Tag: FedDev

Posted on

The Accelerator Centre Announces Third AC JumpStart Cohort

26 Companies receive funding and mentorship to grow their businesses

The Accelerator Centre is pleased to announce the third cohort of the AC JumpStart program. 26 companies were selected to participate in the program, which provides funding and mentorship aimed at growing their business and accelerating their sales.

CoinValue — coin valuation software and hardware developer

Digital Governance Group —real-time political engagement software platform

Dimples — customized 3D printed jewellery

Eleven-X — cellular IoT hardware and software

English Never Stops — cloud-based peer-to-peer language acquisition platform

FishBuoy — Software offering real-time water and environmental conditions to anglers

Fidget Toys — developers of a multifunctional stress-relief toy

Find BoB — online marketplace easing the transfer of financial business ownership

HealthIM — standardizing hospital admission processes for persons with mental illness

HH Development — data management solution for professional motorsports

Horizon Solutions — helping building owners improve energy efficiency

InkSmith – Manufacturing filament (ink) for 3D printing using bioplastics and 100% recycled materials

iSports Development — software platform connecting professional and amateur athletes

Kineris — wearable devices that speed recovery from joint injury or surgery

Local Line — connecting local food suppliers to customers

Massuni — allows users to easily design customized furniture that meets their exact needs

ONEIRIC — sports tech manufacturer

Palette — platform of physical input devices for improving creative workflow

Pressa — developing a water bottle allowing users to naturally flavour water

Streetcast — mobile platform that allows organizations to communicate with local residents and visitors

TaaCam — virtual reality (VR) and higher dimensional (3D/4D) digital image or video solution

Thalo — revolutionizing the way information is displayed on portable devices

UCIC — enables users to see any place in the world in real-time by connecting people.

Vidhub — platform for profs, students and researchers to have discussions in a sandboxed environment.

VIV Life Group — helps people discover meaningful experiences that are curated just for them

zpharm — medical tech company focused on smoking cessation

Through the AC JumpStart program, each company will receive $30,000 in seed funding, $10,000 worth of mentorship from the AC’s team of industry experts, as well as access to market research, investor connections, and the AC’s network of Clients and Graduates.

About AC JumpStart

Funded through an $8 million commitment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the AC JumpStart program is delivered in partnership with Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo.

The AC JumpStart program began in January 2015, with three cohorts of companies participating in the program in 2015, and two cohorts annually in subsequent years. Each cohort receives funding and mentorship over a 12-month period. Over the next four years (2015-2018) the program will support 180 companies.

Posted on

Helping define success in Waterloo

Video series looks at why entrepreneurs are choosing Waterloo

Today the City of Waterloo launched a five-part video series, entitled Why Waterloo, aimed at explaining Waterloo’s growing appeal.

“There is a buzz about our city and we all feel it,” said Mayor Jaworsky during this year’s state of the city address. “Whether we are long-time residents, established community leaders, young students…or youth about to embark on their post-secondary journey, we all know that Waterloo is the place to be.”

In the series, a selection of local businesses spanning different industries are asked to share what being in Waterloo means to their organization.  Common themes like talent, collaboration, support and quality of life are prevalent throughout the series.

We’re excited that the first installment showcases the Accelerator Centre. Watch as Paul Salvini, CEO and Shane Pegg, VP Strategic Initiatives answer the global question: Why Waterloo?

Having just received $8 million in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southwestern Ontario to support AC JumpStart, and an additional $200,000 over four years from Waterloo city council, the AC is set to expand; supporting more clients, more graduates, and making a bigger impact in the community. For more information about the Accelerator Centre, visit acceleratorcentre.com.

For more information about the city’s economic development initiatives, visit wearewaterloo.ca.

Posted on

First AC JumpStart Cohort Announced

AC JumpStart banner

Seventeen early stage companies to benefit from critical seed capital injection and world-class mentorship

The Accelerator Centre® (AC) is proud to announce its first AC JumpStart cohort, the first group of companies to benefit from the $8M funding program, announced January 15th in conjunction with the Federal Economic Development Agency (FedDev Ontario), and partners Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

Companies joining the first AC JumpStart Cohort are:

Quick Facts about AC JumpStart

  • Each member of the AC JumpStart first cohort will receive $30,000 in seed capital (to be matched by the recipient firms), mentorship from experts in finance, sales, marketing, human resources, technology and product development, access to market research and connections to investors, with services to be delivered over a 12 month period.
  • This is the first of three cohorts of companies to participate in the program in 2015, followed by two cohorts annually through to the end of 2018.
  • In total, it is expected that 180 companies will participate in the AC JumpStart program over the next four years.
  • Start-ups participating in the 2013 AC JumpStart pilot program have created 212 new jobs in Waterloo Region, have generated $3.1 million in combined revenue and are expected to raise $5 million in private investment.
Posted on

Intellijoint Surgical receives $550,000

Intellijoint Surgical has received up to $550,000 from FedDev Ontario to develop and commercialize the company’s innovative Intellijoint HIP™ sensor system for orthopaedic surgery. The announcement was made by MP Peter Braid on site at Intellijoint on Tuesday March 6th, as part of a larger FedDev funding announcement.

“We are extremely grateful for the FedDev Ontario Investing in Business Innovation initiative and its continued support for great start-ups like Intellijoint Surgical”, says Armen Bakirtzian, CEO of Intellijoint. “With FedDev Ontario’s support we are able to accelerate the commercialization Intellijoint HIP™.”

