole and the Okanagan is on the global map as a tech-savvy region to not only work…but invest. Most recently, local business and past RevUP participant Bananatag received international buy-in and is now on the world stage providing streamlined internal employee communications.
The RevUP initiative has grown both in impact and scope. Now, several accelerators across the nation including Kamloops Innovation CentreVIATEC (Victoria), Ontario Quintivation and Columbia Basin Trust offer the program through specialized licensing agreements. With the onset of the pandemic, the tech industry has remained one of the least impacted industries and continues to flourish and grow. Accelerate Okanagan has witnessed a steady increase in startup businesses over this past year. The RevUP program has received its highest intake ever of businesses maturing into rapid growth phases. Companies interested in learning more about RevUP can find it at RevUp | Accelerate Okanagan
More News & Stories
ETSI-BC Fall 2026 Funding Intake: Up to $1M Available for Projects
June 18, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is pleased to announce that its next Funding Intake will launch on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and close on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake Invests Over $1 Million to Strengthen the Southern Interior Economy
June 8, 2026 – Communities across British Columbia’s Southern Interior are set to benefit from a new round of investment through the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior. On June 5, 2026, ETSI-BC approved $1,011,000 in funding for 33 projects, representing a combined project value of $3 million. The funded initiatives will help communities diversify their local economies, support innovation, and respond to regional opportunities
Helping Shape the Future of ETSI-BC Support in the Southern Interior
May 11, 2026 – ETSI-BC is inviting partners from across the Southern Interior to participate in a series of virtual focus groups as part of an Impact Assessment that will inform its next three-year Strategic Plan, covering the period from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2030.
Similkameen Economic Vitality Plan Drives Growth and Resilience
Keremeos, one of the fastest growing rural communities in British Columbia, has evolved from its agricultural heritage to a business hub at the heart of the Similkameen region with a robust tourist sector and vast potential to develop new business opportunities. In 2024, the Similkameen Country Development Association initiated a comprehensive Economic Vitality Initiative to better address the pressing needs of local businesses. Collaboration by many stakeholders along with funding support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) drove the plan to completion, and the strategies it contains are now being implemented.
Ktunaxa Business Showcase Links Indigenous Businesses to Procurement Opportunities
The Ktunaxa Business Showcase, led by the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC), is expanding, improving and helping members secure new business contracts in southeastern BC. The success of the most recent 2025 Showcase event reflects strategic changes to the program’s timeline and format, and was supported by funding from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).
Strong Demand for ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake
April 15, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) closed its 2026 Spring Funding Intake, with a strong response from communities and organizations across the region. The intake closed on April 9, 2026, with 48 applications requesting nearly $1.7 million in funding, representing a combined project value of almost $4 million.
2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review
March 30, 2026 – We are pleased to present the findings and recommendations of the 2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review Committee. The Committee reviewed the Act that governs ETSI-BC and the proposed changes that the Province has put forward this year. A Legislative Review is conducted every 5 years by an independent committee. This year in particular, their report has several important recommendations of relevance to First Nations and local governments in the Southern Interior, and to the Province.
Stepping up the PACE of Inclusive Employment in Penticton
Creating flexible, part-time job opportunities for workers with barriers has been the driving force behind The Penticton & Area Cooperative Enterprise (PACE) for more than 20 years. Hundreds of employees have found sustainable jobs with local employers based on PACE’s job-sharing model to fill full-time positions.
With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), PACE has standardized and expanded its model to ensure more people can access paid work in the community and employers have access to labour market solutions, which are increasing economic growth in the Penticton area and beyond.
Columbia Valley on a Roll as Film Production Provides Region-Wide Benefits
With its spectacular landscapes and the small-town charm of communities like Radium, Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs, the Columbia Valley in the East Kootenay region has been the backdrop of film productions for decades. In 2024, Columbia Valley Community Economic Development (CVCEDO) built on this momentum by hiring a Film Coordinator to ensure the Columbia Valley was the location of choice for two new productions and create a strategy for long-term growth of the film sector. The project was supported with a grant from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).