Fifteen early-stage startups will pitch for as much as $25,000 each in equity funding at the next Volta Cohort Pitch Event on May 19.
Volta, the Halifax innovation hub, initiated the funding program three-and-a-half years ago, and so far 34 startups have been selected. At each pitch event, as many as five companies are chosen for up to $25,000 in funding. They also receive mentorship and office space in Volta or another innovation hub in the region.
The Cohort program – which is supported by BDC, Innovacorp and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency – also provides past winners with follow-on investment as long as they meet specific criteria. It means these companies will receive total investment of $50,000 from Volta Cohort.
In a press release Monday, Volta said that in this quarter alone, previous Cohort winners have raised over $10 million in venture capital financing and created about 120 jobs.
"At Volta, we’re incredibly excited to see the impact of Volta Cohort on early-stage startups,” said Volta CEO Martha Casey in the statement. “The results of this initiative are truly being felt across Atlantic Canada; Cohort alumni companies have raised significant VC financing rounds, participated in global accelerators, like Tech Stars and Mass Challenge, and created jobs in the region.”
The fifteen finalists are:
● Air Clarity Solutions, New Brunswick – Air Clarity Solutions is developing an innovative air filtration system.
● Altever Solutions, Nova Scotia – Altever’s product AutoWIKI is an app that uses voice technology to tell tourists and travellers about local attractions, based on their geolocation.
● Avisens, Halifax – This company is developing a highly sensitive sensor for health monitoring.
● Clean Valley Bio-Filtration Technologies CIC, Halifax – This research and development company is commercializing algae-based filtration systems.
● Dear Life, Halifax – Dear Life is an online platform that aims to help users tell their life stories more beautifully and preserve them for future generations.
● Drastic Scholastic Thermoplastic, Antigonish, NS – Drastic Scholastic is a waste-management company that remanufactures plastic waste into consumer and industrial products.
● Food for Thought Software Solutions, Halifax – Food for Thought helps Canadian children access nutritious food while reducing the stigma around food insecurity.
● Glade Software, Halifax – Glade is developing software that helps a web audience to comment directly on the content they view.
● KAYR for Communities, Halifax – KAYR uses gamification to encourage students to get involved in school life in and outside the classroom.
● Moodie Labs, Moncton – Moodie is developing a platform that connects therapists with their clients.
● myFlock, Wolfville, NS – This platform digitizes complex paper-based animal compliance programs while automating data collection and providing intelligence to poultry farmers.
● PLAEX Building Systems, Hampstead NB – This company converts difficult-to-recycle plastic waste turned into durable, interlocking bricks that can be used and reused in low-rise construction.
● Pressto, Halifax – Pressto helps students to develop media literacy, critical thinking and writing skills by making journalism accessible.
● Tribe Network, Halifax – Tribe is a digital platform in which Black, Indigenous and People of Colour can accelerate ideas, build communities and access opportunities.
● V-Arm, Fredericton – This company offers upper limb rehabilitation using virtual reality and myoelectric sensors.
The Pitch Competition will be taking place virtually via video conference on May 19, beginning at 5:30 pm. Members of the public are invited to watch for free, and can register here.
