Emera ideaHUB, a new tech incubator created by Dalhousie University, has accepted its first seven resident companies.
The creation of ideaHub was first announced in 2016, with a specific focus in fostering engineering students, faculty, and startups with an interest in entrepreneurship.
The incubator puts an emphasis on “tough tech”, which includes areas such as ocean technology, cleantech, AI, and cybersecurity. IdeaHUB says tough tech companies are historically underfunded, and face unique challenges that require a specific engineering approach in order to develop a solution.
Margaret Palmeter, manager of Emera ideaHUB, told BetaKit that the official launch of the incubator program has a tentative schedule date of April 25.
According to Entrevestor, which first reported the story, the following companies have been accepted:
- NewAE Technology: Halifax-based company working towards providing tools for embedded hardware security research.
- Graphite Innovation and Technologies: Halifax-based engineering firm focused on providing solutions and uses for graphene technologies. The startup was founded through research conducted at Dalhousie University.
- NovaResp Technologies: Developer of patient-specific and breath-specific breathing support devices for patients with sleep apnea.
- Aurea Technologies: Volta accelerator alumnus, cleantech company providing renewable tech to be used for both rural and urban spaces. The company was one of 15 that pitched for $25,000 at Volta Cohort’s pitch event.
- ColourSmith Labs: Halifax-based company developing contact lenses meant to correct colour blindness. The company was a finalist in the BioInnovation Challenge, BioNova’s regional health and life sciences business competition.
- Maritime bioLoggers: Dartmouth-based company providing quality assurance solutions for the transport of blood samples in lab testing. Maritime bioLoggers was one of six companies selected to participate in Innovacorp’s Early Adopter Program in 2016.
- Rayleigh Solar Tech: Halifax-based cleantech company aiming to commercialize perovskite solar cells, which could assist in turning sunlight into electricity. The company also pitched for $25,000 at Volta Cohort’s pitch event.
Entrevestor said each company was interviewed by a review committee, noting that ideaHUB expects each company will outgrow the space within 18 months.
Emera ideaHUB is a 10,000 sq. ft. space supported by Dalhousie’s $64 million investment into the university’s downtown campus, and is able to house up to 12 companies at a time. Startups have access to prototyping and testing facilities in order to create physical prototypes of their inventions. This includes a 3D printing room, an electrical building and testing room, and a mechanical assembly room.