innovation guelph

VOLUME 1

You provide a welcoming workplace for a rag-tag

bunch of startups who would otherwise be making-do in

their basements or home office/guest rooms,

working in uninspiring isolation... thanks! Evan Pilkington, Blue W

The personal 1:1 support approach you provide is stellar!

Every other RIC should follow your model- it is amazing.

Leisha Zamecnik, Common Compass

IG ROCKS!

IG has a very supportive, informative and professional team who have assisted me with strategy and keeping motivated. Much appreciated!Paul RadkowskiLife Recovery Program

Innovation Guelph was willing to put together a workshop because I expressed a need that I was having difficulty having met. Thanks for being willing to go the extra mile IG!

Krista Brown, Linden Valley

It's an honour and a privilege to be a part of the mentoring team at Innovation Guelph.- Monica Schut

IG_AnnualReport.indd 1 2015-06-16 2:59 PM

With many businesses expanding or

locating in the area, a university and

college thriving with graduates, and more

people destined to make Guelph their

home through the Places to Grow Act, there

was a need emerging in the community to

help entrepreneurs locate in the city, build

their businesses, attract key talent, spur

more development and contribute to the

tax base.

In 2010, Lloyd Longfield – then the

Chief Administrative Officer of the Guelph

Chamber of Commerce and now one of

Innovation Guelph’s mentors – proposed

that we create an organization in Guelph

to be one of the 14 Regional Innovation

Centres (RICs) in the province. This

organization would benefit the city’s

business enterprises and help Guelph’s

growth strategy be realized.

With the help of Kirk Roberts, a

former executive with Open Text and an

entrepreneur himself who had started

several successful businesses, the three

of us embarked on a journey to develop a

business plan and ultimately secure both

provincial and federal funds. The inevitable

occurred and Innovation Guelph started,

grew and today is thriving. The rest of the

story is history – even if the idea is only four

years old.

Innovation Guelph has established

a group of business mentors that have

impacted numerous startups and more

mature companies throughout the city. IG’s

mentors are essential to helping Guelph

companies develop their businesses,

secure financing, hire talented people

and ultimately contribute to the

wellbeing of the community. What a

great success... but there is still much more

to come!

Under the leadership of Jamie Doran,

Innovation Guelph’s Chief Executive Officer,

Innovation Guelph is taking major

strides to becoming one of the most

progressive and successful RICs in the

province. The organization continues to

collaborate with the University of Guelph,

Conestoga College, the City of Guelph’s

economic development department, key

businesses of all sizes, financial institutions,

angel and venture capital groups, and

both provincial and federal government

agencies. Innovation Guelph is poised to

continue making a real difference in the

community. It’s just so much fun hearing

the success stories and being a part of a

vibrant and exciting group of professionals.

I can’t wait to see the next chapter and

then Volume 2.

BRIAN COWAN

CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WELCOMEInnovation Guelph, Volume 1

!!!ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SOCIAL WELLBEING HAVE BEEN BOTH CORNERSTONES AND PILLARS IN THE CITY OF GUELPH’S GROWTH STRATEGY FOR MANY YEARS.

“Innovation Guelph is poised to continue

making a real difference in the

community.”

Innovation Guelphhistory lesson

Shop class?!Brian and Jamie at the Speedway launch party

3 Innovation Guelph Volume 1, 2014/15


Our whole team has been quite excited

to share all of the stories you’ll find in this

yearbook. I hope you enjoy learning

about the cool initiatives that IG has

been a part of over these past few

years and, most importantly, about all of

the amazing companies that have come

through our door. IG Volume 1 is for you!

I am proud to be the CEO of Innovation

Guelph. It’s a really special place to work.

Our team cares so much about the

work we do in the community and the

companies we coach. I’ve had people

remark to me that they are amazed at

all the stuff IG seems to do with such a

small team. Our team is empowered to

be creative and action-oriented – we’re

always looking to improve our programs

and services and collaborate with our

community partners to build the best

business ecosystem we can. Maybe most

important is that we’re always willing to

help.

Innovation Guelph is only four years

old – incorporated on July 27, 2011 –

and we’ve grown up a lot since then.

We’ve come to understand our role in

the region and how we can contribute

positively to the prosperity and wellbeing

of the community. We know it is our

responsibility to help innovators,

entrepreneurs and companies reach

their potential. As our population grows,

so should the quality of life for all who live,

work, and play here. To this end, IG aims be

a leader and an active partner in Guelph’s

thriving business ecosystem.

People ask me, “What’s on the horizon

for Innovation Guelph?” I tell them that

this region is really flowering. If you look

at the kinds of companies growing roots

here you’ll see that Guelph’s a fertile place

for innovative entrepreneurs. Keep this in

mind as you read the client stories in this

yearbook! Innovation Guelph will continue

to make sure that the right resources are in

place so that these great companies have

the best shot at success.

Thank you for working with us on this

journey.

DR. JAMES DORAN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I WELCOME YOU TO INNOVATION GUELPH VOLUME ONE, OUR FIRST OFFICIAL REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS.

- JAMIE

Yearbook ClubContent Development, Layout, Design:

Creative Worth creativeworth.ca

With files from: Tanya Darisi, Peggy Dix,

Jamie Doran, Sasha Odesse

Photo credits: Kevin Boon, Chris Tiessen,

Corinne Taylor, Heather Watterworth

Innovation Guelphhistory lesson

Innovation Guelph Volume 1, 2014/15 4


We work with The City of Guelph, the region,

local organizations, and community groups

to strengthen community projects that will

IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN GUELPH.

IG 101Orientation

MISSION

Innovation Guelph spearheads innovative approaches to

prosperity and community wellbeing.

We help ideas start, grow, and thrive by cultivating entrepreneurs, developing powerful partnerships, and supporting innovative initiatives that transform the way we do things in business and in our community.

We help companies, entrepreneurs and youth to explore and solve business challenges through our hands-on approach to business coaching.

WE’RE COMMITTED TO HELPING BUSINESSES SUCCEED.

