Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Sandbox?

  • The Sandbox is a Regional Innovation Centre business hub that is open and accessible to the entire business community
  • Sandbox is where business and community are united for people & companies to grow through a culture of innovation

• What is a Regional Innovation Centre (RIC)?

  • A RIC is a provincially funded program under the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT). The RIC program exists to help high-potential, innovation-driven entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale their ventures through mentorship, advisory services, and tailored programming. Each RIC supports a defined geographic region and is tasked with building up the innovation economy within that catchment area.

• What does it mean that Sandbox is the 17th Regional Innovation Centre in Ontario?

  • Being named Ontario’s 17th Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) is a major milestone—not just for Sandbox, but for the entire Simcoe County region. It means we’ve officially joined a province-wide network of innovation hubs dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build and scale impactful businesses.
  • As a RIC, Sandbox Centre now delivers government-supported programs and resources that were previously unavailable in our region—making it easier for local founders to access coaching, funding pathways, expert advice, and startup training without leaving Central Ontario.
  • This designation puts our community on the map and ensures that entrepreneurs right here in Simcoe County and beyond have the tools and support they need to succeed in today’s innovation economy.

• Is the RIC a separate organization from the Sandbox Centre?

  • No. While RICs may operate under the name of a host organization, the RIC is not a standalone entity. At Sandbox Centre, the RIC program is fully integrated into our operations, alongside our community and coworking initiatives. We have distinct revenue streams and programming frameworks to serve both general community/coworking members and RIC clients (who typically require more intensive cohort-based and venture scaling support).The RIC has its own programming, KPIs, and reporting obligations to the Province but remains part of the Sandbox Centre brand and team. More information on our workshops or programs can be found on our website.

• What does "Regional" mean in this context?

  • “Regional” refers to the entrepreneurs and innovation-focused businesses we are responsible for supporting across our assigned geographic area. It does not imply a shared governance model with municipalities or regional governments. The Sandbox Centre RIC is accountable to MEDJCT-not local councils. That said, we highly value collaboration with municipal leaders and economic development offices, and we actively include their input when shaping our Regional Innovation Plan.

• Who governs or oversees the RIC program?

  • RIC programming is administered by the Province of Ontario through MEDJCT. All RICs must meet provincial guidelines and are accountable for delivering impact as outlined by program-specific metrics and KPIs laid out in funding agreements with the province. While Sandbox Centre welcomes and encourages regional partnerships RIC program oversight remains with the provincial funder through the execution of funding agreements.

• What is the difference between a Sandbox Client and a RIC Client?

  • Sandbox Clients include community members, small business owners, remote workers, and entrepreneurs who participate in our workshops, events, activations, membership perks, coworking, and networking opportunities. They may choose to purchase a Sandbox Centre Membership, which offers workspace access, professional development programming, and community connections. Membership options and pricing can be found on our website.

    ● RIC Clients are innovation-driven entrepreneurs, often with a focus in scaling tech, or scaling ventures, who are accepted into our formal support programming. These founders receive cohort-based support including advisory services, mentorship, workshops, one on one support and targeted growth resources. RIC clients do not automatically receive a Sandbox membership, but may purchase one if they wish to access the coworking space or additional services.

• How does a RIC help entrepreneurs?

  • A Regional Innovation Centre like Sandbox exists to help entrepreneurs turn big ideas into real, scalable businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to grow, we offer hands-on support through:

    • Advisory sessions with experienced business coaches

    • Startup and accelerator programs to guide you through validation, growth, and investment readiness

    • Workshops and peer groups that tackle challenges like marketing, legal, HR, and funding

    • Connections to industry experts, potential funders, and fellow founders

    • Space to grow, with coworking, meeting pods, and event support right here in the heart of Barrie

    We know entrepreneurship can feel overwhelming—our job is to make sure you’re not doing it alone.

• How are entrepreneurs selected for the RIC program?

  • Entrepreneurs apply through a standardized application process, which evaluates their innovation potential, business model, and growth stage. This application is similar across all RICs and reflects the program’s provincial standards. Not all applicants are selected for the RIC program. Those who are not a fit at the time may be referred to Sandbox Centre’s broader community programming. For more information or to view RICs across Ontario, visit InnovateON.ca– a provincial platform built to help entrepreneurs find support across regions.

