Halifax-based Spring Loaded Technology, makers of the Bionic Boost, has been awarded with the 2015 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award and also $100,000. Bionic Boost was developed by co-founders Chris Cowper-Smith and Bob Garrish and the duo created the world’s first bionic knee-brace technology that enhances strength, reduces fatigue and increases stability. Apparently, “demand is already flooding in from customers and clinicians around the world.”
“We believe that participating in the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest is an invaluable experience for any entrepreneur and I congratulate Chris and Bob on their win,” says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC. “Their company is a compelling example of how Canadian entrepreneurs can create world-class and exportable products in the healthcare space and improve quality of life for an ageing population.”
Cowper-Smith, said, “It feels great to win the $100,000 grand prize and it will certainly help us execute on our launch plan. As a pre-revenue company about to come to market, the publicity we received just from taking part in the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest has been amazing. Over a thousand people from across Canada and beyond reached out to us. We doubled the size of our lead list during the contest – this is a fantastic validation of what we’re doing.”
The $100,000 will be used to expand its product and produce a “new rapid carbon-fibre and composites manufacturing equipment to boost production and cut our costs so we can bring an affordable and accessible bionic knee brace to market this fall.”
A total of 10 companies were in the finals for the 2015 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award and the runner-up was Melissa Butler’s Farm to Table, who secures $25,000 in consulting services from BDC.