It’s a digital weather forecast of another kind – who’s hot and what’s cool in Canadian tech.
Now in its third annual national campaign, the Canadian Innovation Exchange wants to identify the country’s most innovative technology-based businesses.
CIX Wants Canada's Hottest Tech Companies
The contest is free to enter and is open to all Canadian companies who consider themselves, their product, technology or service to be a killer innovation in the fields of:
• Information Communication Technology
• Cleantech
• Digital Media
The 2010 edition of the open competition will take place on December 1, 2010 at The Design Exchange in downtown Toronto.
A group of finalists – dubbed ‘Canada’s Hottest Innovative Companies’ – will be selected to make a live presentation in front of hundreds of industry leaders, including major corporations, entrepreneurs and eager investors.
Innovative technologies and disruptive changes bring opportunities for entrepreneurs, corporations and investors, explained Rick Nathan, Managing Director of Kensington Capital Partners and Co-Chair of the Canadian Innovation Exchange.
“The exchange of ideas and opportunities across the full range of industry participants drives the entrepreneurial focus of CIX. [It’s] a unique competitive environment for the selection of Canada’s Technology Innovation Leader,” he added.
Nathan also serves as the current Chairman of CVCA – Canada’s Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.
It manages over $75 billion, and its members are flowing that capital into the industry and looking for profitable investment opportunities.
That being said, the hottest company is not necessarily guaranteed to get the bucks (there is a certificate!!!).
“CIX does not offer any continued support after the event except through promotion on our site (we continue to keep company profiles up on the site, and we highlight past winners),” a spokesperson for the event told me in an e-mail. “CVCA is an Association Partner of the event but not directly involved, any support they give is on their own time and not through CIX.”
“CIX and CVCA cannot guarantee funding. As CVCA is an association of investors who will most likely be at CIX, the opportunity for funding is available, but not promised to finalists or winners. It’s more about highlighting and showcasing great innovation coming out of Canada.”
So, terrific opportunities are there for assertive and aggressive innovators to grab hold of, when, from the finalists, Canada’s Innovation Leader is finally chosen on December 1, 2010 at The Design Exchange in Toronto.
In 2009, that distinction was awarded to Markham, Ontario-based CognoVision, a company that develops unique real-time audience measurement tools and retail intelligence solutions for retailers & the out-of-home digital signage advertising industry.
So, What’s Your Tech? Invented anything awesome lately? Let them – or me – know!
