Six diverse startups from around the region have been accepted into the PropelICT Build program this summer, headlining a record intake of 33 companies in the accelerator’s sixth cohort.
The PropelICT accelerator has grown into a two-tier system that operates in four cities. The flagship is the Build program in Moncton for more advanced companies, led by former Propel Executive Director Trevor MacAusland.
Younger companies are mentored in the Launch program in Halifax (led by Entrepreneur-in-Residence Ying Tam), Fredericton (Entrepreneur-in-Residence Al Sturgeon) and St. John’s (Propel CEO Gary Dinn).
The list shows that Propel’s ambitious goal of training more than 400 companies over five years is attainable. It is overcoming the organizational hurdles of producing simultaneous training programs in four cities. And it is finding enough companies to train. It’s impossible to judge the quality of all these companies, but they’re entering the program and their team members will emerge with valuable entrepreneurial skills.
One other observation is that company formation doesn’t seem to be slowing down even after the growth of new companies in the last three years. In one province, Newfoundland and Labrador, it seems to be on a strong uptick.
The six members of the Build cohort are:
Ongozah, Moncton – Nurtured in the Vennture Garage in Moncton, Ongozah is developing a platform that will help community groups crowdsource the various things they need.
Xiplinx Technologies, Saint John and Fredericton – Xiplinx was a member of the first Propel cohort and has developed technology that helps manufacturing plant managers monitor data from around their factories.
Simptek, Fredericton – The runner-up at the recent Breakthru competition is developing an automated system that helps people control the use of their household appliances with the goal of saving them money.
PACTA, Halifax – PACTA went through the Launch program last year and presented at the last Demo Day. It helps medium-sized manufacturers manage contracts with customers, suppliers and others.
Clean Simple, Halifax – The company, which is now expanding into Ottawa, lets people book and pay for cleaners online.
HeyOrca, St. John’s – One of the bright young lights of the Newfoundland startup community, HeyOrca helps freelancers streamline their social media.
The six-members of the Build cohort are notable in that they’ve already received a lot of training. Half of them (Xiplinx, Simptek and Pacta) have already gone through previous Propel programs.
The members of the Launch programs are:
Launch New Brunswick, to be held at Planet Hatch, Fredericton:
1 KeenCare
2 Monamie
3 Ella
4 CloudNet
5 Liv9
6 Babelx
7 RISE
8 Rent Bucks
9 Talent Scout
Launch Nova Scotia, to be held at Volta, Halifax:
1 Exodo
2 Scotia Wave
3 Bitness
5 Graph Reactor
6 Say So Communications
7 Buy My Lemonade
8 WebRTC Customer Support
Launch Newfoundland and Labrador, to be held at Common Ground:
2 Order App
3 Pearus
4 CRE
5 Sulis
6 Team Startup
7 SocialCircle
8 Melecho Music
9 SolSports
