The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will administer $4.2 million of federal spending to fund Nova Scotia’s Spark Innovation Challenge and the regional Community Futures Program.

The Spark Innovation Challenge allows early-stage companies located outside urban centres to compete for mentorship and grants of up to $50,000. The Community Futures Program provides loans and training to

Ignite Fredericton, the economic development agency for the New Brunswick capital, has announced a new accelerator focused on e-commerce for companies with existing customer bases.

The program is meant for small and medium-sized businesses that are already generating revenue, but that also need advice on how to add a digital revenue stream.

Course content will include personalized advice about

Halifax-based Novagevity has borrowed $300,000 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and closed an angel funding round as it prepares to launch its plant-based nutritional drinks in the fall.

Founded in 2019, Novagevity is dedicated to making organic meal replacements under the brand name Sperri. It was founded by serial entrepreneurs Gregg Curwin and Mary Lynch, both of whom have led

Venn Innovation is looking for New Brunswick companies to apply to join its Garage incubator program and possibly win a support package valued at $50,000.

The New Brunswick innovation hub will hold its Open Pitch Day on July 30, and is asking companies to enter by July 28, using this form.

“We’ll give you access to meaningful coaching, international mentorship, world-class training, networking

Halifax startup Groundhog, which is developing technology to allow recurring cryptocurrency payments, is suing the parent company of California accelerator Tachyon,  alleging breaches of contract and theft of trade secrets.

Groundhog -- incorporated under the name BlockCrushr Labs -- was part of the accelerator’s fall 2018 cohort and received US$100,000 (C$135,000) of investment from Tachyon

Propel, the Atlantic Canadian tech accelerator, has named seasoned tech executive Kathryn Lockhart as its new Chief Executive, filling the role to be left when CEO Barry Bisson retires.

A native of Bath, NB, Lockhart has held senior positions with a range of innovation-driven companies, including a five-year stint with St. John’s-based Bluedrop Performance Learning. She was most recently the

Smart lifejacket startup LifeTrack Safety Systems has won first place in the University of New Brunswick’s MTME: NEXT virtual demo day, in which Master of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship students competed for a $1,500 prize.

LifeTrack is designing a lifejacket and radio communication system that does not inflate until it is submerged in water, making it less awkward to wear. It also

St. John’s-based Mysa Smart Thermostats has closed a $6.2 million funding round, comprising $3.2 million in equity funding from existing investors and a $3 million convertible loan from BDC Capital.

The raise is Mysa’s third seven-figure funding round in about two years, following a $1.5 million round in 2018 and a $2.3 million round in 2019.

BDC Capital, which is part of the federal

The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation has announced a total of more than $1.2 million in funding for 27 New Brunswick research products that aim to detect and treat COVID-19.

NBIF issued a statement Thursday saying it has partnered with the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to contribute a total of $846,707 to the projects.

In addition,

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will administer $5.2 million of federal spending to foster youth entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money will take the form of grants for 15 community organizations, which will use it to pay for 21 initiatives aimed at supporting young business owners.

The funds will be delivered partly through ACOA’s Regional Economic