2018-01-24
Third-round seed funding recipients to receive financial support and mentorship
For immediate release
Guelph ON, January 24, 2018 – Twenty-four southern Ontario companies have received financing to help them expand their operations, access new markets, attract investment and create jobs in the region.
The early-stage businesses were granted seed funding from Bioenterprise Corporation and its delivery partner, Innovation Guelph as part of the third round of program delivery. The companies will receive up to $30,000 in non-repayable seed financing, along with coaching and mentorship. They join 65 previous recipients who were selected for first and second rounds of seed funding in 2016 and 2017.
“We were so impressed by all the recipients and are excited that this seed funding will help them advance their business objectives. Seed funding and mentorship can play a crucial role in assisting early-stage businesses,” says Dave Smardon, Bioenterprise Corporation President and CEO.
The new recipients are expected to use the funding, along with their matching funds, for branding and marketing; prototyping and product piloting; Business-to-Business (B2B) sales, business development, process optimization, and to help advance market opportunities.
Round three seed funding recipients are from the Guelph, Hamilton, Middlesex, Niagara, Perth, Toronto, Wellington and York regions.
The Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), has provided Bioenterprise with up to $4.84 million to deliver the Bioenterprise Seed Fund and Innovation Guelph’s Fuel Injection program. These programs support innovative southern Ontario businesses in the agriculture and agri-food, sustainable and environmental technology, advanced manufacturing and social innovation sectors.
At a recent Innovation Showcase, Bioenterprise and Innovation Guelph announced that the 32 recipient companies from the first round of seed funding have raised more than $21 million in follow-on private investment, generated more than $6 million in revenues, created more than 45 jobs, and launched more than 50 products, processes, and technologies.
“The partnership between Bioenterprise and Innovation Guelph has been successful in assisting innovative businesses with early-stage support to help them grow,” says Anne Toner Fung, Innovation Guelph’s Executive Director. “With Fuel Injection support, past recipients are introducing new innovative products and increasing their market share. That in turn is creating more jobs and resulting in a stronger regional economy.”
“The Government of Canada is proud to support long-term economic growth through these types of initiatives. We believe it is to everyone’s benefit when innovative Canadian businesses are able to grow and create quality jobs,” said Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.
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Innovation Guelph is building prosperity for community well-being by providing mentorship and business support programs and services to help innovative enterprises start, grow and thrive. Innovation Guelph’s business acceleration programs – including Speedway, the Rhyze Project and BCorp Bootcamp – are designed for high-potential start-ups and small- and medium-sized enterprises across southern Ontario ready to grow. Innovation Guelph also serves as a one-stop point of access to Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) programs and resources. www.innovationguelph.ca
Bioenterprise Corporation is a national, non-profit business accelerator offering commercialization services to support the creation, growth, and expansion of businesses in the agricultural technology sector. Through its six locations across Canada, the organization provides agri-businesses with scientific and technical expertise, industry knowledge, business services, and global connections. Bioenterprise Corporation is funded through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. www.bioenterprise.ca
For more information:
Jennifer Kalanda, Marketing Manager, Bioenterprise Corporation
jennifer.kalanda@bioenterprise.ca or 1-866-464-4524
Jessica Bowes, Manager, Business & Technology Analyst Group, Bioenterprise Corporation
jessica.bowes@bioenterprise.ca or 1-866-464-4524
Mickey Campeau, Program Manager, Innovation Guelph
mickey.campeau@innovationguelph.ca
Background information
The following companies are third round seed funding recipients:
Greater Toronto region
- Better Start Naturals, Peel
- Black & Blue Foods Inc., Toronto
- BN Progressive Products Ltd., Peel
- Champions of Butter, Grey County
- The Chufa Company Inc., Toronto
- Forbidden Fruit, Toronto
- The Friendly Chef Adventures, Erin
- Good Food for Good, Toronto
- Heartwood Farm & Cidery, Erin
- Modgarden o/a tinyFarm, Toronto
- SoyaOil Coatings Canada, Holland Landing
- Tzafona Cellars Inc., Toronto
Halton-Niagara-Haldimand/Norfolk
- Hamill Machine Company Inc., Niagara
- Principal Point Geospatial Solutions (PPGS), Hamilton
Perth County
- Energrow Inc., Listowel
Waterloo-Wellington-London
- 2586856 Ontario Ltd., Middlesex
- Appleflats Inc., Wellesley
- Cupanion (Green Menu Inc.), Wellington
- The Savvy Farmer, Guelph
- Soleluna Cosmetics, Wellington
- Stock Exchange, Waterloo
- Stratodynamics Aviation Inc., Wellington
- Waterfarmers, Wellington
- Youth Circus Project, Wellington