December 2016 – AC Demo

December 13, 2016

eleven-x establishes first purpose-built carrier-grade low power wide area network for IoT

To serve the growing Canadian demand for next generation connectivity, eleven-x is today launching Canada’s first carrier-grade low power wide area network for IoT (Internet of Things). The eleven-x network, built on the LoRaWAN™ open global standard, offers private businesses, manufacturers and public institutions the necessary connectivity to gain valuable information from remote, inexpensive low power devices.

The appetite in Canada for IoT connectivity is exploding, according to research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), with the market exhibiting a annual growth rate of 16.9 percent. An IoT network will enable businesses and municipalities to take advantage of low power, low cost connectivity enabling new services such as on-premises-based asset tracking, lighting control (streets and buildings), water flow monitoring and metering, health monitoring, environmental monitoring, and soil moisture and nutrient monitoring.

Unlike IoT services provided by traditional Canadian carriers with networks built to address voice and data, eleven-x’s network is purpose-built for IoT, offering a lower cost and lower power option with up to 20 years battery life. This means the network is ideally suited to business, manufacturing, and municipal applications where low power consumption and cost are important factors.

“Initially, the eleven-x IoT network will serve Waterloo Region (Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge) but the company intends to roll out a national network providing coverage in all major Canadian cities over the next 12-18 months, says Dan Mathers, Chairman and co-founder. “The Canadian market is ripe for innovation with respect to the adoption of IoT for businesses and government. Our network, will enable businesses and municipalities to accelerate the applications and business processes that will allow them to offer new products and services and to operate more efficiently.”

eleven-x, a client of the Accelerator Centre since 2015 and a recipient of AC JumpStart funding, has itself exhibited explosive growth since moving into the technology incubator. Founded by experienced technology executive Dan Mathers and former Blackberry wireless experts Ryan Hickey and Fraser Gibbs, the company has grown to almost 20 people. eleven-x also announced today its membership in the LoRa Alliance™. The LoRaWAN protocol, followed by over 400 companies worldwide in the LoRa Alliance, ensures interoperability between all emerging IoT services and applications to help scale adoption.

“The $30,000 in funding provided by AC JumpStart allowed us to hire a full-time staff member who proved invaluable in launching our IoT network,” says Ryan Hickey. “We have also taken full advantage of the incredible mentorship and services provided by the Accelerator Centre in crafting our go-to-market plans.”

ACJumpStart is made possible by and investment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and is delivered in partnership with Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo.

December 12, 2016

Local Underwater Drone Company Celebrates Expansion with New Head Office

New office expansion enables Deep Trekker to accelerate growth in the submerged robotic vehicle industry.

Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, December 05, 2016 – Deep Trekker Inc., Canadian manufacturer of underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and submersible pipe crawlers, is pleased to announce the expansion to their new head office in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario to accommodate for the growing, global popularity the company’s robots.

In addition to the head office relocating within Kitchener-Waterloo, the new, larger office and manufacturing space supports the company’s growth strategy. With Deep Trekker’s expanding product line from ROVs to include the DT340 Pipe Crawler, a tool used to inspect sewer, storm, and potable water infrastructure, the company was in need of more space and resources.

“For us, staying within Waterloo region made perfect sense,” explains Sam MacDonald, President of Deep Trekker. “The region is rich with diverse talent from well-known prestigious colleges and universities, as well as tech companies. With this new office, we have the opportunity to further expand our team and engineering capabilities; also, increasing our ability to service current and future projects.”

Incorporated in late 2010, Deep Trekker sold its first ROV to a fish farm in Norway. Since then thousands of Deep Trekker ROVs have been delivered to aquaculture companies, search and rescue teams, police squads, navy fleets, hydro dam operators, and commercial divers around the world.

The company continues to disrupt the ROV and crawler markets by providing exceptional, portable robotic systems. Deep Trekker takes tremendous pride in their products and their willingness to support their community of customers.

Deep Trekker Inc. was founded in 2010 with a mission to create portable, affordable, and easy to use underwater inspection tools. The company is headquartered in Ontario Canada, with engineering and manufacturing all completed in house. Based on a clean sheet design, the premiere product, the DTG2 ROV was introduced in limited run in August 2011. With the success of the DTG2 ROV system, the company launched the DTX2 ROV in 2015. These robust underwater ROVs are currently being used around the world in industries such as aquaculture, commercial diving, municipalities, police search and rescue, military, and research. In 2016, the company expanded the municipalities market by launching a submersible pipe crawler system, based on the same principles of the ROV systems.

To learn more about Deep Trekker Inc. and their products visit www.deeptrekker.com or email at sales@deeptrekker.com.
Media Contact: Brendan Cook
Deep Trekker Community Coordinator
519-342-3177
bcook@deeptrekker.com

December 7, 2016

Knowledgehook raises $1-million round to close math education gap

Innovative platform using real-time student data to improve teacher instruction is backed by Steve Case, Sayan Navaratnam and John Abele.

WATERLOO, Ont. (Dec. 7, 2016) — Knowledgehook, whose software teachers throughout North America are using to tailor their support of individual students, has secured $1.25 million in financing to fund the platform’s expansion into global markets.

The round was led by Sayan Navaratnam of Aadya Capital and CEO of Connex Telecommunications and also includes investors Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, and John Abele, co-founder of Boston Scientific.

“Knowledgehook has a novel solution to a global problem,” Navaratnam says. “I believe this technology will be defining for the edtech space, paving the way for how a data-driven approach to teaching can help kids all over the world do better in math.”

Research suggests that throughout Canada and the United States, student’s math skills are lagging. Knowledgehook software surfaces what concepts they’re struggling with, identifies why and suggests how teachers can support them.

The company’s platform is popular among teachers in more than 75% of Ontario school boards and in more than 300 school districts in the U.S. In 2016, Knowledgehook software made more than 6,000 recommendations on how best teachers could close gaps it identified in their students’ learning.

Knowledgehook received early encouragement from investor Steve Case, who in May 2016 was one of three Google Demo Day judges to present the company with the annual, audience- selected Google’s Game Changer Award.

Knowledgehook, which this year was named BNN’s Top Disruptor, has expansion plans to other markets including the United Kingdom and Australia.

Knowledgehook, founded in 2014, is grateful for the support of mentors from Communitech’s Rev and the Accelerator Centre’s AC JumpStart programs, and for funding delivered by Ontario Centres for Excellence (OCE).

Media contact: Katie Rook | katie@katierook.com | (416)995-7749

About Aadya:
Aadya Capital invests and partners with highly select early stage companies, helping them to create, position and execute on their development. Aadya coaches companies, infuses them with operational efficiencies and surrounds them with resources for success.