Jason Pearson, Co-Founder of Charlottetown edtech startup Stemble, has won Propel’s 2022 Gerry Pond Sales Award, which comes with a $25,000 cash prize.

Stemble is developing e-learning software for post-secondary applications, particularly in the STEM fields, which includes “virtual laboratory” functionality with more depth than is offered by other companies in the space.

The Gerry Pond Award honours the former NBTel CEO and Aliant Telecom President, who went on to co-found Saint John-based Mariner Partners and Propel itself. Propel, meanwhile, offers a suite of virtual startup accelerators, including its Traction and Growth programs, from which the three award finalists were drawn.

One of the three judges was Chris Ramsey, who co-founded Fredericton startup Radian6. That company was sold to SalesForce for about $326 million of cash and stock in 2011 and later became one of the subjects of Globe and Mail journalist Gordon Pitt’s well-received book Unicorn in the Woods.

During the award ceremony, Ramsey gave a speech advising the Atlantic Canadian startup ecosystem to more aggressively target international markets, rather than prioritizing local customers during a company’s early growth.

“I think everyone's aim as an entrepreneur in Atlantic Canada should be to be the global leader in what you do -- period,” said Ramsey.

“It doesn’t matter how unique your product is, someone else is building it somewhere. And you are in a sprint to get to your market and establish leadership as fast as you can.”

Here’s a look at the other two companies shortlisted for the award:

VroomCrew
Halifax and Charlottetown
Quinton Gorman, CEO
VroomCrew is an on-demand auto detailing service that offers to clean customers’ cars at their homes, their work and in parking garages.

Renderator
Halifax
Mario Comando and Alessia Bosatra, Co-Founders
Renderator makes high-definition, three-dimensional models of buildings, as well as technology for tracking how people react to the models. The technology is targeted at realtors and developers looking to pre-sell or pre-lease development projects.