• Does the Sandbox Regional Innovation Centre have a sector focus?

  • Many RICs take time to develop a sector focus based on regional needs and innovation trends. At Sandbox Centre, we are currently expanding our programming and monitoring opportunities, within many RICs they have added additional focus in sectors like cleantech, medtech, digital tech, and AI. However, we remain an inclusive space for entrepreneurs from all industries. A sector focus does not exclude founders from participating-it simply allows us to provide deeper, tailored support where trends or strengths emerge. Some RICs stay sector-agnostic, while others evolve to support multiple focus areas over time.

• What types of programs does the Sandbox offer?

  Sandbox Centre offers a wide variety of public and private programming including:

  • Business fundamentals workshops
  • Peer groups for founders and professionals
  • Sector-specific events (e.g. medtech, cleantech, digital innovation)
  • TARA Talks for women entrepreneurs
  • Pitch prep and funding readiness sessions

  Most programs are open to non-RIC clients, but high-level offerings such as capital-raising support or investor introductions are often reserved for RIC clients due to the nature and intensity of the support. We post all programming updates on our website, Instagram, and LinkedIn-we encourage founders and partners to follow along.

• What does the Sandbox Centre do?

  Sandbox connects people & their ideas to business resources; where guided collaboration and sharing of collective knowledge support their journey to success

• How do I become a Member at Sandbox Centre?

  View our membership benefits here!

• How can I pay for my membership?

  1. Head over to our website’s Membership page
  2. Click ‘become a member’ on the page and fill out the required information
  3. Complete your profile and update your payment information

  If you have any trouble with the above steps and don’t receive communications to submit payment information, just let Megan ([email protected]) know and she would be happy to support.

  Sandbox Centre accepts debit, Visa, Mastercard, or cheques.

• What are the hours of operation at Sandbox Centre?

  • 8AM – 5PM Monday
  • 8AM – 5PM Tuesday
  • 8AM – 5PM Wednesday
  • 8AM – 5PM Thursday
  • 8AM – 4PM Friday
  • CLOSED Saturday *Saturday hours available upon request
  • CLOSED Sunday
  • Closed Stat Holidays & Winter Holiday Break

• Where is the Sandbox Centre Located?

  24 Maple Ave. 2nd Floor Barrie,On L4N7W4

• Is there Parking at Sandbox Centre?

  

  The Sandbox Centre is surrounded by on-street paid parking, and paid Municipal Parking lots. Please see the parking map!

• Can I book a Boardroom at Sandbox Centre?

  • Members have access to book Boardrooms through Member portal
  • General Public can book Boardrooms through sandboxcentre.com

• What amenities are included in a Boardroom booking at Sandbox Centre?

  • We have a variety of options to suit your needs from Small,Medium, Large & X-Large Boardroom Spaces
  • Each Room has a dedicated 55” monitor with HDMI input
  • Each Room has a dedicated in-room audio system
  • A 9’x18’ dry erase board with markers
  • A dedicated land-line with speakerphone option
  • In-room dedicated Wi-fi
  • Technical support for amenities from Sandbox staff

• How many Boardrooms does the Sandbox Centre have?

  We have 3 Boardrooms that can be configured in 5 different ways to accommodate your group

• Are there different Boardroom set-up options?

  • Yes, there are several pre-set room configurations
  • You can select your preferred set-up during the Boardroom booking process

• Can I book Boardrooms outside of the hours of operation?

  Please consult with Sandbox Staff directly for availability of bookings outside of hours of operation

• Is there and additional charge for booking Boardrooms outside of the hours of operation?

  Yes, please consult with Sandbox Staff directly for rates & availability

• What are the timelines surrounding booking a Boardroom?

  • You can book anywhere from 48 hours to 3 months in advance
  • Any bookings beyond this timeline, please contact the staff

• Can I book multiple Boardrooms across multiple days?

  • Yes, if available you can book multiple rooms across multiple days
  • Please contact Sandbox staff directly if you would like assistance

• Can I book multiple Boardrooms for different times on the same day?