Not as tough as we look

QUICK FACTS●Established October 2010

●Incorporated July 2011

●One of 17 Regional Innovation Centres

in Ontario

●500+ companies coached

●9 Mentors

●7 Staff

●$20M invested in client companies since

inception

●More than 7,000 people have

participated in educational workshops

and events



Organizational Goals

BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE

INNOVATION SECTOR

in the City of Guelph and

surrounding region

CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNIT Y

INNOVATION INITIATIVES

that bring prosperity and wellbeing

to our region

ASSIST COMPANIES,

startups, small and medium-sized

enterprises, and multinationals to

achieve growth of market share, enter

new markets, increase employment,

and improve their bottom line

PERFORM OUR ROLE IN THE

ONTARIO NETWORK OF

ENTREPRENEURS (ONE) to be an

effective and efficient regional program and

service delivery system based on a regional

alliance of business support agencies

ACT AS A CATALYST

for entrepreneurial initiative

MANAGE A TEAM OF

EXPERIENCED ADVISORS

to help companies determine which

resources best match their product, goals,

and stage of company development

PROVIDE A ‘ONE-STOP SHOP’

FOR CLIENTS

to access all available commercialization

programs and services in the region,

regardless of sector

PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

to address the needs of entrepreneurs,

community organizations, researchers and

business leaders



REPORT CARD2014/15 Fiscal Year (April 1, 2014 - March 31, 2015)

70+ S T A R T U P S C O A C H E D

BUSINESSCOACHING HOURS929

= 24 hours

LeadershipCLIENT SERVICES

ExtracurricularsEVENTS

EVENTS HOSTED38 1,500

ATTENDEES

MORE THAN

15 Workshop Series 12 Client Intake Sessions 6 Networking Events 2 Community Events 2 Pitch Competitions 1 Film Screening

$8M

IN

INVESTMENT



EXPENSES

SALARIES

38%

PROGR AMS

AND SERVICES

48%

OPER ATING

14%

ANNUAL REVENUES

2014 20152013

$797,804

$1,037,077

$1,189,592

$500K

$1M

$1.5M

MathFINANCIALS

ParticipationINFLUENCE & REACH

8,500+U N I Q U E W E B S I T E V I S I T O R S

UNIQUEPAGE VIEWS26,000+

1,322 NEW TWITTER FOLLOWERS1,360 TWITTER MENTIONS1,684 TWITTER RETWEETS

Strong effort!

300+ NEW FACEBOOK LIKES

APRIL 1, 2014

215 LIKES

MARCH 31, 2014

515 LIKES



CULTURE • SOCIAL • TOURISM

Blue W bluew.org

Common Compass commoncompass.com CB W Y

eMerge Guelph emergeguelph.ca W

FLOW Office Wisdom flowofficewisdom.com B W

Focus on Nature focusonnature.ca W

Grey Rock Clothing Co. greyrockclothingco.com B W Y

Stonehouse Pottery stonehousepottery.com W

ADVANCED MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING

Be Seen Be Safe Ltd. livestockresearch.ca

Blais Electric Inc. blaiselectric.ca

CDHM Fabrication cdhmfabrication.com Y

Country Side Excavation countrysideexcavation.com

EveBoardOne eveboardone.com Y

Futon and Func futonandfunc.com W

Mirexus Biotechnologies Inc. mirexus.com SC

RAMP Inc. rampgrp.com

Redtree Robotics Inc. redtreerobotics.com CB Y

CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

Envision SQ Inc. envisionsq.com

Gorkon Industries gorkonindustries.com Y

Green Bug Energy Inc. greenbugenergy.com Y

Guelph Solar guelphsolar.net W

Intravision intravision.ca W

MANTECH Inc. mantech-inc.com

MixAnox Systems Inc. mixanox.com

Ontario Energy Matrix ontarioenergymatrix.com

ReSource H20 resourceh20.com

TEIM Empowered Inc. W Y

AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

Algae Dynamics Corp. convertedcarbon.com

Backyard Bok Boks backyardbokboks.com

BioBridge Research and Education W Y

Escarpment Yeast Labs escarpmentlabs.com CB Y

Flowers to Fragrance flowerstofragrance.com

Lyndon Fish Hatcheries lyndonfishhatcheries.com SC W Y

Practical Precision Inc. practicalprecision.ca

TRU-ID liziusconsulting.com

DIGITAL MEDIA & ICT

CTO 2 GO onemotion.ca

Empatico empatico.ca

Genesys Design Technologies genesysdesigntechnologies.com

Handonawhiteboard handonawhiteboard.com

Happenate happenate.com Y

Hunch Manifest Inc. hunchmanifest.com

Innovative CloudCATS Inc. innovativecloudcats.com

Intrigue Media intrigueme.ca SC Y

Lockit Solutions lockitsolutions.com SC

ODScore odscore.com W

Plantola plantola.com

Something Green Bridal Boutique somethinggreen.ca B W

SpeakFeel Corporation speakfeel.ca W

Studios.fm studios.fm W

TaaCam Inc. taacam.com

TeachIT Community teachitcommunity.com Y

Transmenu Ltd menulance.com

Yikesite Inc. yikesite.com

CLASS OF 2014 15The IG client roster is a dynamic mix of company sizes and industry sectors that reflect our region’s diverse and collaborative business community.



HONOUR ROLLK ATAN KITCHENS’ founder and CEO

Jamie Draves successfully pitched on

CBC’s Dragon’s Den in March 2015 and

is currently in the final stages of due

diligence with investor Vikram Vij.

INTRIGUE MEDIA was honoured with the 2014 Small

Business of the Year award at the Guelph Awards of Excellence,

hosted by the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.

International recognition has poured in for one of Guelph’s first

Benefit Corporations. LUCK Y IRON FISH was named to the

2015 B Corp Best for the World List, selected as a 2015 Awards

Finalist by the internationally renowned Edison Awards™, and

received an INDEX: Design to Improve Life® Award.

MEDCANNACCESS received the 2014 Innovation Guelph

Award at the Guelph Awards of Excellence in recognition of

significant milestones achieved, coachability, and capacity for

growth.

Attending International Startup Fest 2014 in Montréal via

the Startup Train, REDTREE ROBOTICS received $150,000

investment and was pre-selected for Montréal’s FounderFuel

accelerator. They were also named one of the top five Montréal

startups to watch, and one of the top 20 startups in Canada.

REVEL CIDER COMPANY founder Tariq Ahmed earned his

manufacturer’s license and is officially the youngest licensed

cider maker in North America.

A B2B integrated mobile solutions company, SPEAKFEEL

CORPORATION was awarded $50,000 in funding through

the MaRS Embedded Executive Funding program and is one

of only 20 companies selected for the program from 105

applicants across Ontario.

