TeleLearning NCE spinning out two firms dedicated to commercialization

The emerging on-line learning sector is about to receive critical assistance in technology transfer, commercialization and mentoring with the creation of two new firms being spun out of the TeleLeaning Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE). The first of these - InVentures Incubator Inc - was recently launched to provide virtual incubation services from business plan development to links to the venture capital community. The second spin-off, if approved by the TeleLearning board of directors, will see the departure of executive director and COO Joanne Curry, who will leave to head up the new company.

The new firms mark the first time the TeleLearning NCE has created for-profit vehicles to accelerate the development of on-line learning, which is now moving beyond a long gestation period with particularly strong activity in the financial sector. They are also aimed at developing receptor capacity for graduate students who currently move into fields not directly related to their studies. The firms will leverage growing expertise and technology development within the TeleLearning NCE, which is five years into a potential 14-year funding arrangement with the program.

InVentures Inc

"InVentures is actually a nice combination because it's going to help us fulfill the NCE mandate of transferring technologies and ideas in the network in a much better way, with more resources and energy," says Curry, adding that it has recently assembled its inaugural advisory board. "It's also going to allow us to service companies outside in the vertical market of telelearning.

Starting in Vancouver, InVentures will be franchised across the country, with an on-the-ground presence in major centres such as Montreal, Toronto and possibly Halifax. But the core of the business will be Internet-based, connecting the venture community and other strategic partners to researchers developing technologies, intellectual property, products and services. Daphne Gelbart and Hashim Mitha are partners in the venture, along with TeleLearning Network Inc, which will hold an equity stake. Gelbert comes to InVentures from Simon Fraser Univ's industry liaison office (ILO) and has extensive private sector experience in the area of information technology. Mitha is a more recent entrant to the field, having worked on the creation of a personal development web site focused on on-line education.

"There's a lot of great work coming out of Montreal and there's a pretty good nucleus in Vancouver. But the real power is in national and international networks," says Curry. "First we want to prove the concept, get the web site launched, get the initial tenants in and move forward really quickly."

TeleLearning Solutions Inc

Plans are also moving rapidly on the second proposed firm - tentatively entitled TeleLearning Solutions Inc (TSI) - which is positioned to disseminate hands-on knowledge developed through the network. With a small core staff, TSI intends to leverage expertise resident in affiliated universities, colleges and private sector firms, with emphasis on strategic advice, best practices and other valuable know-how. If realized, TSI will work closely with the ILOs of member institutions, building on existing expertise and contacts to develop a solid business case for broad range of services.

"The concept is to be a consulting brokerage but in all cases looking at ways to 'productize' the knowledge or codify it, or develop templates or frameworks that can further disseminate it," says Curry. "I'm beginning to think there's a real opportunity for the dissemination of know-how for profit; not necessarily because we want to make a profit, but in order to scale-up and sustain the dissemination."

Curry says the proliferation of high bandwidth fibre, the Internet and the penetration of personal computers into the home is driving an impending explosion in on-line learning which the TeleLearning NCE is ideally positioned to exploit. Not surprisingly, TeleLearning has an extensive collaborative relationship with CANARIE Inc. TeleLearning network leader and CEO Dr Linda Harrasim chaired CANARIE's first education committee, and the network is also a partner in a handful of the 18 education proposals currently being considered for funding by CANARIE.

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