Who We Are
Our Mission
Our mission here at Summerside Xchange is to anchor, support, and foster early-to-mid-stage companies through a combination of physical and program support. All types of support are designed to exponentially grow the entrepreneurial, immigration, and start-up climate here in Summerside.
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Leveraging Infrastructure for Clean Growth
Summerside utilizes its municipally owned infrastructure to drive cleantech growth. The city’s fibre optic network supports projects like Heat for Less Now, which enhances energy efficiency using electric thermal systems and smart grid technology. Through Xchange, start-ups gain unique opportunities for product testing and market validation, particularly for international companies entering North America. Pioneering projects like the Industrial-Scale Solar Energy Storage System and AI Smart Grid pilot demonstrate Summerside's cleantech leadership.

Supporting Innovation and Growth
Summerside has cultivated an entrepreneurial ecosystem that blends historic charm with a progressive economic strategy. The Summerside Business Commons, a 14-acre Eco-Park with construction-ready lots and sustainable infrastructure, exemplifies the city’s commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability. This dynamic environment is designed to help clean businesses thrive by providing the resources and support needed for productivity and innovation.

A Vision for Our Sustainable Future
Aspiring to be Canada’s first Net Zero City, Summerside places cleantech at the core of its economic development. The city is progressing towards meeting its energy needs entirely with renewable sources and building infrastructure for green hydrogen production. By aligning with the provincial 2040 Net Zero Framework, Summerside is positioning itself as a key player in the cleantech industry, fostering collaboration to attract and grow businesses within the sector.


Michael Thususka is a certified Economic Development Practitioner and is Director of Economic Development for the City of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Mike has been working in the field of Economic Development for the past 26 years, 20 of which have been with the City of Summerside. Mike currently sits on the National Economic Developers Association Board of Directors and is Past President of the Association.

Ron Sege is an Operating Partner at BGV. Ron has more than 37 years of operating experience with disruptive offerings in the Enterprise IT market, in established public companies and venturebacked start-ups. He has extensive cross-border management experience, managing operations in China, UK, Continental Europe and Israel. Ron also specializes in go-to-market strategy and tactics, having started his career in Field Operations at ROLM Corporation and 3Com.

David is a retired internet/digital serial entrepreneur, turned angel investor with a global health, food and tech portfolio. David has 25 years of experience building companies and management teams from scratch and taking them to international success, and 15 years as an investor in early stage ventures, helping them to enter global markets, raise capital and grow. As the founder of Entrepreneurship Foundation Hungary, David is the creative mind behind the Hungarian government's INPUT Program, which is recognized by the United Nations as a ‘Global Best Practice Program’ for fostering the innovation ecosystem.

Jeff is a lawyer with Key Murray Law in Prince Edward Island. Jeff is regularly sought out for his expertise on legal innovation, and he’s never too busy to work through problems and construct creative solutions. For many clients, Jeff is the first stop for all legal matters, providing unfiltered strategic advice on business matters of all kinds. In all matters, Jeff’s emphasis is squarely on the ongoing success of his client’s business. His approach is always to find the right answer to the business problem at hand.

Jason Aspin co-founded Aspin Kemp & Associates (AKA) in 1996. Since graduating in marine engineering from the Canadian Coast Guard College in 1987, he has specialized in power engineering and systems integration and built over 30 years of progressive experience in systems engineering in the Industrial, Marine, and Offshore environments. As an innovator, he dedicates his time to designing solutions which are both socially and environmentally responsible with a focus on improving reliability for mission critical systems while reducing the carbon emmisions associated with operations.
OUR NEWS AND EVENTS
Taking the Pulse on Business
December 17, 2024
Summerside is home to a diverse range of businesses, from global brands to innovative start-ups, all flourishing thanks to the city’s unique blend of resources, support, and strategic vision. By investing here, you become part of a thriving community of forward-thinking enterprises driving the future of innovation and growth.
Summerside: Sectors Driving Growth—3
October 23, 2024
Summerside's manufacturing sector, with its rich legacy in food production, continues to be a vital pillar of the local economy. The sector's successful expansion into advanced industries—such as aerospace, food processing, and clean technology—demonstrates its adaptability and commitment to innovation.
Summerside: Sectors Driving Growth—2
October 03, 2024
Summerside’s economy thrives on innovation, sustainability, and diversification, making it a strategic hub for emerging industries. Whether you're in traditional manufacturing, aerospace, IT, or renewable energy, the city has developed a business ecosystem that encourages growth across sectors. By offering a blend of advanced infrastructure and cutting-edge technology initiatives, Summerside continues to attract and retain investment.
Summerside: Sectors Driving Growth—1
September 19, 2024
Summerside’s economy is built on innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to diversification, positioning the city as a leader in several emerging sectors. From traditional industries to aerospace, information technology, and renewable energy, Summerside consistently showcases its strong value proposition for attracting investment and fostering business expansion.
SUMMERSIDE SUCCESS START-UP STORIES

Meets Opportunity
BluWave-ai
Devashish Paul, FOUNDER OF BLUWAVE-AI
The company launched its first real-time AI energy dispatch system for Summerside Electric in 2019, followed by Tata Power in Mumbai, India, in 2020. These milestones, achieved through expertise developed in Summerside, marked the global expansion of its AI models.
Starting with just two staff members, BluWave-ai has grown steadily, diversifying into utilities and EV charge management. Today, it serves customers across Japan, India, Dubai, Europe, and North America—all driven by innovation rooted in PEI.

stash energy
Enter Stash Energy and a partnership with The City of Summerside and their Living Lab Program, which became the genesis of their newfound market acceptance.
Fast-forward to Spring 2018 and with solid test results and mentoring from the City, Stash has reached another milestone: an envisioned outcome of the lab program with another round of equity investment from Island Capital Partners of $250,000 and an additional $250,000 from New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) to further full-scale production of their Stash M1 Comfort System.

Compressing years
of learning-by-doing
into just a few months
Maciej Karczewski CEO, WindTAK
The unique Summerside Xchange program is based on real-life test and experimentation environments in which start-ups, existing companies, researchers and developers work directly with the community and its infrastructure to advance product testing, development and integration in the real world.
One such company that is taking the next step in commercializing its product for the North American wind turbine market is WindTAK. How can wind farm operators and equipment manufacturers scale up in time to help meet the challenge of net zero carbon targets? A collaboration between a Polish engineering design company and the City of Summerside offers a highly innovative solution that could extend the life of existing turbines and make current and future turbines up to 15% more effective.