TROLL BRIDGE CREEK’s KiKi Maple Sweet Water has earned

a slew of awards in the past year, including an innovative

beverages competition at the Global Bottled Water Congress

in Budapest, a Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation

Excellence, and founder Keith Harris was named one of the top

10 innovators of the year by Food in Canada magazine in 2014.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

[Re]Fresh Jucie Co. refreshjuiceco.com W

Earth to Kids W

Green Table Foods greentablefoods.com W

Katan Kitchens katankitchens.ca SC Y

Kiki Maple Sweet trollbridgecreek.ca W

La Cucina di Natalina, Italian Cooking School

italiancookingschoolguelph.com W

Linden Valley lindenvalleygourmet.com W

Nutrald Foods Inc. nutrald.ca

Pasha co. Y

Revel Cider Company revelcider.com CB Y

Saucy Gramma saucygramma.com W

Sourdough Ontario sourdoughontario.com B

Station Cold Brew Coffee Co. stationcoldbrew.com Y

Sweet Temptations Cupcakery sweettemptations.ca B W Y

The Custom Tea Company thecustomteaco.com CB W Y

The Sustainable Market sustainablemarket.ca W

Wagram Springs wagramsprings.ca W

Zpirit Foods Inc. zpirit.com

LIFE SCIENCE & ADVANCED HEALTH

Beyond Rewards Inc. beyondrewards.ca W

BioDatAlign biodatalign.ca CB W Y

BioFood Instruments Inc. biofoodinstruments.com

Life Recovery Program liferecoveryprogram.com

Lithe-Alis Technology ehealthyourway.com W

MedCannAccess medcannaccess.com SC Y

NGTRONIX Industries Corp. ngtronix.ca Y

PeapodLife peapodlife.com W

Performance Plus Online Training Solutions

Pharma Launch Inc. bardconsultinggroup.com

Protein Manufacturing Y

The Lucky Iron Fish Project luckyironfish.com B W Y

Wyndham Forensic Group wyndhamforensic.ca W

Legend

B = Achieved or Pursuing Benefit Corporation Certification

CB = Current or Past CBaSE Hub Company

SC = Supercharger Company

W = Woman Founder/Co-founder/Executive

Y = Young Entrepreneur



ALUMNIInnovation Guelph

What does your company do, and why does it matter?

“The Lucky Iron Fish is a simple health innovation that combats the

global problem of iron deficiency. Simply put this specially formed

iron ingot in your cooking pot, boil for 10 minutes with a bit of

citrus, and your food or water will be fortified with at least 75% of

your daily required iron intake.”

Which IG services have you used and how have they supported

your business growth?

“Innovation Guelph provided LIF with mentorship, networking and

promotional opportunities, a nomination for the Manning Awards,

and a reference for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Saving

Lives at Birth grant application.”

What makes Guelph and its business community special?

“People in Guelph have a strong commitment to supporting social

enterprises that are trying to make the planet a better place. The

outpouring of generous support to increase awareness for our

cause, further our research efforts, or just lend a hand packing lunch

boxes for global emergency relief, is spectacular.”

Being an entrepreneur is... ”about learning from your mistakes.”

Most likely to... “run out of fish puns by the end of the fiscal year.”

Future Plans: To put a fish in every pot around the globe.

President & CEO: GAVIN ARMSTRONG

IG Client Since: December 2012

Mentor: Jamie Doran

Jobs Created: 2

Sector: Life Science & Advanced

Health/Social Innovation

LUCK YIRONFISH.COM

LUCK YIRONFISHPROJECT

@LUCK YIRONFISH

@LUCK Y_IRON_FISH

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Exceeded our 2015 sales target

• Closed our round one financing on target at $1.3M

• Expanded the availability of a Lucky Iron Fish online for western

consumers in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand

• Started our 3rd clinical trial in partnership with the Danish Red

Cross

• Named to the 2015 B Corp Best for the World List

• Selected as a 2015 Awards Finalist by the Edison Awards™

• Received an INDEX: Design to Improve Life® Award

These remarkable companies are helping to share Guelph’s innovative and collaborative approach to business with the world. IG is proud to support them on the road to global success.

WOW!



What does your company do, and why

does it matter?

“MANTECH manufactures laboratory and

process water analysis equipment used

to ensure water is safe for the public and

environment. We make water analysis

and monitoring systems that enable

sustainability and provide accurate results

quickly, utilizing green methodologies.”

Which IG services have you used and

how have they supported your business

growth?

“MANTECH has used a number of

Innovation Guelph services including

business coaching, workshops and

networking events. MANTECH was also

given the opportunity to appear on Roger’s

Television through Innovation Guelph.

These opportunities have supported

business growth by allowing us to make

valuable industry connections and by

increasing our brand awareness.”

What makes Guelph and its business

community special?

“Guelph has an excellent business

community, especially when it comes to

the water industry. It has many amenities

that MANTECH enjoys, such as the close

proximity to the University of Guelph and

other companies in the water industry.

Guelph is also a great place to bring up a

family with its great business opportunities

and the university culture.”

Being an entrepreneur is...

finding new ways to solve problems.

“It’s also nice to make some profit along the

way in return for solving these problems.”

Most likely to... “discover new

technologies that will change water analysis

forever!”

Future Plans: “To continue improving

water analysis instrumentation in order

to better Guelph, Canada and the world.

We plan to grow and expand in Guelph

generating new jobs and opportunities.”

President: ROBERT MENEGOTTO

IG Client Since: February 2011

Mentor: Jamie Doran

Jobs Created: 10

Sector: Clean Technologies

MANTECH-INC.COM

MANTECH.INC

@MANTECH_INC

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• The Ontario Ministry of Environment

released a method for MANTECH’s PeCOD

Chemical Oxygen Demand Analyzer,

which eliminates the use of dichromate

and mercury.

• Laboratory Equipment awarded

MANTECH the 2014 Reader’s Choice

award for the PeCOD AssayPlus.

• The PeCOD was the subject of a number

of studies and articles, published in trade

journals including the American Water

Works Association.

• MANTECH was awarded a sole source

innovation contract with the Swedish

Kappala Wastewater Association to test

and validate the PeCOD technology

with the intent to change the regulatory

approved Chemical Oxygen Demand

Method to the PeCOD Method by 2016.

• MANTECH released a new innovation that

allows for the analysis of multiple water

parameters from a 15ml tube further

strengthening its position as the leader

in greener, more rapid environmental

methods that are accurate and trusted.

