AC Clients – Page 3

January 30, 2017

Uncorking the Bottleneck

Brisk Synergies Helps Ease Municipal Traffic Woes

From surviving the daily commute to traversing hectic side streets, anyone who’s recently driven in Toronto or any other large metropolitan city understands the impact of traffic congestion. The sheer volume of cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians adds a whole new dimension to the word congestion.

And yet, despite the magnitude of the problem, municipalities are limited in their ability to truly understand and measure the flow of traffic through the urban core. Even when they do collect traffic related data — for instance video footage of a troublesome intersection, cities do not have the time, human resources, or expertise to wade into the data and extract meaning. As a result, a significant amount of collected data — likely containing valuable answers to the problem at hand — sits unanalyzed.

Brisk Synergies is on a mission to solve this challenge. The company, founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur Charles Chung and transportation engineer Luis Miranda-Moreno works with city planners and transportation authorities to transform traffic movement into knowledge, allowing cities to solve critical traffic flow issues, ease congestion and design and build innovative traffic pathways through urban spaces to better serve vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

“This is absolutely a big data issue,” says Charles Chung. “Municipalities all want to understand and improve traffic movement and provide safer transportation paths. The problem is they have too much data, and they don’t know what to do with it. Take for example video collected over a few weeks at a single intersection. It’s important, valuable information, but the answers lie somewhere within hours and hours and hours of footage that is difficult to store, wade through and interpret. Municipalities don’t have the resources or expertise to do this analysis. It is just operationally infeasible.”

Brisk Synergies’ traffic analysis platform is able to transform the infeasible to feasible. It takes video footage supplied by the city and using proprietary algorithms, conducts deep analysis the data to zero in on specific congestion challenges — for instance, spotting collision near-misses at a specific intersection. Brisk’s platform can not only spot those accidents that almost happened, it can calculate the probability and frequency of collisions with split-second accuracy. It can also help cities spot troublesome traffic issues and find answers to those issues much faster. “It would take man-years of time for a city to review all this footage, and even then, because humans are performing the effort the findings would be highly inaccurate an
d subjective,” says Chung. “Conversely, Brisk can have raw results back to a city in a week, and a final report back in two.”

Even better, because Brisk Synergies analysis highlights incidents within video frames, transportation managers can call up the footage and review the scenario first hand

Since moving into the Accelerator Centre in 2014, Chung and the team have been busy building out their platform and taste testing various traffic analysis applications to find the areas of greatest pain for its prospective customers.

“Video analysis of troublesome intersections is definitely showing the greatest market traction and will be where we focus our attention going forward,” says Charles Chung. “It is not an easy problem for municipalities to solve themselves and it has a lot of pain associated with it. The understanding we are able to bring to the table delivers real value.” He points to one project in the Greater Toronto Area, where the city was able to use Brisk’s analysis to greatly improve traffic flow through a specific intersection.

Over the last year, Brisk Synergies received a huge boost courtesy of $30K in AC JumpStart funding, made available through FedDev Ontario. “What we do requires very heavy, specialized skillsaround deep analysis of data. AC JumpStart enabled us to bring in key personnel offering unique value to our customers. It really helped accelerate our focus,” says Chung. In addition, the AC JumpStart program allowed Brisk to access additional mentor hours. “One of the biggest benefits coming out of the AC is the mentor guidance it provides. Mentors give you that real feedback that most people don’t have the heart to tell you. They understand business. Are familiar with the pain and challenges that affect startups. That sincere perspective is what makes the AC different from other incubator spaces out there.”

With a focused objective, Brisk Synergies is all about execution in 2017. Says Charles Chung, “it took us a while to define the offering that would deliver the greatest value. With that clarity, we are now pulling together the troops to align sales, marketing and our R&D and take the company to the next level.”

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 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.

August 17, 2016

Applications now open for Phase One

We’re excited to launch our new four month, cohort-based program

Applications are open for the first cohort of our newly developed Phase One program, launching this September!

Phase One is an intensive four month program focusing on market validation and investment readiness.

I am very excited to launch this new program because it offers a truly unique combination of expert sessions and peer-to-peer learning, blended with the world-class mentorship the AC is known for. The select ten companies we accept into Phase One will also have access to our newly developed Advisory Network; a group of incredibly talented advisors from industry.

— Paul Salvini, CEO, Accelerator Centre.

This new program is the first of four phases within the our recently restructured two-year incubation platform, which is tailored to the unique needs of each company as they scale.

The first phase culminates with Presentation Day; an open house event where companies present to a panel of experts and business leaders who determine who is ready to enter the second phase of the program. Companies successfully entering Phase Two are automatically considered for up to $40,000 in funding and mentorship through the AC JumpStart program.*

The deadline to apply to the Accelerator Centre is Sept. 9, 2016.

