Global consultancy EY has named 18 finalists in the 2023 Atlantic division of the Entrepreneur of the Year competition, now in its 29th year.
With competitors grouped into five regions nationally, the Atlantic Canadian winners will go on to compete against entrepreneurs from the Pacific coast, the Prairies, Ontario and Quebec. The regional winners will be announced in October and the national winners will be anounced in November. Then, next June, the victors from countries around the world will compete for a global prize.
“This year’s finalists are creating innovative business models to withstand tough market pressures amid a challenging economic and geopolitical landscape,” said Entrepreneur of the Year Program Director Rachel Rodrigues in a statement. “From financial services and biotechnology to fashion and homewares, the diversity in both the industries and the entrepreneurs is a true testament to the inclusivity and excellence of Canada’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Here’s a look at the shortlisted contenders:
Wally Haas
St. John’s
Founded in 2015, Avalon sells holographic display technology.
John Flewelling
Halifax
Founded in 1955, CBCL is a multi-disciplinary engineering firm with clients in the marine industry, oil and gas, manufacturing and other sectors.
Asif Hasan
Fredericton
Climative is a cleantech company that aims to use blockchain technology to track buildings’ environmental footprints.
Katie Bowden
Saint John
Founded in 2010, Duke Creative Collective is a marketing and creative consultancy.
Chantal Brine
Halifax
Founded in 2018, EnPoint is a platform for organizations to manage mentorship programs.
Nick Hansen
Moncton
Founded in 1979, Hansen Signs sells signage, collaborating with customers on design.
Jon King
St. John’s
Rob Forsythe
Haifax
Milk Moovement
Founded in 2018, Milk Moovement sells supply chain management software to the dairy industry.
Rob Lane
Halifax
Founded in 1985 as ARCOM, MOBIA is an IT services company with more than 600 employees.
Kes Morton
Halifax
Pisces Research Project Management
Founded in 2017, Pisces provides project management services for research and development work, with a focus on the oceans economy.
Keith McIntosh
Fredericton
Founded in 1997, PLATO Testing specializes in training and then employing Indigenous people for software-testing roles.
Hilda Broomfield Letemplier
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Pressure Pipe Procurement & Management Services
Founded 45 years ago and given its current name in 2021, Pressure Pipe is an Indigenous-owned industrial and mining supply company.
Mathew Zimola
Halifax
Founded in 2019, ReelData is an artificial intelligence platform for land-based aquaculture facilities.
Keir Pollard
Stratford, P.E.I.
Founded in 2011, SpryPoint sells cloud-based enterprise software for utilities companies.
Barry Stevens
Halifax
Founded in 2019, 3D Wave Design sells software for creating three-dimensional visualizations of climate change-related data.
Alan Norman
Moncton
Jerrica Kennedy
Moncton
Tire Shack Brewing
Opened in 2019, Tire Shack is a craft brewery located in an old automotive garage.
Sheena Young
Moncton
Founded in 2021, Young’s Lobster Company sells a range of high-end, sustainably sourced seafood.
