Good, Bad News in Macro-Economy

Writing the 2020 edition of our Atlantic Canada Startup Data Report, I’ve noticed a few external factors that could impact the community – some good, some bad.

By external factors, I mean economic forces that are outside the conventional startup ecosystem that will affect startups’ ability to raise capital, attract talent and sell their products. In several cases, I haven’t nailed down hard or

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Hussain Abdullah Launches AllinBud

Calling it an “immigrant’s dream come true”, Hussain Abdullah has launched his business AllinBud, which manufactures and sells secure wooden boxes for cannabis and related accessories.

After selling out an initial 300-unit trial run, he has now launched the company, selling the products in Canada and the U.S. through his website Allinbud.com, as well as other channels.

The AllinBud boxes are

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CBGF Backs LifeRaft Again

For the second time in six months, Halifax-based security intelligence company LifeRaft has drawn investment from the Canadian Business Growth Fund, or CBGF, which is backed by the country’s largest financial institutions.

The parties did not reveal the size of the round, though the press release announcing the investment said the Toronto-based fund customarily makes investments of $3 million to

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Airntell Wins Pitch & Pick Event

Airntell Aerospace, which is developing a drone service to support search and rescue operations, claimed the $1,500 first prize at the Genesis Pitch & Pick competition on Tuesday.

Founded by CEO Mateus Saar, Airntell uses drone technology for offshore search and rescue to help find missing people faster, more reliably, and at a fraction of the cost of current techniques. The company is

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QRA Closes US$3M Funding Round

Halifax-based QRA Corp., which provides natural language processing for complex engineering tasks, has closed a US$3 million (C$3.8 million) funding round to enhance its business development and customer service teams.

The venture capital funds participating in the round are Paris- and San Francisco-based Newfund and BDC Capital, both of which are first-time QRA investors, and returning investor

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Startup Weekend NS Starts April 30

Startup Weekend Nova Scotia will be held online starting on April 30, with a special focus on inclusion and diversity.

A division of the global accelerator Techstars, Startup Weekends are frequently held to bring community members together to propose and develop new ventures. Since the pandemic began, they have been held virtually.

The event later this month is supported by the Nova Scotia

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