No one could accuse Simon Gauvin, the founder of Agora Mobile, of lacking ambition.

With the help of 200 early adopters, the Moncton startup is conducting closed beta tests of its own social network, which serves as a platform on which users can develop their own smartphone web apps. Gauvin hopes that one day the product, named Vizwik, will be used by millions of people, improve the functionality of cellphones and play a role in educating children and teens.

Gauvin is looking for more people for an open beta test in the autumn, and Agora has a sign up page. He believes the full launch

Ara Labs Security Solutions, whose cloud-based software detects and battles malware in real time, has raised $500,000 in seed financing, part of which will  pay for a full-time CEO.

New Brunswick Innovation Foundation and Moncton-based Technology Venture Corp have each invested $250,000 in the Fredericton startup, which is the result of four years of research at the Computer Science faculty at the University of New Brunswick.

The company is now headed by Ali Ghorbani, the Dean of Computer Science at the Fredericton institution. But he intends to continue to focus on his academic

The Community Demo Day in Fredericton on Saturday night highlighted how startups can help even the world’s poorest people.

Eight of the 10 companies that pitched at the event were typical startups that aimed to launch a business based on proprietary technology. But two of them – The Agrarian Revolution of Fredericton and Uganda Venture of Halifax – have set out to use entrepreneurial principals to reduce poverty in the developing world.

They have developed manageable, practical enterprises that can help people in other countries increase their income. Both are working with the

As executive director of Fredericton-based Planet Hatch/Accelr8, Sally Ng’s focus is on growing startups into successful companies. But Ng is a globe-trotting dynamo who isn’t always at her desk. As a volunteer facilitator for Startup Weekend, Ng may be found gleaning tips for entrepreneurs at an event in Shanghai or clearing her mind by soaring in her glider over New Brunswick’s wide rivers.

When 10 startups present their businesses on Saturday evening in Fredericton, it will be the first true opportunity for social entrepreneurs in the region to explain publicly how they blend a business case with the social mission.

The Community Demo Day will take place at the Planet Hatch incubator on Saturday and will showcase entrepreneurs from two Fredericton-based programs. Four will be social ventures drawn from the program run by the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick. The other six are the graduates of Planet Hatch’s Accelr8 program.

One of the

Marketing for startup technology companies can be a tricky thing.

Startups are usually launched by people with a technology background and, not surprisingly, the dominant focus is on building the product and finding funding. Marketing is generally an afterthought in these early days. That creates a branding gap that can have serious consequences for East Coast startups.

We’re not alone in this.

Recently a smart post from Israeli Venture Capitalist Michael Eisenberg made the rounds. In the post, Eisenberg notes that Israel produces many strong technology companies but they often don’t

We sent out the Entrevestor survey this morning and are delighted to see responses rolling in from around the region. If you’ve received the survey, please take the time to fill it in in the next day or two.

If you’re a founder of a startup – locally owned with scalable, proprietary technology – and haven’t received the survey, please let us know and we’ll get you one.

This survey will assemble a body of information that will tell us how the startup community is growing and impacting the economy. It will also provide a baseline for future surveys so we can chart its growth over the

The marriage of cymbal manufacturer Sabian Inc. and drum equipment maker Billdidit Inc. will do more than increase the Cape Breton-based target’s distribution and customer acceptance. It will also help to develop a niche manufacturer in the Sydney area.

Sabian, based in Meductic, N.B., near Fredericton, said Monday it has paid an undisclosed amount for a majority stake in Billdidit, bringing the Sydney company’s unique range of drum gear into the Sabian catalogue.

While Sabian has operated for 30 years and has customers around the world, Billdidit started about five years ago to

After years of struggle, indie games developer Xona Games of Yarmouth finally feels it is in a position of strength in the global market.

Xona, the product of twins Jason and Matthew Doucette, was recently honoured with first place in the Rogers Big Idea Contest, which brings with it an award of $20,000.

More importantly, the company has been accepted into Microsoft’s elite ID@Xbox program. Inclusion in this could give the Doucette brothers greater security as they work at bringing their vision to market.

The Doucettes have learned over the years that game development is a precarious

Launch36, the Atlantic Canadian regional startup accelerator, is calling for applications for its fourth cohort, building on its mission of launching 36 companies in three years.

In particular, the accelerator operated by the regional technology association Propel ICT is hoping for its first participants from Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Meanwhile, Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England has announced that it is looking for participants for its 48 Hours in the Hub program.  The biennial two-day program brings Canadian startups to Boston for mentorship, strategic partner visits and