• MANTECH has been named a finalist

of the Water’s Next 2015 Wastewater

Technology Award being presented at

the Canadian Water Summit in Vancouver

on June 25.

• Due to an increase in sales and rapid

expansion, MANTECH is moving to a new,

larger facility in Guelph as of July 1st,

2015.



SPEEDWAYTM has three tracks:

GEAR UPFor Startups

SUPERCHARGERFor High Potential

Companies

FAST LANEFor Small and Medium-

Sized Enterprises

All SPEEDWAYTM companies have access to workshops, networking events and business mentors

to help them accelerate their business to revenue, investment and/or scaling.

SPEEDWAY TM

Curriculum

LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2014, SPEEDWAY™ IS INNOVATION GUELPH’S SIGNATURE BUSINESS COACHING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.


2014/15 Speedway Report Card

Gear Up Company Supercharger Company

78 SPEEDWAY COMPANIES

$8MINVESTED

7

SUPPORT STAFF

9 BUSINESS MENTORS

SPEEDWAY™ QualifiersTo be accepted into the program, companies must meet at least 3 of 5 criteria:

Incorporated Company

(Ontario)

Dedicated Team Funding or Financing ‘Big Market’

Business Idea

Key Sector Focus

How We Set Track RecordsTHE 12-POINT INSPECTIONIG’s mentor team measures company growth quarterly using a 12-point inspection.

Mentors and businesses tweak the ‘engine’ to improve the company’s performance.



GEAR UP IS DESIGNED FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND STARTUPS THAT WANT TO ACCELERATE THEIR BUSINESS TO ACHIEVE REVENUE AND/OR INVESTMENT.

IG PROVIDES:

Up to two hours of mentoring

per month

Hands-on business

development courses and

workshops

Opportunities to connect with

other entrepreneurs, service

provders and investors

*Estimated value of $5,000 to $20,000 per year

GEAR UPCurriculum

Here’s how the Gear Up track issupporting our clients.

Founder: JAKKI PRINCE

IG Client Since: June 2013

Mentor: Steve Barrett

Jobs Created: 3

Sector: Food and Beverage

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Opened our flagship storefront

operation with a bang!

• Donated more than $5,000

in cupcakes and dollars

to community donations,

sponsorships, charities and non-

profits in 2014 alone

• Very close to achieving our

summer 2015 goal to receive B

Corporation certification

• Rolling forward to launching

Sweet Temptations Cupcakery

Mobile Food Truck for summer

2015

• Celebrated 5th season of

Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market, where

we first retailed cupcakes from our

market pop-up shop in May 2011

SWEETTEMPTATIONS.CA

SWEETTEMPTATIONSCUPCAKERY

@SWEET_T_CAKES

@SWEET_TEMPTATIONSCUPCAKERY



2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Selected as 2015 Embedded Executive

Funding recipient

• Rebranding of SpeakFeel properties in

order to pivot in the changing mobile/

cloud market

• Establishing our new enterprise SaaS

called ProductByCloud

Founder: KELLY BROOKS

IG Client Since: August 2012


Jobs Created: 5

Sector: Digital Media & ICT


does it matter?

“Life is full of moments: small everyday

moments and major milestones. Sweet

Temptations Cupcakery exists to support

life’s celebrations and add a treat to mark

every occasion.”

Which IG services has your company

used and how have they supported your

business growth?

“Sweet Temptations Cupcakery has

enjoyed many services that IG has offered.

Working with our mentor Steve Barrett

has been truly critical to our success.

Attending workshops hosted by, and those

just hosted in the IG space have been

informative and well structured, adding

to our skillset to help drive growth. Every

member of the IG team is welcoming, and

truly engaged in helping our business

succeed. We love interacting with each

team member and connecting on how to

work better together.”


community special?

“The network of individuals that work to

support one another - those in business

resource roles, and those who informally

support as peers.”

Being an entrepreneur is... “every day is

what you make of it.”

Most likely to: “Be the kid at the party

going back for seconds of cupcakes and

ice cream and singing happy birthday

really loud!”

Future Plans: “To keep working towards

awesome, one cupcake at a time.”

SPEAKFEEL.CA @SPEAKFEEL


does it matter?

“SpeakFeel develops integrated technical

solutions (cloud and mobile). We build

solutions for other companies and we

develop our own product platforms (SaaS).

We are small and lean and use the services

at IG to accelerate various initiatives

(marketing, sales, investment) so that we

can make a large impact quickly. For small

business, this is really important. We need

to access the support from others who have

experience in growing businesses so we can

make next steps with confidence.”



business growth?

“IG business coaching and networking

opportunities have helped us secure

funding for 3 separate opportunities,

develop short term and long term

strategies for accelerated growth, and

establish new relationships with potential

investor groups.”


community special?

“Collaboration is a key differentiator –

Guelph businesses network and support

each other. We have access to Waterloo

resources to learn, yet we keep our business

in Guelph. We don’t want to be lost in a sea

of thousands when we can excel in a tighter

community.”

Being an entrepreneur is… “not for the

faint of heart. We need to inspire, compete,

innovate, perfect, negotiate, transform,

respond, trust, provide, discipline, assess,

solve and do these things every single day.

The rewards are few and far between, but

they’re what drive us every single morning

when we get out of bed.”

Most likely to… “grow our team.”

Future Plans: “To deploy our new SaaS

platform within the next 6 months and

enjoy the whirlwind that goes along

with that.”

Photo: Chris Tiessen




“We design and build LED lighting systems for biological growth of

plants, fish, algae and even seaweed. Our lights provide the required

spectrum of light for the specific time of growth.”



“We have benefitted from the coaching and mentoring, and

participated in many classes and workshops. The networking has

been a huge help. It was great to be at OCE Discovery 2015 with so

many companies from Guelph.”


“Guelph is a great city to work in – it’s not too big, and not too

small. Having the University of Guelph and Innovation Guelph here

provides so many resources for startups.”

Being an entrepreneur is… darn hard. It requires wearing a lot of hats even when some fit better than others.Most likely to… “light up the sustainable indoor farming world.”

Future Plans: ”Total world domination – of the lighting world!”