Intellijoint HIP™ is a miniaturized system consisting of two disposable sensors and a display unit. It is designed to help orthopaedic surgeons in the selection and positioning of orthopaedic implants during hip replacement surgery. “Intellijoint Surgical’s technology has been leveraged by surgeons in hundreds of surgeries in Canada. Now the company is  expanding into new markets,” said Peter Braid, MP for Kitchener-Waterloo. “In fact, in September of last year, Massena Memorial Hospital in New York became the first hospital in the United States to use the technology.”

Intellijoint Surgical was one of three companies to receive FedDev investment, with Auvik Networks and Dejero also receiving funding rounds as part of the announcement. Overall, FedDev committed $1,775,000 to the three companies, which is anticipated to allow for the creation of up to 55 new jobs in Waterloo Region.

Posted on

AC Grad Clearpath Robotics poised to double size of workforce

As the demand for mobile robots ramps up, jobs for humans at Clearpath Robotics are growing as well.

The Kitchener-based company got a big boost on Wednesday from a federal financing program to help it more than double the size of its workforce to 140 people over the next two years.

Clearpath, which is getting up to $950,000 in a repayable loan, was one of three companies in the area to share in up to $1.53 million in contributions from the federal government’s FedDev Ontario program.

The other companies are:

In the Chat Communications,which is getting up to $400,000.

Linkett (previously known as WestonExpressions Inc.), which is getting nearly $180,000.

Clearpath, a company started in 2009 by three University of Waterloo students, has become one of the stars of Waterloo Region’s technology sector.

It has shipped about 1,000 of its robots all over the world. It grew this year from about 34 people in February to about 70 people who now occupy part of an industrial building on Strasburg Road in Kitchener.

To read the full article, click here.

Posted on

Waterloo Accelerator Centre and FedDev Ontario Provide up to $175,000 in JumpStart Funding for Start-Ups in Southern Ontario

Waterloo Region – August 28, 2013 – The Waterloo Accelerator Centre (AC), a world-renowned, award-winning facility dedicated to developing and commercializing technology start-ups announced today it has handed out $25,000 in JumpStart funding to seven young companies, following a highly competitive pitch competition held at the AC’s Waterloo facility. Twelve finalists pitched their company’s story for 5-minutes each before a panel of expert judges, including Dave Caputo, CEO of Sandvine, Chris Howlett, Technology Mentor at the Waterloo Accelerator Centre, Steve McCartney, VP Startup Services at Communitech, and Tim Ellis, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre.

The winning companies now receive $25,000 in matching seed funds and the right to participate in the AC’s extensive mentoring program, which provides start-ups with access to experts in marketing and sales, HR, PR/communications, technology, and finance.
The funding is being provided through the JumpStart program, which received an investment of up to $945,000 by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s (FedDev Ontario) Scientists and Engineers in Business initiative.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, congratulations to all the finalists and winners in the Waterloo Accelerator Centre’s JumpStart program,” said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario. “Our investment in the program is helping the region’s science and technology entrepreneurs develop their business and management skills and launch promising start-up companies. This will help bring innovative ideas to market, creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for our region and all of southern Ontario.”

The seven JumpStart winners are:

  • USB Hub – a company designing the world’s best USB Hub

    • SoundBrush (www.getsoundbrush.com) – a tech-based company that promises to revolutionize the way people create and discover music

  • TrendyMED (www.trendymed.com)- a medical devices company developing a ground-breaking line of intravenous (IV) infusion products
  • SciGit (www.scigit.com) – a Waterloo-based company whose collaboration software is used by over a hundred institutions
  • Concertninja (www.concertninja.com) – a platform for live music fans to crowd fund events in their city. Think KickStarter, but for concerts
  • Kite (www.runkite.com) – a productivity tool that accelerates building web applications
  • Milao Language (www.milaolanguage.com) – a Waterloo based educational technology start-up that will radically change the way people learn a new language

In addition to its $25,000 seed funding, Milao Language’s CEO Camelia Nunez also took home the $1,250 People’s Choice award from the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN). The Accelerator Centre is a member of the CDMN.

This group of seven companies is the third cohort of JumpStart program beneficiaries. The program was launched in June 2013, benefitting from $945,000 in support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (www.feddevontario.gc.ca) through its Scientists and Engineers in Business Program. The third cohort will wrap up at the end of March, 2014.

“For early-stage companies seeking to bring their technologies to market, access to funding and mentorship at this formative stage can be a significant hurdle,” said Tim Ellis, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre and Accelerator Program Inc. “The JumpStart program addresses both of these challenges for start-ups. It provides essential funding, and through our Accelerator Program, offers these companies access to experts who can provide business guidance and mentorship. ”

“The JumpStart program not only provides us with critical funding at a very vital stage in our company’s growth. It also gave us an opportunity to practice our pitch in front of an audience of our peers and industry experts. We were delighted to be selected as one of the seven companies to enter the JumpStart third cohort, and to bring home the People’s Choice prize for our pitch. It is terrific validation we are on the right path. Thanks FedDev and to the Waterloo Accelerator Centre for providing us with this amazing opportunity,” says Camelia Nunez, CEO Milao Language.

About the Waterloo Accelerator Centre

The Accelerator Centre, located within Waterloo’s David Johnston Research and Technology Park, is a world-renowned, award-winning facility dedicated to developing and commercializing technology start-ups. Through its Accelerator Program, early-stage companies benefit from in-depth business coaching and seamless support services, including access to office facilities, coaching and mentoring, education, connections to capital, networking, R&D support and outreach, talent recruitment, technology transfer assistance, and commercialization expertise, enabling technology start-ups to move to market faster, create jobs and stimulate economic activity. For information visit us on the web at www.acceleratorcentre.com

For more information, contact:

Shane Pegg, Director of Strategic Initiatives
519-342-2400 or spegg@acceleratorcentre.com