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The Discovery Foundation AI Business Accelerator

Strategic AI Integration for Every Stage of Growth

The Discovery Foundation AI Business Accelerator is a two-stream AI training program led by AI strategist Rochelle Grayson. Designed for BC technology and tech-enabled companies, the program helps increase efficiency, maximize productivity, and implement AI strategically. 

Applications are now open for Stream 2 of the AI Readiness Program, designed for growth-stage companies ready to turn AI from an idea into a measurable business advantage. Following the successful completion of Stream 1 in July 2026, which helped early-stage companies build a strong foundation in AI tools, Stream 2 provides the mentorship, frameworks, and practical strategies to accelerate AI adoption and drive business impact.

Stream 1

Stream 1 supported pre-revenue and early-stage BC technology and tech-enabled companies to build a strong foundation in AI. Through hands-on workshops and expert mentorship, participants explored AI tools and best practices and developed their own AI implementation plans. Looking to learn more about how AI can support your startup’s business goals? Watch our recent Startup Seminar, featuring Rochelle Grayson. 
Program Highlights:
  • Two workshops covering Fundamentals of AI & Market Validation and Models of AI Implementation
  • Final presentation where companies shared their internal AI implementation plan and received expert feedback.
  • Up to 2 hours of mentorship with Program Advisors through scheduled office hours.
  • Ongoing peer learning and accountability through cohort touch-points and online collaboration space 
Applications for Stream 1 closed on May 22, 2026, and the program will conclude in August 2026.

Stream 2

Open to growth-stage companies, Stream 2 companies will move beyond AI foundations and into measurable and impactful AI implementation, with direct AI mentorship support throughout the program. Applications are now open until September 1, 2026.
What to expect:
  • Five workshops focusing on AI implementation, data readiness, and AI governance
  • Panel presentation: Companies will pitch their implementation-ready plans, and receive feedback 
  • Ongoing mentorship: Up to 10 individualized executive mentorship sessions where companies will receive guidance to de-risk and accelerate decisions.
  • Ongoing peer learning and accountability through cohort touch-points and online collaboration space
Apply Now

Stream 2 Fees & Timeline

  • $250 program fee per company (subsidized rate through The Discovery Foundation)
  • Registration deadline: September 1
  • Intake Interviews: September 8 & 9
  • Workshops (Virtual): September 17, September 24, October 1, October 8, October 15
  • Final Presentation (Hybrid, Downtown Vancouver): Late November/Early December  (*Date TBD)
  • Mentorship: September through December

Stream 2 Eligibility Requirements

Stream 2 applications will be reviewed against the following criteria:

  • BC-based or Yukon-based, tech or tech-enabled company.
  • Growth stage startups (>$100K revenue).
  • Commitment from one senior level team member to attend all sessions in full. Recommended: founder(s), C-Suite or senior leadership level
  • Priority registration will be given to companies in the HealthTech, Green Tech, and CleanTech sectors

Important Notes:

  • Due to program capacity limits, a maximum of one person per company will be accepted.
  • Application does not guarantee a spot. Interviews to assess fit and commitment will be held.

Program Lead

Rochelle Grayson

Rochelle is an Afro-Latin, trilingual, serial entrepreneur, and digital strategist with over 30 years of experience in business, marketing, finance, tech, and education. She has worked with several women’s organizations, been nominated as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, awarded Vancouver’s Top Forty Under 40, and named one of Vancouver’s Top 10 Women in Technology.

Program Advisors

Yeritza Bohorquez (She/Her)

Co-founder & Vice-President at Glu SocialRead More

Stephen Parslow (He/Him)

Co-founder at BetterCartRead More

LX Cast (They/Them)

Co-founder of SpaciousRead More

Luis Guerrero (He/Him)

Co-founder & Vice-President at Glu SocialRead More

Co-founder & Vice-President at Glu Social

Yeritza Bohorquez (She/Her)

We’re Yeritza and Luis. We analyze businesses, assess where optimizations need to happen, then implement AI in a practical way: to make better decisions, tighten operations, and scale without adding chaos. Yeritza brings a data-driven background from biotech and laboratory logistics. Luis brings experience growing companies through marketing and hands-on execution. Together, we blend AI with proven operating systems to drive measurable progress and build toward strong exit plans.

Co-founder at BetterCart

Stephen Parslow (He/Him)

Stephen Parslow has been writing code since he was 9. With 25 years of experience building software companies, he currently runs salonMonster (a salon management platform that’s processed over $650M with under 1% monthly churn) and co-founded BetterCart Analytics, recognized as a top-1% Canadian AI company. His focus is the human-computer interface, and he loves helping founders figure out what to build, how to build it, and where AI actually moves the needle.

Co-founder of Spacious

LX Cast (They/Them)

LX Cast is a researcher, community convener, program designer, strategist, and product leader who has worked on communication and collaboration tech serving millions of people for over a decade. They are the catalyst of Folk Tech, co-founder of Spacious, and principal at Changemaker PM, helping nonprofits develop product discovery practices. They’re a board member at Tech Fleet and Prosocial Design Network. Past roles include Program Designer at AI Stewardship, Head of Research at Marco Polo, Sr. PM at Notion, Chief Storyteller at Olark, Resident Fellow at Integrity Institute, and steward of Collaborative Technology Alliance.

Co-founder & Vice-President at Glu Social

Luis Guerrero (He/Him)

We’re Yeritza and Luis. We analyze businesses, assess where optimizations need to happen, then implement AI in a practical way: to make better decisions, tighten operations, and scale without adding chaos. Yeritza brings a data-driven background from biotech and laboratory logistics. Luis brings experience growing companies through marketing and hands-on execution. Together, we blend AI with proven operating systems to drive measurable progress and build toward strong exit plans.

In partnership with the Discovery Foundation:
A registered charity, the Discovery Foundation has been a committed champion and enabler of the science and technology sector in BC since its formation in 1979. Its principal activity is the delivery of the Technology Education Program via agents that provide education and guidance to entrepreneurs in BC.

New Ventures BC acknowledges that we gather and work on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

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