Founder:

COLLEEN SIMMONS


Mentor: Bob Ilmonen

Jobs Created: 2

Sector: Clean Tech

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Built infrastructure

• Attended trade shows

• Secured multi-million

dollar projects

INTRAVISION.CA @INTRAVISIONLS

GEAR UPCurriculum

Founder:

EVAN PILKINGTON

IG Client Since: October 2013

Mentor: Mark Goldberg

Jobs Created: 1

Sector: Clean Tech/Tourism &

Culture

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Grown from 7,000 refill

locations in Canada to more

than 20,000 refill locations

across Canada and the

United States

• Established prospective

partnerships with the

largest drinking water

bottle manufacturers

and professional water

associations in North America

• Changed our definition

of success from national

expansion to include global

goals

Here’s more on how SPEEDWAY’s Gear Up track supports our clients.

The Intravision team at OCE Discovery 2015.

BLUEW.ORG BLUEWORG



Founders:

WHITNEY DOUGLAS &

AMANDA WOODHOUSE

IG Client Since: December 2014

Mentor: Monica Schut

Jobs Created: 2

Sector: Food and Beverage

REFRESHJUICECO.COM

REFRESHJUICECO

@REFRESHJUICE

@REFRESHJUICE

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Vendor at 3 local

farmer’s markets

• Product available at over

25 retail stores across

Southwestern Ontario

• First retail location will be

opening in June 2015 in

beautiful downtown Guelph

• Sponsors of VegFest Guelph

and VeggieFest Hamilton in

summer 2015


“We founded [RE]Fresh Juice Co., Guelph’s first and only cold

pressed juicery, on the belief that you should not have to choose

between convenience and health. Our juices are blended with great

taste in mind, nutritionally balanced to help you look and feel your

best, and conveniently delivered to your doorstep.”



“The IG Master Class: Elevated Brand Messaging gave us incredible

insight into how to position ourselves for a variety of demographics

and markets.”


“Amanda and I are both born and raised Guelphites so may be a

little biased on this: Guelph has the perfect mix of old and new,

legacy and adventure, creativity and elegance.”

Being an entrepreneur is… “like a riding a roller coaster. With

every high comes a low. Each day is entirely different than the one

before and the learning is endless.”

Most likely to...

turn people off food entirely.#drinkyoursalad

Future Plans: ”To open five more shops in the next three years.”

What does your company do,

and why does it matter?

“blueW.org is essentially a

promise – that wherever you

are in the world you won’t have

to pay for a drink of water when

you are thirsty.”

Which IG services have you

used and how have they

supported your business

growth?

“blueW.org has attended

several workshops, enlisted the

help of IG business mentors,

and rented co-working space at

IG. All of these elements have

led to improved confidence and

beneficial connections.”

What makes Guelph and its

business community special?

“From a business perspective,

I appreciate Guelph for its

affordability. As a new start-

up company, my office space

costs have been manageable

and my family costs of living

are all reasonable, meaning

the real-life pressure of income

generation is motivating - but

not crushing. I could make

blueW.org happen only because

I could afford to try, thanks to

being in Guelph.”

Being an entrepreneur is…

”way more fun than I imagined.”

Most likely to… “need more

staff right away. Seriously.”

Future Plans: “To use this

article to ask readers if they’re

looking for a new job? Call

me…”



SUPERCHARGER IS AN ELITE SPEEDWAYTM TRACK AVAILABLE TO A SELECT GROUP OF HIGH POTENTIAL COMPANIES, AND/OR GEAR UP COMPANIES WHO SHOW CONSIDERABLE DEVELOPMENT. IG PROVIDES:

Embedded executive who

provides up to 10 hours of

specialized service each month

90-day business development

cycle focusing on key goals

Exclusive opportunities

to connect with service

providers, attend special

events, and pitch to investors

SUPERCHARGERCurriculum

THE INITIAL COHORT OF SUPERCHARGER COMPANIES INCLUDED:

DURING THE 2014/15 YEAR, TWO ADDITIONAL COMPANIES

WERE ADDED TO SUPERCHARGER:

*Estimated value of $20,000 to $40,000 per year

October 2014 January 2015

Here’s how the Supercharger track has accelerated our clients.



President & CEO:

PHIL WHITING



Jobs Created: 10

Sector: Advanced Materials &

Manufacturing

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• First revenue in 2014

• More than 40 customer trials

underway

• Angel investment in 2014 and

Series A investment in 2015

• 10 employees hired in Guelph


“Mirexus has developed the world’s first safe and natural monodisperse

nanomaterial – Phytospherix – derived from locally grown sweet corn.

This material offers the promise of better cosmetics, enhanced foods

and nutraceuticals, and improved human and animal health – all from a

natural material.”

Which IG services has your company used and how have they

supported your business growth?

“Mirexus has mostly used business coaching and networking support

from IG. This has resulted in numerous important contacts – and helped

develop and implement our business strategy.”


“There is great support for agri-derived businesses in the Guelph area.

Being close to the University of Guelph is critical to Mirexus. We have

access to world-class researchers and equipment, and most of our new

hires have come from the University of Guelph.”

Being an entrepreneur is... “a curious blend of insanity, passion and

adventure – and great fun if you don’t mind uncertainty.”

Most likely to... “become the world’s first business success in natural

nanotechnology.”

Future Plans: “To grow to a large multinational based in Guelph.”

Founder:

RADE KOVACEVIC

IG Client Since: July 2011

Mentors: Mark Goldberg,

Jamie Doran

Jobs Created: 11

Sector: Life Sciences and

Advanced Health

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Provided over 1,500

consultations to clients

• Raised $3.2M in

investment

• Acquired an equity

stake in CannScience

Innovations Inc.

• Opened 3 Solution

Centres (Guelph,

Hamilton, Ottawa)

MEDCANNACCESS.COM

MEDCANNACCESS @MEDCANNACCESS


“MedCannAccess helps clients navigate the process of

accessing medical cannabis products, improving the quality

of life for persons with a wide range of conditions including

chronic disabilities and terminal illnesses.”

Which IG services has your company used and how have

they supported your business growth?

“IG’s workshops have been useful to increase the skillsets

of our staff in a timely and efficient manner, and business

coaching has helped bring experience and expertise into our

company’s development, filling knowledge and skills gaps.”


“Guelph has a uniquely collaborative business community,

fostering interdependence, innovation, and most

importantly a positive environment.”

Being an entrepreneur is... “always interesting.”

Most likely to... stir the pot.

Future Plans: ”To not get caught in the weeds trying

to scale.”

A few members of the Mirexus team at work in their Guelph lab.

