Toronto-based SmartTones, a platform that uses encoded audio meta tags to allow brands to interact in real time with their customers, has been named the top startup at Infiniti Lab Toronto’s Demo Day.
As winner of the Demo Day, SmartTones will move on to participate in Infiniti Lab Hong Kong, a three-month global program that provides startups access to business mentorship and the opportunity to connect with Asian investors. Specifically, SmartTones will receive one-on-one mentorship from Infiniti’s executive team and experts in brand, digital, product, and network transformation. The Hong Kong program will begin in September.
SmartTones was selected from among nine startups that pitched their businesses to a panel of investors and professionals including Adam Paterson, managing director of Infiniti Canada; Brian Kobus, partner at OMERS Ventures; and Jean-Christophe Lebarre, innovation and partnerships director at Alliance Ventures.
“We believe that Canadians are eager for more meaningful and rewarding ways to interact with the brands they love and trust.”
“I’m thrilled that SmartTones was given the opportunity to move on to the INFINITI LAB Hong Kong accelerator,” said Daryl Hemingway, founder and CEO of SmartTones Media. “The Toronto LAB has been an incredible opportunity for us and we believe that Canadians are eager for more meaningful and rewarding ways to interact with the brands they love and trust. I look forward to learning from and collaborating with the INFINITI global team and to bringing that innovation and expertise back to Canada.”
Infiniti Labs Toronto said the announcement of its Demo Day winner comes after the accelerator released a report that examined Canadians’ expectations of a smart city and automotive technologies. The report found that 66 percent of Canadians are looking the most forward to saving costs associated with smart cities, while 57 percent are optimistic about enhanced safety. The report also found that 50 percent of Canadians are excited for decreased environmental impact due to innovative smart city solutions, and 29 percent believe that the main benefit of new automotive technologies will be increased road safety.
“The report reinforced our decision to select SmartTones to progress to our global accelerator,” said Paterson. “SmartTones demonstrated their product has the potential to connect and enhance communications while empowering individuals with tailored experiences saving time and money. The upcoming Hong Kong program will support to accelerate its success.”
Infiniti Lab Toronto’s six-week accelerator program provides mentorship and training to early stage startups focused on smart city solutions and the Internet of Things (IoT). Infiniti Labs Toronto said Brisk Synergies, a startup that has developed an automated video analytics solution to help transportation workers identify traffic patterns, will also be pitching to participate into Infiniti Lab’s global program.
Toronto-based Rover Parking was named the top startup at Infiniti Lab Toronto’s first-ever Demo Day in 2017.