Accelerate Fund II invests in Smart Access – mobile software for deskless workers

EDMONTON, AB, January 30, 2020 – Accelerate Fund II is pleased to announce its investment in Smart Access, an Edmonton-based company delivering software that puts usable knowledge in the hands of modern workers via their mobile devices. Smart Access is led by entrepreneurs, Tim Regnier and co-founder, John White.

Industry research predicts the majority of North America’s workforce in the next five to 10 years will be deskless. The retail industry is one very large market experiencing the rapid effect of this shift, from storefront to the warehouse.

“Working with Tim and John, we got to know their vision of supporting a deskless workforce and saw a sizeable opportunity,” said Arden Tse, Investment Manager for Accelerate Fund II. “The deskless workforce is a surprisingly underserved market in terms of technology and investment, and the interest Smart Access has generated with marquee retail customers is evidence of emergent demand.”

“Our goal is to help workers be as capable as possible on their first day on the job,” explained Tim Regnier, Smart Access CEO and Co-founder. “If that job is customer service in a big retail store, the information may be about a product, how to work safely, or how to answer common customer questions. With the Smart Access platform and mobile applications, this critical information is instantly accessed through their mobile device as they scan connection points throughout the store on shelves and in places of action – reducing job complexity and empowering the workforce to better serve customers.”

Similarly, in the retailer’s supply chain, Smart Access connection points on equipment relay procedures and training and how to perform a task, and communicate vital safety protocols to the phones of warehouse workers.

Managing labour is commonly a quarter of the costs incurred by retailers and other industries. Traditional solutions for training, safety skill development and product education include backroom training, paper materials, and knowledge passed from senior staff or coaches which are soon to face a wave of retirements. These historic methods are less and less relevant to today’s digital, deskless workers. This opens an opportunity for technology to leverage mobile devices to better train, inform and monitor performance of the modern workforce.

Investment from Accelerate Fund II will enable Smart Access to expand their team and business development efforts. In January alone, Smart Access has hired seven new team members at their headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta. Smart Access was founded in 2015.

About Smart Access
Smart Access mobile technology saves steps, time, and energy to strengthen the employee and customer experience, improving the bottom-line. By engaging with strategically placed connection points – in-store or at the warehouse – the workforce is delivered the know-how they need to get the job done. www.smartaccess.io

About Accelerate Fund II
Accelerate Fund II is an early-stage angel co-investment fund in Alberta. We co-invest alongside angel investors in financing rounds and will typically invest up to $500,000 on the same terms and conditions as private investors. We work with formal angel groups, super-angels, family funds, and individual angel investors. Accelerate Fund II invests in private, early-stage Alberta companies in knowledge-based industries including: information and communications technology, clean and energy technology, as well as life sciences, including agriculture and biotech. Accelerate Fund II is managed by Yaletown Partners with the support of The A100. Alberta Enterprise Corporation is Accelerate Fund II’s Limited Partner. www.acceleratefund.ca

Media Inquiries:
Accelerate Fund II
Claudia Moore
Material Insight
403.703.0029
Claudia @ matertialinsight.com

Smart Access Inc.
Tim Regnier
CEO and Co-founder
tregnier @ smartaccess.io