2014 Innovation Guelph

Award recipient!



Founders: PAUL DEMARCO,

ROBERT MURRAY &

STEFAN WIESEN



Jobs Created: 13


INTRIGUEME.CA

INTRIGUEMEDIA

@INTRIGUEMEDIA

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Formalized our Leader

Building program, designed

to build leadership at Intrigue

Media

• Achieved $1 million in revenue

• Added new team members

• New Services: Phone Call

Tracking & Linkedin Flash Ads

• Reached 250 TVs in our Video

Advertising Network


“We empower leaders to strengthen community. We believe that

organizations are the vehicles people use to accomplish their goals

and dreams in life. We strive to make that vehicle operate more

efficiently, so our clients can spend time with their families, at their

cottages, and doing what they love knowing that we’ve got their

backs and are working to help ensure they accomplish their goals!”

Which IG services has your company used and how have they


“Steve Barrett has brought a remarkable amount of insight and

value to Intrigue Media, from ideas for revenue generation

to management to people selection and retention. Every IG

workshop has provided our organization with great networking

opportunities. People that invest in their learning are the type of

people we like to work with, and IG has given us a platform to meet

other like-minded business people in our community.”


“Intrigue Media operates in over 20 communities and Guelph

is by far the most inclusive and supportive community we have

experienced. The range of industry – from tech to entrepreneurship

to agriculture, the arts, and academia – makes this business

community diverse in perspective.”

Being an entrepreneur is... harder than you think.

Most likely to... “use cats as the forefront of our marketing

message.”

Future Plans: “To bring world class marketing to organizations

across Canada and become the leader of community marketing in

Canada!”

Our Supercharger companies help fuel IG’s startup community with inspiration and motivation.

SUPERCHARGERCurriculum

Founders:

KEITH DOMENICUCCI AND

ROBERT DI MANNO



Jobs Created: 2


LOCKITSOLUTIONS.COM

LOCKITSOLUTIONS

@LOCKITSOLUTIONS



Founder: JAMIE DRAVES

IG Client Since: July 2012


Jobs Created: 3

Sector: Food & Beverage

K ATAN.CA

K ATANKITCHENS

@K ATANKITCHENS

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Secured over 200 acres of quinoa for 2015

planting, including trials in Manitoba and

Saskatchewan

• Obtained additional funding and research

projects

• Successfully pitched on CBC’s Dragon’s

Den and currently in the final stages of

due diligence with Vikram Vij

• Continuing to secure funds to develop a

processing facility in Northern Ontario


does it matter?

“Katan Kitchens is an innovative, health food

enterprise that produces and processes

local, high quality Superfoods for the ‘food

for health’ market. Katan has emerged as

a leader in the research and development

of quinoa in Ontario, based on the realized

need and demand for a consistent, local

supply of quinoa that is of high quality,

purity and traceability. “



growth?

“IG has helped to increase our network by

connecting us with industry professionals. IG

has been instrumental in the development

of our pitch and exposure to multiple

investor audiences. IG has been the conduit

to receiving the Embedded Executive

Award which allowed us to realize our

business potential, and have played a role in

supporting our business planning process. “


community special?

“Guelph is a community that embraces

innovative and new ideas for business

creation and expansion, especially involving

food and agriculture. There is a strong

connection between ‘food for health’

consumers and new enterprises that seek

common goals. ”

Being an entrepreneur is… “a lot of hard

work and perseverance, but worth it when

you see your hard work turn into success! “

Most likely to… “diversify Ontario

agriculture with innovative Superfood crops.

Or get hate letters from David Chilton. “

Future Plans: “To supply North American

and global markets with quinoa and other

superfoods of the highest quality and purity

worldwide, or die trying. “

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Launched on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and

Apple Watch

• Ranked as one of Canada’s leading

password managers

• Began our international expansion into

the United States, the United Kingdom,

Australia, and New Zealand


does it matter?

“Imagine never having to remember

passwords, account numbers, or credit

card info ever again, and having complete

confidence that your private info will stay

private. This is the vision behind Lockit

Password Manager and Digital Safe, your

personal “safety deposit box” in the cloud.”

Which Innovation Guelph services has

your company used and how have they


“Our team has absorbed a tremendous

amount of knowledge from many of the

resources available at IG. Our mentor helped

shape our business strategy, provided us

with valuable networking opportunities

and new leads for funding. The amazing

workshops that IG holds are essential for

any startup looking to learn from industry

leading professionals.”


community special?

“When we think of the Guelph business

community, we think family: there for you

through thick and thin, and always willing

to lend a helping hand. Without the support

and motivation from the Guelph community,

we wouldn’t have been able to achieve so

much in so little time.”

Being an entrepreneur is… “being an

artist. Your imagination has conjured up

something amazing and your dream is to

share it with the world.”

Most likely to... “change the way

people protect their private information

worldwide.”

Future Plans: “To be the coolest, most

innovative employer in Guelph – the one

that encourages employees to take charge

and challenge the status quo.”


IN OCTOBER 2014, IG LAUNCHED FAST LANE™, SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL’S INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (NRC-IRAP).

A new track on the IG Speedway™, Fast

Lane™ is IG’s first fee-for-service program

and was created specifically for small and

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) facing

growth or scale-up challenges.

The Fast Lane™ program serves SMEs

by linking them with industry specialists

and consultants hand-selected by IG’s

client services and mentor teams. Industry

specialists work directly with companies

to help them set short-term goals and

develop an action plan for tackling specific

challenges and opportunities, such as

process efficiency and optimization,

management challenges, cost savings,

technical obstacles, talent recruitment, and

branding and marketing.

The pilot Fast Lane™ program exceeded

targets established by the NRC-IRAP,

engaging more than 40 companies.

The program will continue through the

2015/16 fiscal year as IG evaluates licensing

opportunities to organizations who want to

offer this powerful program.

Here’s how Fast LaneTM has transformed SMEs in Guelph.

FAST LANE™ QUALIFIERSTo be accepted into Fast Lane, companies must meet three criteria:

FAST LANETM

Curriculum

Based in agri-tech, food

and beverage, technology,

manufacturing, or

other growing or

emerging sectors

Employ

10 to 500 people

Approaching or greater

than $1 million

annual revenue




does it matter?

