Grant Thornton partners with Volta to support Canadian startups
Accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton Canada has teamed up with Halifax-based innovation hub Volta to help Canadian startups grow and thrive. Grant Thornton will contribute its expertise in business consulting to help new companies successfully navigate all stages of their development.
Grant Thornton Canada is one of the leading accounting and consulting firms in the country, providing a full suite of advisory services in addition to audit and tax. Together with Quebec firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s 2,500 professionals, the firm has 4,000 people servicing clients across Canada. As part of Grant Thornton International, the Canadian professional service firm has access to the expertise of over 50,000 people across 130 countries. Globally, Grant Thornton posted $5 billion in revenues last year.
The consulting firm announced that it will be partnering with Volta, a Halifax-based innovation hub for entrepreneurs, to help grow Canadian startups. Founded in 2013, Volta provides mentorship and support to entrepreneurs, delivering community-driven education and support frameworks. Collectively, Volta companies employ over 290 staff, have raised over $50 million in equity financing, and over 70% are still in business.
As part of the collaboration, Grant Thornton will set up a permanent office at Volta’s headquarters at 1505 Barrington Street, Halifax. The consulting firm will mobilize its business consulting talent to help new business successfully transition through the stages of development. As such, Grant Thornton will advise startups on finances, government incentives, business planning, and value creation.
"The startup community in Nova Scotia and across Canada has grown, and with that, the demand for our services and mentorship has increased too," said Wade Taylor, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton, Nova Scotia. "Communities like Volta are critical to ensuring that early stage companies get access to the resources needed to grow and thrive."
Commenting on the partnership, Volta CEO Jesse Rogers said, “Developing a stronger innovation ecosystem in Atlantic Canada is a team effort. Volta is proud to work with partners like Grant Thornton to help connect the startups in our community with companies that are committed to their development and growth.”
Halifax and the Atlantic region are garnering buzz as a growing digital and innovation hotspot in Canada. With a strong pool of talent, bright graduates from local universities, and a relatively low cost of living, Halifax is an increasingly attractive city for digital firms and startups. EY recently opened a robotic process automation centre in the Nova Scotian capital that will create 150 high-tech jobs over the next five years. Meanwhile, Deloitte acquired Halifax-based cloud consulting firm Third Wave.
