Propel, the Atlantic Canadian IT accelerator, has named the 21 teams accepted into the first cohort of Incite, its new digital program.
Incite is a virtual program that startup founders can take for up to a year regardless of where they are based in Atlantic Canada. It was designed to overcome two challenges facing a group offering mentorship to tech companies across the region: participants can join up regardless of where they’re based; and it guides companies for a longer period of time, rather than just putting them through an intense 12-week program.
More than 140 companies applied to the first cohort, and 21 companies from seven different cities were accepted.
“We were really pleased with the level of interest Incite garnered,” said Propel CEO Barry Bisson in a statement. “The Propel team put a lot of work into redesigning our accelerator and we believe what we’ve developed is unprecedented. We look forward to seeing the results from the companies who complete the program.”
Since 2012, Propel has been offering classroom-based accelerators across the region with the goal of identifying promising young companies and helping them to bring a product to market. It began with Launch 36 six years ago. After three years, it switched to a two-tier system in which advanced companies attended a program in Moncton and newer companies were taught in sessions around the region.
After Bisson was hired as CEO last year, he oversaw a complete revamp of the accelerator program, which resulted in Incite.
Propel said the 21 companies were selected through an extensive recruitment process. A selection team vetted the applicants using a three-step process that included internal evaluation and scoring, assessment of the companies’ lean canvases and traction road maps, and one-on-one interviews.
The virtual accelerator is largely based on a learning management system developed by the Propel team based on feedback from alumni.
Propel worked with an instructional designer to make sure the learning objectives and outcomes were aligned with best practices in the education space. It also engaged subject matter experts from across Canada to contribute content.
The Incite program allows participants to move through the content at their own pace over a period of up to 12 months. Companies are evaluated every quarter and are selected to continue based on performance.
Propel will accept companies to the next Incite cohort in March. Applications will open mid-November.
Here are the 21 companies, their business model, and previous Entrevestor articles on a few of them.
David McNally
Mount Stewart, P.E.I.
Automating data collection and reporting throughout teams, operations and supply chains to improve decision making, simplify reporting and optimize profitability.
Agyle Inks BCIP Contract with Agriculture Canada
AKTOK
Alex Shalkin
Charlottetown
An AI-empowered platform for SMEs to simplify automation of conversations with customers.
Atlantic Institute for Resilience
Jackie Kinley
Halifax
A mental fitness training platform that enables workplaces to assess and build resilience.
Air: A Business Founded on Resilience
Cat Adalay and Rachel Carr
Halifax
Aurea’s first product, Shine, is a portable, lightweight wind turbine that charges USB devices in remote locations. Its second product, Flare, is an urban wind energy system for high-rise buildings that creates electricity from naturally occurring wind tunnels.
Aurea Named a Co-Winner at Invest Atlantic
Brett Vokey
St. John's
BreatheSuite’s mission is to enable patients with asthma and COPD to take their inhalers correctly, without the need for separate training devices.
Paul Doerwald
Halifax
Clockk automates time sheets, making the worst part of agency life less annoying.
Clockk Wins $25,000 at Volta Cohort Event
Patsy Leadbeater
Sydney
Commlet combines a user-friendly app with GPS bracelets to support school trip supervision.
Commlet Among the Winners in Spark Competition
Deveno
Nelson Peters
Moncton
A legal technology company using AI to improve access to justice.
EasyFit
Mykola Kushnir
Sydney
A mobile app to scan the human body to provide the perfect size recommendation while shopping online.
Foodona
Purushothaman Cannane
Halifax
A mobile app to reduce food waste in Canada
InsightWell
Shameer Iqbal
Wolfville, N.S.
A platform that helps people with sleep apnea find better lifestyle habits to improve their sleep.
James Weatherbie
Saint John
A platform to search for the best deal in home-related services – such as movers, cleaners or contractors.
Johnathan Cannon
Halifax
RoomServiceHFX.com delivers food to your front door within 45 minutes.
Room Service Creating an Online Store
SeaVision.ai
Matthew Zimola
Halifax
Analyzes real-time video feeds from fish pens to help the aquaculture industry.
Sensory Friendly Solutions
Christel Seeberger
Saint John
An app leading the movement towards a more sensory friendly world.
SIA
Bo Simango
St. John’s
An intelligent hospital platform that leverages real-time analytics and sensor technology to help hospitals operate smarter, safer and faster.
Pierre Bassaler-Merpillat
Charlottetown
Tools and data analysis for production forecast, traceability and origin certification for lobster harvesting and shellfish farming.
Lee Babin and Jacob Christie
Halifax
A platform that produces more compelling, confident speakers by providing users a private speaking dojo and actionable feedback.
Speakr Among 5 Teams Splitting $125K at Volta Cohort
Brandon Bourgeois
Moncton
An e-learning platform for hockey officials.
TrAIner
Shea Munro
Cape Breton
An AI-based personal training platform through which users receive proper form coaching from a mobile app.
VMOpro
Matthew Gillis
Cape Breton
A knee rehabilitation tool designed to improve home exercise programs for patients with knee conditions.