“Our company manufactures prepared

foods made from organic and farm-

direct ingredients, which include kimchi,

sauerkrauts, soups, and entrées. Our

products address the important

challenge of enabling consumers

to access healthy whole foods

made in a sustainable manner and

presented in a convenient way.”



business growth?

“The business coaching service through

IG has helped us set clear goals on the

path to success, and also meet important

milestones. Our mentor helped us navigate

the daunting world of investment pitching

and helped us achieve profitability. We also

participated in the Fast Lane program –

which was extremely helpful for our sales

and marketing initiatives – and attended a

workshop on brand messaging.”


community special?

“Guelph is situated at the intersection of

agri-food expertise and at close proximity

to the best farmland and technology in the

country.”


being just the right kind of crazy.

Most likely to... “exceed its own

expectations.”

Future Plans: “To be the preeminent

supplier of prepared foods made from

organic and farm direct ingredients.”

Founder, President & CEO:

CAROLINE BOLDUC


Mentor: Niel Palmer

Jobs Created: 20

Sector: Agriculture

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• We successfully moved into a 6000 sq.ft.

facility and expanded our pet services

• Grew revenue by 59% over the previous

fiscal year

• Expanded our business to western

Canada

BOLDCANINE.COM

BOLDCANINE

@BOLDCANINE


“We manufacture all natural raw foods for dogs and cats and distribute it to retail stores

across Canada. Not only do we provide the best nutrition for our family pets, we also support

our local farms by purchasing our raw materials locally and hiring locally. We provide pet

care, grooming, dog training, daycare and a retail store to the local community in Erin, ON.”

Which IG services have you used and how have they supported your business growth?

“Working with our mentor Niel Palmer has helped us organize our manufacturing plant to be

more efficient, by implementing a kanban system, putting policies and procedures in place,

and creating budgets for each department.”

2014/15 SUCCESS

• Achieved profitability

• Received investment funding

• Registered with the Canadian Food

Inspection Agency

• Interprovincial trade

Founders:

CAROLINE PILON &

JOSHUA WHITEHEAD

IG Client Since: November 2013


Jobs Created: 8

Sector: Food & Beverage

“The Toronto Star called our kimchi ‘magic in a jar’.”


community special?

“Farming is an integral part of Wellington

County, and working with local farms and

supporting them has been a key part of our

business model.”

Being an entrepreneur is... “waking up

every day and knowing that you are in

charge of your destiny, it’s being able to

handle the highs and the lows, often in the

same day, and still stay focused on your

vision.”

Most likely to...

be chased by dogs.

Future Plans: “To be the leading raw pet

food in Canada.”



IN MARCH 2014, INNOVATION GUELPH ANNOUNCED IT WOULD LEAD A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN GUELPH AND WELLINGTON COUNTY.

Alongside project partner The O’Halloran Group, the Women’s

Economic Advancement (WEA) Project has focused on connecting

with women across the province to listen, design and pilot new

programs and resources to help women discover and explore their

entrepreneurial power.

Innovation Guelph was able to pursue this project thanks to a

$149,000 grant from the federal Ministry of Status of Women.

WOMEN’SECONOMIC

ADVANCEMENT PROJECT

Curriculum

PROJECT PARTNERS

The goal ofthe WEA Project is to grow

the number of women-owned businesses in Guelph and

Wellington Countyfrom 19 to 30%

by 2025.

SUPPORTED BY

An agency of the Government of OntarioUn organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario



PROJECT TEAM• Kristel Manes,

Project Lead, Innovation Guelph

• Maddie Webb, Innovation Guelph

• Heather Watterworth,

Innovation Guelph

• Tanya Darisi, The O’Halloran Group

• Alison Govier, The O’Halloran Group

• Jacqueline De Guzman,

University of Guelph

We most gratefully acknowledge the contribution of our advisory committee. We are also indebted to all the women who shared their time, experiences and insight with us during our community forum and focus groups.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE• Indu Arora, Entrepreneur

• Jolly Bedi, Entrepreneur

• Sly Castaldi, Guelph Wellington Women in

Crisis

• Victoria Coates, GWIN

• Erin Doherty, Conestoga College

• Olga George-Cosh, Guelph-Wellington

Business Enterprise Centre

• Linda Hawkins, Institute for Community

Engaged Scholarship, University of Guelph

• Ella Henderson, Local Immigration

Partnership

• Melanie Lang, CBaSE, College of Business &

Economics, University of Guelph

• Cherolyn Knapp, Nelson, Watson LLP

• Robin-Lee Norris, Miller Thomson LLP

• Janet Roy, Guelph Chamber of Commerce

• Monica Schut, Entrepreneur

• Laurie Scott, Entrepreneur

• Falahat Sheikh, Canadian Council of Muslim

Women

• Erin Skimson, Catalyst Centre, University of

Guelph

• Carol Tyler, REAP Ontario

• Hilary Van de Kamer,

Miller Thomson LLP

• Geetha Van Den Daele, Entrepreneur

FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER 2014, THE WEA PROJECT TEAM UNDERTOOK

RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES, BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES

FACED BY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND WOULD -BE ENTREPRENEURS.

We assessed and inventoried local programs and gaps, and heard from women about

their experiences, expectations, strengths and needs. This phase of the project

engaged more than 300 women from across Ontario. Participants were between the

ages of 25 and 65, from both urban and rural areas, in six key sectors:

Women in theSTEM Sector11%

Women Living in aRural Community9%

Women Living withLow Income17%

Women Who HaveImmigrated to Canada19%

Women in Career orLife Transition34%

Women Entrepreneurs67%

Anyone who lives or works in the region knows it ’s a hub of innovation, creativity and collaboration. We’re harnessing that energy to grow the number of women-owned businesses in Guelph and Wellington County.- Kristel Manes, WEA Project Lead

Project Partners Tanya Darisi (The O’Halloran

Group) and Kristel Manes (Innovation Guelph)

at the first WEA Project community conversation,

May 2014.



THROUGH SMALL GROUP AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, WE IDENTIFIED FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO WOMEN’S SUCCESS, INCLUDING THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT LAUNCH AND PROPEL THEIR BUSINESS VENTURES FORWARD.

We found that both the drivers and barriers to women’s economic

advancement can be characterized into three pillars:

FUNDING & FINANCES

This pillar captures financial issues related to

launching and running a business, including securing

funding and financing, as well as accessing financial

advice and being financially literate.

SKILLS & NETWORKS

This pillar relates to fundamental business skills,

including access to training and skill development

opportunities, as well as coaching and mentoring.