  • Yes, if available you can book multiple or different boardrooms for different times on the same day
  • Please contact Sandbox staff directly if you would like assistance

• Can anyone book a Boardroom using the online booking tool?

  • Yes, General public can book directly on the website at published rates
  • Appointed Sandbox Administrator can book through the member portal

• What is an appointed Sandbox Administrator?

  This is the contact your organization has appointed to manage their Membership Account & booking credits

• Why is there an appointed Sandbox Administrator?

  • To ensure that the management of booking credits is effectively managed
  • To mitigate the chance of double booking through communication breakdown within an organization
  • To mitigate the chance of Cancellation Charges for late or NO-SHOWING a Boardroom booking
  • To add clarity to communication of Boardroom bookings between your organization & Sandbox Centre

• The appointed Sandbox Administrator for my company is unavailable to book a Boardroom - now what?

  Please contact Sandbox staff directly to discuss options

• Why can’t I book a Boardroom using the online booking tool?

  • You may not be logged-in to the website
  • Your computer may be unplugged
  • You may not have access to use the online booking tool
  • You may not be the appointed Sandbox Administrator
  • The Boardroom you want to book may not be available for the requested date
  • You may have used your allotted booking credits and need to replenish them to gain access to the online booking tool

• What is the Sandbox’s Cancellation Policy?

  • We accept Boardroom cancellations up to 72hrs in advance at no charge
  • There is a 50% charge for Boardroom bookings cancelled less than 72hrs in advance
  • There is a 100% charge for NO-SHOWING a Boardroom booking
  • There is no charge for cancelling Drop-In bookings

• Are the Sandbox Centre Boardrooms accessible?

  • Yes, we have automatic door openers installed
  • There is an elevator as we are located on the 2nd floor

• Do you have kitchen facilities on site?

  We have a large bistro with plenty of counter space for your catering needs

• How do I become a Sponsor at Sandbox Centre?

  • You can fill out the Sponsorship Application here
  • There are 3 options for Sponsorship
    • Platinum
    • Gold
    • Silver
  • Please speak directly with Sandbox staff for customization / proposals

• Can I have my Meeting catered?

  • Yes, you can have your meeting catered
  • We have several caterers we can suggest depending on your dietary preferences or restrictions
  • Caterers can set up in the kitchen space
  • We ask you/caterers DO NOT bring milk & creamers / sugar / stir sticks / extra coffee cups / plastic water bottles / single use plastics / disposable cutlery / paper plates etc.
  • We have copious amounts of glassware, silverware, dishes, milk & creamers, sugar, water jugs as well as a filtered water dispenser at ALL times on-site

• Can I bring my pet into the Sandbox?

  • Yes, Therapy & Guide dogs are welcome in the Sandbox, we ask that you let us know when you plan on bringing yours with you
  • No, pets may not be brought into the Sandbox without direct consultation with Sandbox staff
  • Maybe, if it’s a frickin’ Shark with lasers or a Liiger (make sure to consult us still)

• Does the Sandbox Centre allow drop-ins?

  • We are not a drop-in centre or shared office space
  • We have select days where there will be public drop-in access
  • Follow us on social @sandboxcentre for more information on this availability
  • Check our online events calendar here for drop-in availability
  • We can connect you to existing drop-in centres or shared office working spaces in the region

• Do I have to be a Member to go to the Sandbox Centre?

  • We have many public facing opportunities to experience what the Sandbox has to offer
  • The public is always welcome to come to learn about the space during operating hours
  • We encourage the business community to attend events that are in our calendar

• What do I get as a Member of the Sandbox Centre?

  • You can see the Member benefits here
  • Exclusive access to professional development programming, curated social networking experiences, increased visibility for your business, indoor and outdoor collective meeting spaces, and much more.

• What are Peer Circle Sessions?

  • Learn more here! These are groups of related industry professionals who come together to connect & share their own experiences in a familiar environment
  • These groups are for professional development and community building
  • These groups are tailored to the individual roles the industry professionals may play within their organizations ie. Sales Leaders, HR Leaders, Finance, Marketing, Operations, CEOs, etc.