Apply now

About the Accelerator Center
The Accelerator Centre (AC) is dedicated to building and scaling sustainable, globally competitive technology firms; and to commercializing advanced research technologies emerging from academic institutions. The AC offers an intensive, milestone-driven program to help Clients gain traction and establish early growth; begin to scale and prepare for global expansion.

*About AC JumpStart
AC JumpStart provides eligible companies with $30,000 in seed capital (to be matched by recipient firms), $10,000 in mentorship, and access to market research and connections to investors. The program is funded through an $8 million commitment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and delivered in partnership with Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Waterloo. Companies considered for AC JumpStart must meet the eligibility requirements posted at www.acjumpstart.com

June 3, 2016

Knowledgehook named BNN’s Top Disruptor of Season 3

TORONTO, Ont. (June 2, 2016) – Knowledgehook was today named Top Disruptor of BNN’s original series about tech innovators, The Disruptors.

Knowledgehook, a software company that analyzes the academic performance of math students in real-time play to recommend alternative teaching practices, was one of 38 companies to this season pitch their business concept to hosts Bruce Croxton and Amber Kanwar.

“We’ve been watching The Disruptors since founding Knowledgehook in 2014 and following many of the companies they report on,” CEO Travis Ratnam says. “We’re excited and humbled by this acknowledgement.”

Startups profiled on each segment of BNN’s The Disruptors, a weekly, half-hour program that airs at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, compete each season for the Top Disruptor title.

Following tonight’s appearance, Knowledgehook will be given the opportunity to pitch Croxton’s investment company, Round 13.

Winning the Top Disruptor title comes less than a month since Knowledgehook received Google’s Game Changer Award at the tech giant’s annual Demo Day in Silicon Valley.

To date, more than 6,000 Ontario math teachers have begun zeroing in on each students’ key misunderstandings after reviewing predictive insights which Knowledgehook software generates.

Early results from Knowledgehook suggest that at least 1 in 6 Ontario students in Grade 9 Applied Math are struggling to understand ratios. Knowledgehook unpacks their misunderstanding and suggests how teachers can address it.

The finding, which echoes those of Ontario’s 2015 standardized tests, is based on analysis of more than 2,400 anonymized users between September and April 2016, accurate to within 95% confidence, and a margin of error of 2.5%.

Knowledgehook was founded by Travis Ratnam, Lambo Jayapalan, Arthur Lui and James Francis.

The team is grateful for the support of mentors from Communitech’s Rev and the Accelerator Centre’s AC JumpStart programs.

May 4, 2016

AC Client Knowledgehook wins Google’s Game Changer Award at 2016 Demo Day

Photo credit Peter Lee, Waterloo Region Record staff

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (May 4, 2016) — Canadian edtech startup Knowledgehook today received Google’s Game Changer Award at the tech giant’s annual Demo Day in Silicon Valley.

Travis Ratnam and James Francis were among the co-founders of 11 new tech companies invited to Silicon Valley to pitch today to a room full of top investors, venture capitalists and judges.

“We’re thrilled and grateful to have shared the stage with so many talented and passionate entrepreneurs,” Travis says. “The support we’ve received today will be pivotal to our mission of helping students all over the world build their math skills.”

Knowledgehook, based in Waterloo, Ont. has developed software that analyzes the academic performance of math students in real-time play to recommend to educators alternative teaching practices.

A popular exam prep tool among the 5,000 teachers in Canada and the United States who use it, Knowledgehook software unpacks students’ misunderstanding and suggests how teachers can address it.

Since September 2015, 12 Ontario school boards have been reviewing predictive insights the software generates for each student to help teachers adapt their lessons for optimal learning.

For example, early results from Knowledgehook suggest that at least 1 in 6 Ontario students in Grade 9 Applied Math are struggling to understand ratios. The finding, which echoes those of Ontario’s 2015 standardized tests, is based on analysis of more than 2,400 anonymized users between September and April 2016, accurate to within 95% confidence, and a margin of error of 2.5%.

“We’re optimistic that the accuracy and timeliness of Knowledgehook’s insights will advance school boards in their efforts to improve students’ academic performance,” Travis says.

To be selected to participate in Google’s annual Demo Day, startups must be legally incorporated and headquartered in the United States, Canada or Mexico and be actively raising a Series A round of between $1- and 4-million.

Knowledgehook was founded in 2014 by Travis Ratnam, Lambo Jayapalan, Arthur Lui and James Francis.

The team is grateful for the support of mentors from Communitech’s Rev and the Accelerator Centres’ AC JumpStartprograms, and, for recent funding delivered by Ontario Centres for Excellence (OCE).

