First things first. Small business owners are not so inclined to confess how they are feeling about their own small business ... especially when they are stressed to the point where their jaw feels perpetually locked in one position. Well I have a few confessions to make. I hope these truths will help other entrepreneurs along their journey. Cause we're all in this together, right?

Confession #1

A month after launching its successful crowdfunding campaign, Spring Loaded Technology has announced a $1.9 million venture capital investment and a new $1 million contract with the Canadian military.

The Dartmouth company has developed the Levitation knee brace, which strengthens the joint as well as stabilizes it, and has received US$172,000 ($229,000) in orders through its Indiegogo campaign,

Indiana Pacers Adopt Kinduct Platform

Halifax-based startup Kinduct Technologies announced Monday that the Indiana Pacers are its newest high-profile client. The Pacers have partnered with Kinduct as their athlete management software provider to collect  performance and health data for smoother visualization and analysis within a centralized location.

Kinduct has recently added several new teams across the NHL, MLS, MLB and now works with more than half of the NBA.

“The Pacers are excited to be using the state-of-art technology that Kinduct delivers to give our team and players an

Halifax-based LifeRaft, whose platform uncovers potential threats through social media posts, has closed a $2 million round of financing, including a $1.4 million investment from an unnamed strategic investor from outside the region.

Launched in 2014, LifeRaft identifies threatening keywords, such as “kill” and “gun,” on social media sources like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. It filters the

ExVivo Labs of the University of Waterloo won the $25,000 first prize at fourth annual Canada’s Business Model Competition at Dalhousie University in Halifax on Saturday.

Co-Founders Christian Brum and Eric Blondeel won the prize for a poised and focused presentation on the development of their product, which reduces the pain and wait times involved in testing for allergies.

The pair will now

Lumos Energy Strips of Queen’s University, which has developed a quick and calorie-free means of getting a caffeine shot, won the $15,000 second prize at Canada’s Business Model Competition on Saturday.

The $10,000 third prize was awarded to the University of British Columbia’s Ohm Wearables, which has developed a smart belt that checks your breathing during yoga.

Dalhousie University hosted

This week in Jobs of the Week, we are featuring two positions from Fredericton-based software solution developer Loft1.

Loft1’s software is used to transform any whiteboard markings into digitized script, eliminating the need to take notes or keep minutes.

Loft1 is seeking to fill two roles in their Fredericton offices: one as a UI/UX Mobile Developer, and one as a Principal Software Engineer.

Nova Scotia would do well to follow the example of Australia and implement policies like those that are boosting the Australian film industry, said Cape Breton academic Jacquelyn Thayer Scott.

Thayer Scott recently read in the Financial Times that the Australian film sector has long been overshadowed by New Zealand’s, but tax breaks and the fall in the Australian dollar are attracting U.S. film

Fundmetric, the Halifax startup that helps charities raise more money, is plotting a bold move into the U.S. after a successful meeting with clients in New York.

CEO Mark Hobbs was in New York last week for an event organized by the Canadian Digital Media Network, where he met with about 20 charities based in the area.

Fundmetric also became the first startup to take advantage of the office

Meet MTEI Student Interns

Members of the Nova Scotia business community looking for talented interns are invited to attend a session to meet students from the Master of Technology Entrepreneurship Innovation at St. Mary’s University.

The students in this graduate program for entrepreneurially minded executives will “pitch” themselves at Volta Labs in Halifax on Monday, March 7, from 5 to 7:30 pm.

MTEI intern students are trained in the entire startup process, from innovation processes and management to commercialization and business development.

Organizers of the event said these students