43North, a global competition awarding a grand prize of $1 million to one startup, has announced 142 semifinalists. Among them are 26 Ontario-based companies.
The 2016 competition features a grand prize of $1 million, a runner-up prize of $600,000, and six $500,000 awards. Winners also receive free incubator space in Buffalo for a year. An additional $400,000 will be awarded to winners as incentivized follow-on funding.
The semifinalists were vetted during a month-long review period conducted by judges from several professional verticals. The competition is part of Buffalo Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative — which invests in companies that can boost Buffalo’s economy. The competition operates through $6 million in support from the New York Power Authority and $1 million from Empire State Development.
“43North is helping to put Buffalo on the map for quality startups, and that can be seen in this year’s class of semifinalists, which hail from across the U.S. and around the globe,” said 43North Executive Director John T. Gavigan. “Over the coming weeks, our semifinalists will each give live video pitches to a team of judges who will help us determine which are best of the best; these startups will become this year’s finalists.”
The Ontario-based seminfinalists include:
Beagle Inc. – Kitchener, Ontario
Chalk.com – Kitchener, Ontario
ColdBlock Technologies Inc. – St. Catherines, Ontario
Crowdmark Inc.– Toronto, Ontario
Dozr Inc.– Guelph, Ontario
ExpertFile Inc. – Toronto, Ontario
Formarum Inc – Richmond Hill, Ontario
GlucoGuide Corp. – London, Ontario
Healthwick – Oakville, Ontario
Knowledgehook – Waterloo, Ontario
Medella Health Inc. – Waterloo, Ontario
My Pro Hero – Waterloo, Ontario
Nicoya Lifesciences – Kitchener, Ontario
Oneiric Hockey – Toronto, Ontario
Pathcore Inc – Toronto, Ontario
Pitstop – Kitchener, Ontario
RightBlue Labs – Toronto, Ontario
Sampler – Toronto, Ontario
Self Care Catalysts Inc – Toronto, Ontario
Snapwise Inc. – Kitchener, Ontario
Stathletes – St. Catharines, Ontario
Tellspec Inc. – Toronto, Ontario
Topspin Technologies Ltd. – London, Ontario
U-Feast Corporation – Markham, Ontario
uConekt Inc. – Pickering, Ontario
Validere – Toronto, Ontario
Finalists will pitch on October 26 and 27.