April 13, 2016

AC Client wins exclusive invite to pitch investors at Google’s annual Demo Day

WATERLOO, Ont. (April 13, 2016) — Google has invited edtech start-up Knowledgehook to pitch to investors at their annual Demo Day next month in Silicon Valley.

Knowledgehook, the Waterloo, Ont.-based company behind new gaming software that analyzes the academic performance of math students, is one of two Canadian companies selected to participate in the May 4 event. The team joined the Accelerator Centre in 2015 and received of $40,000 in funding and mentorship through the AC JumpStart program, which is funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) .

With the aim of securing additional rounds of investment, co-founders Travis Ratnam and James Francis will pitch on stage to a full room of investors, VCs and respected judges at the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California.

“We’re thrilled to share our software with potential investors,” Ratnam says.

“We believe our products will be pivotal in connecting teachers and school boards all over the world with data that identifies what concepts students are struggling with and also provides them with immediate teaching solutions.”

Since March 2015, Knowledgehook software has been used by more than 65,000 students and teachers in math classes throughout Canada and the United States.

The team is grateful for the support they have received to date from the Accelerator Centre, Communitech, and for recent funding delivered by Ontario Centres for Excellence (OCE).

Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation Reza Moridi congratulates Knowledgehook of their accomplishments to date.

“Knowledgehook is an example of how our innovation ecosystem has assisted businesses to spur innovation and create a dynamic environment that will improve the lives Ontarians,”he says.

“Ontario’s economic strength depends on the viability of our businesses, large and small. That’s why our government is helping to support unique and cutting-edge collaborations through partners such as OCE, who give our small and medium enterprises exposure to larger tools and skills they need to rapidly scale up to meet global demand.”

Co-founder Ratnam was inspired to build a company that supports alternative learning methods after struggling in his early academic career.

“To understand why I struggled, I exhaustively analyzed my mistakes. By persevering, I found ways to problem-solve that made more sense to me. I’d like others to enjoy learning as much as I did,” he says.

Knowledgehook software analyzes the academic performance of math students in real-time play to recommend to educators alternative teaching practices.

January 29, 2013

Clearpath Robotics Husky A200 Unmanned Ground Vehicle in Training for NASA’s HI-SEAS Study

Clearpath Robotics’ Husky A200 has joined Dr. Jean Hunter and Dr. Kim Binstead, for a two week training session at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah in preparation for the four-month Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS).

Clearpath Robotics‘ Husky A200 Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) has joined Dr. Jean Hunter (Cornell University), Dr. Kim Binstead (University of Hawaii), and six crew members for a two week training session at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah in preparation for the four-month Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS).

Beginning in April, HI-SEAS will bring volunteer crew members together in a simulated Mars environment for 120 days to research new forms of food and food preparation for long-term space missions. Additionally, Simon Engler, from the University of Calgary, will be on hand with the Husky A200. Engler will be focusing on astronaut-robot interaction and robot companionship studies.

Playing a key role in Engler’s research is Clearpath Robotics’ small but mighty UGV, the Husky A200. Already being used for methane detection studies by the Autonomous Space Robotics Lab (ASRL) at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, the Husky’s agility in rugged terrain, combined with its easygoing, user friendly nature, is quickly making it the go-to platform for Mars robotics research around the world. HI-SEAS currently uses the Husky to study robot operation while wearing a dexterity-impeding spacesuit and as a useful tool, for example, for transporting rock samples back to the base station.

“The Husky is perfectly suited to the rugged terrain that will be faced on this, and future Mars research missions,” says Matthew Rendall, CEO of Clearpath Robotics. “Having Clearpath platforms involved in, and trusted for, such important work is a great feeling.”

The HI-SEAS team is currently at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah for a two week warm up before the official project kick off in Hawaii, and the Husky has wasted no time making friends. “We’re all very excited about the rover, and it’s slowly turning into a 7th crew member” says Crew Commander, Angelo Vermeulen.

About Clearpath Robotics:

Clearpath Robotics is a Canadian startup company founded in 2009 by four graduates of the University of Waterloo’s Mechatronics Engineering program. Dedicated to automating the world’s dullest, dirtiest, and deadliest jobs, Clearpath has found early success, winning the FuEL (Future Entrepreneurial Leaders) Award, TiE Quest’s New Entrepreneur Award, the Shopify Build a Business Award, and taking first place in the 2011 CBET RISE Business Plan Competition. High profile clients such as the Department of National Defense, Canadian Space Agency, US Navy, MIT and Carnegie Mellon University are proving Clearpath really is “Your Unmanned Expert”.

Company Contact Information
Clearpath Robotics
Paul van der Vorst
148 Manitou Dr. Suite 101
N2C 1L3

Phone : 519 513 2416 x816