Three rural Nova Scotian companies – Bioteem40, Petite Riviere Farming, and Bramble Hill Farms – have been named finalists in the International Network of Michelin Cities Start Up Pitch Competition.
These health-related companies were selected at events this past weekend and will attend the international finals in Cuneo, Italy, in October.
The International Network of Michelin Cities is a global network of communities connected through innovation, economic development, and international collaboration. Selected startups will receive founder preparation and international readiness support throughout the summer and fall in advance of the October conference.
“This is more than a competition,” said the Bioteem40 team in a social media post. “It's a reminder of why we started: to build something that genuinely changes how people feel, every single day. We are so proud of how far this mission has come.”
Windsor-based Bioteem40 is the latest venture of serial entrepreneurs Abdullah Kirumira and Glyn Davies, who also lead the biotech company TheraPBios PHARMA LTD.
Bioteem40 tablets combine probiotics and nutritional supplements in a single pill, so consumers don’t have to keep many bottles of supplements to receive the nutritional benefits they need. Bioteem40 supplements contain prebiotic and probiotics to improve consumers’ ability to absorb the other beneficial substances by improving a person’s digestive health, the company said.
Conquerall Mills-based Petite Riviere Farms produces medicinal plants to prevent and reverse chronic inflammation. Using an indoor farming process called controlled environment agriculture, it produces a powdered supplement under the Go Micro brand made from broccoli.
Like Bioteem40, Petite Riviere Farms is led by a serial entrepreneur. CEO Gregg Curwin is also the CEO of Halifax-based Sperri, which makes plant-based meal replacements.
Led by Cathy Munro, Bramble Hill Farms sells kits under the Micro Garden brand that help consumers grow micro-greens -- tender young plants that are packed with nutrients.
