Venn Seeks Open Pitch Day Entries

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

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Kathryn Lockhart Named Propel CEO

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

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Mysa Raises $6.2M in Equity, Debt

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

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VLife Helps Users Buy Local

Halifax social enterprise website vLife, which helps users locate and support small local businesses, is rolling out the paid version of its service after offering it free since January.

Co-Founders Melanie Little and Riaz Khan started vLife’s parent company, Quantum Link, in 2017 and launched the platform in December 2019. Users can sign up free and search for local ventures, with vLife either

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Micro Grants for PEI Women Founders

The PEI Business Women’s Association has opened applications for its annual Micro Grant Program, which offers women-led businesses the chance to win $500 of non-dilutive, non-repayable funding.

The competition is open to PEI residents who are members of the Business Women’s Association. In addition to the cash, the winners will receive “business skills support,” although a written statement from

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Nine Teams Join Summer Institute

The University of New Brunswick’s TME group has accepted nine Canadian companies into its Summer Institute, and this seventh annual cohort is its biggest yet.

The TME group – whose formal name is the J Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship – holds its Summer Institute each year, placing less emphasis on innovation than other similar programs.

Though modern

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