Ruth Casselman Appointed CEO of the Accelerator Centre

Waterloo, Ontario – July 11, 2024 – After an extensive search, with the support of an external executive search firm, the Accelerator Centre (AC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruth Casselman as its Chief Executive Officer. Ruth, who has been serving as Interim CEO since March 2024, brings a wealth of startup experience and strategic leadership to the role, solidifying the Accelerator Centre’s mission to help startups build, grow, and scale their businesses.

Ruth’s track record of entrepreneurial success gives her a unique, first-hand perspective on the founder experience and of the role that incubators like the AC play in thriving tech ecosystems. Having served as the founding Chief Operating Officer of AC alumni startup, Alert Labs, Ruth's leadership was instrumental in building organizational capability, securing capital through various funding sources, and overseeing the successful acquisition of Alert Labs by Watsco, Inc. (NYSE). Watsco, a Fortune 500 company, operates the largest distribution network for HVAC/R products in North America. Ruth continued to lead Alert Labs as COO until 2022.

In addition to her long-standing leadership in the Waterloo tech ecosystem as a founder and as a member of the AC Board of Directors, Ruth has also been a prominent figure in the investment community. She currently serves as the Chair of the GTAN Angel Network Board, recognized as the most active Seed and Private Investor in Canada. Ruth is also a member of the Due Diligence Committee for Impact Investing for the Waterloo Region Community Foundation.

Leveraging her incredible track record, startup expertise, and passion for the local innovation ecosystem, Ruth’s mandate will include building on the AC’s reputation for delivering high impact startups programming and bolstering collaboration across the Waterloo tech community.

"I am honoured and excited to serve in the role of CEO at the Accelerator Centre,” says Casselman. “The AC was an instrumental part of the success of my own startup, and I am passionate about giving back to the community in this new way. I look forward to continuing to work with the amazing team at the AC to support the next generation of innovative technology startups in the Waterloo Region."

“We are thrilled to have Ruth Casselman as our CEO,” says AC Board Chair Julie Barker-Merz. “Ruth’s exceptional leadership skills and deep understanding of the needs of founders and the local tech ecosystem make her the perfect fit to lead the Accelerator Centre into its next chapter.”

Under Ruth's leadership, the AC will continue to identify and support high-potential technology startups in Waterloo and beyond, providing founders with the necessary resources to achieve success and contribute to Waterloo’s vibrant innovation ecosystem.

About the Accelerator Centre

At the AC, we exist to help ambitious dreamers impact global change through their businesses. The AC is ranked among the World Top 5 private business accelerators by UBI Global. We offer an extensive selection of customizable opportunities for startups across Canada—allowing founders to rapidly bring their innovation to life. We work with our global partners to bolster the innovation ecosystem in Waterloo and beyond. Learn more at acceleratorcentre.com.

Media Contact:

Tabatha Laverty
VP, Marketing and External Relations
Accelerator Centre
tlaverty@acceleratorcentre.com