Fourteen Atlantic Canada early-stage tech startups have been selected to pitch at the spring edition of the Volta Cohort Pitch Event on May 22 in Halifax.
“Through Volta Cohort, we are able to engage with these founders at a critical time in their development.”
Through Volta’s program, a maximum of five companies will receive $25,000 in investment, mentorship, and resources. This event will be the fourth Volta cohort since it launched in 2017 to address the lack of early-stage investment and resources available to Atlantic Canadian startups. To date, the program has awarded $400,000 in investments.
“Creating a more innovative future in Atlantic Canada starts by funding and supporting high calibre founders that will turn their ideas into global companies,” said Jesse Rodgers, CEO of Volta. “Through Volta Cohort, we are able to engage with these founders at a critical time in their development and provide the opportunities and resources they need to get to the next stage faster.”
Volta Cohort participants are selected through an application process that runs twice a year. Volta hosts a pitch event every six months to determine who is accepted into the program. Companies receiving investment are given space at Volta, as well as access to a board of mentors comprised of CEOs and founders of Volta’s resident and alumni companies.
For companies operating outside of Halifax, support through Volta is organized with partner organizations in other Atlantic Canada cities. The collaboration between Volta, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, BDC Capital, and Innovacorp is aiming to ensure startup founders across the region have provincial, regional and national organizations committed to their success.
The finalists are:
- Arolytics: develops web applications to help production and manufacturing industries cost-effectively manage and mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases and air toxins.
- Atomo: tackles rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) through the design and manufacture of blood-based medical devices
- BlackWatch.Tech: an innovative safety equipment company currently developing a few products, including a man overboard device for fishermen.
- CareCrew: developed an app that helps families manage the care of their aging loved ones. Caren recognizes that everyone is unique and helps caregivers provide personalized care and support to the elder’s needs and preferences.
- E/venTx: offers management and sales tools for event organizers to promote events and manage their business.
- FloLab: a culture and mental training platform for sports teams.
- Gibli Innovations: developed a revolutionary sensor providing cyclists and triathletes with real-time aerodynamic feedback while training or racing to optimize their riding position and see upwards of 20 percent efficiency gains.
- Jara Developments: provides a tenant security portal that it says will revolutionize the rental industry through tenant relationship management.
- Manage Your Home: a concierge service company that helps homeowners plan, budget, manage, and document all of the maintenance, repairs and improvements to their home and property.
- ReelData: develops remote monitoring technology for the aquaculture industry, allowing fish farms to know the biomass, appetite and welfare of finned fish in real time, without manual intervention.
- ShopLaw: creates financial incentives for lawyers to solve the access to justice emergency, and provides an easy way to find the right legal solution for consumers.
- Sparrow Acoustics: an AI-based system that enables cardiologists to better visualize and interpret heart sounds.
- Tracker Inventory System: designs and supplies modular, easy-to-use and easy-to-implement
- RFID: inventory solutions for industries with a history of low technology adoption. Its first product is designed for the laundry industry to bring real-time visibility for inventory for commercial laundries and hotels.
- VRCOM: develops a fast way for businesses to create an engaging virtual reality shopping experience.
Photo credit Riley Smith.