It also includes building strong networks and

supportive relationships.

WORK & LIFE

This pillar captures the importance of recognizing

and nurturing the whole person, including balancing

family, social interests and self-care with the demands

of work.

In addition to their needs in each of these pillars, women spoke

clearly about the power of self-confidence. Confidence provides

everyone with the ability to take risks, build social networks

and invest in their ideas. Participants identified the need to

support this sense of confidence in themselves and each other.

WOMEN’S ECONOMICADVANCEMENT PROJECT

Curriculum

It was clear that confidence would be a powerful theme

to develop Innovation Guelph’s 3rd annual International

Women’s Day event and community celebration.

On March 10, 2015, Innovation Guelph hosted

more than 400 attendees at the River Run Centre for

Ignite. Empower. Innovate – Exploring the Confidence

Connection.

This motivational networking event featured a dynamic

line-up of local business and community leaders, and

entrepreneurs from Guelph and Wellington County

(including WEA Project lead Kristel Manes) speaking on

confidence and its powerful connection to personal and

professional success.

Attendees remarked that the event not only inspired

them, but motivated them to empower themselves,

embrace confidence and pursue their dreams.

The event raised the profile of the WEA Project in our

community, and had the highest number of attendees

ever for an IG event.



Where We’re Going

THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER SUPPORT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS- OWNERS.

During two “design jam” days in January 2015, community leaders and new project

partners helped to create program concepts and ideas to advance women’s

economic and social wellbeing.

Thanks to an additional $225,000 grant awarded by the Ontario Trillium

Foundation in March 2015, Innovation Guelph will create additional pilot programs

that build on the key findings from our initial research and grow the ideas generated

through the design jams earlier this year.

The project will also be rebranded later this year with a new name and logo to

gather support for the initiative, build awareness, attract new partners and sponsors,

and move us closer to the project’s ultimate goals: by 2025, 30% of businesses in

Guelph and Wellington County will be women-owned, generating prosperous

communities and improved wellbeing for all who work and live within the region.

The goal of The Ignite Award program is to create an opportunity that’s currently missing in our region. This award will not only provide the critical funding that women entrepreneurs need to finance their businesses, but also the mentoring and business coaching they need to grow them long term. - Tanya Darisi, The O’Halloran Group

The Ignite Award applicants at an application

information session, April 2014.

THE IGNITE AWARD IS THE FIRST

PROGRAM TO EMERGE FROM

RESEARCH COMPLETED ON THE

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT

PROJECT.

At our annual International Women’s Day

event, Innovation Guelph and our partners

were thrilled to announce The Ignite Award,

a program that will build ongoing support

and networks for women entrepreneurs in

Guelph and Wellington County, supporting

them at key stages of their development.

In order to provide cash awards to local

women entrepreneurs, Innovation Guelph

successfully crowdfunded $30,000 in

seed funding.

IG is particularly grateful for substantial

contributions from Meridian Credit Union;

Scotiabank (St. George’s Square); Linamar;

Guelph Women in Networking; and both

the Community Engaged Scholarship

Institute at the College of Social and Applied

Human Science and the College of Business

+ Economics and CBaSE at the University

of Guelph which helped us reach our

crowdfunding goal.

Applications for The Ignite Award are

currently being reviewed and recipients

will be announced at a community event in

fall 2015.

WOMEN’S ECONOMICADVANCEMENT PROJECT



THE UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH’S CENTRE FOR BUSINESS AND STUDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CBaSE) AT THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS IS AN ON- CAMPUS CENTRE THAT OFFERS STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN APPLIED PROJECTS AND DEVELOP NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESS IDEAS.

For more than three years, Innovation Guelph has collaborated with

CBaSE to foster entrepreneurship at the university and within the City

of Guelph. As a strong proponent for youth entrepreneurship and

industry-academic partnerships, IG teams up with CBaSE to pursue

new opportunities, ideas and initiatives that build awareness of

entrepreneurship as a career path.

In previous years, IG staff and mentors have acted as panelists for

CBaSE events, co-sponsored the Bigger Picture lecture series and

provided feedback on CBaSE student projects. With the launch of CBaSE’s

The Hub Incubator Program in May 2014, IG mentors now provide

direct, one-on-one business coaching and invaluable insight to

student entrepreneurs.

In September 2014, we also teamed up with CBaSE for Startup

Royale, Guelph’s first pitch competition for young entrepreneurs, which

will return annually.

IG and CBaSE are also working together to create stronger

educational programs to better service more new entrepreneurs and

share resources to lower costs. Two new programs will be based on

Starting Lean, a startup training method developed by Steve Blank.

The two programs will be a three-week starter course (ideal for

graduate students and professors) and a 12-week new entrepreneur

course. This approach will better service students and community

members who are considering starting a company, but lack basic

business skills and entrepreneurial knowledge.

INTRAMURALSPartnerships & Collaborations

CBaSE has been able to expand its program and service offerings to students, businesses and community members due in large part to the mentorship, insight and partnership we have with Innovation G uelph.

- Melanie Lang, Director, CBaSECollege of Business & Economics,

University of G uelph

CBaSE Hub company founders Tariq Ahmed (Revel Cider Company)

and Brittany Burek (The Custom Tea Company) with Ahren Brunow,

Business Enterprise Manager, CBaSE, and Melanie Lang, Director,

CBaSE, at the OCE Discovery 2015 conference.

+



Founders:

JASON ERNST & TOM HUMMEL



Jobs Created: 2

Investment: $280,000

Sector: Advanced Materials &

Manufacturing

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Raised more than $300,000 in

funding

• Created three versions of our

prototype

• Received extensive customer

feedback

• Significantly reduced production

costs

• Began partnerships with 10+ projects

at universities and companies across

North America

• Received coverage in several large

media outlets including the Montreal

Gazette


does it matter?

“Redtree has created the Redtree Hydra -

the first computer for robots that makes

it easier, faster and more affordable to

design, build, program and use robots. It

will enable the robotics revolution that

will let us finally see robots doing unsafe

jobs, keeping our streets clean and safe,

and improving our lives.”

Which IG services have you used

and how have they supported your

business growth?

“We’ve made extensive use of business

coaching and networking from IG, but

early on some of the workshops were also

very useful.”


community special?

“Guelph’s business community is special

because it feels like a community. People

are very encouraging and willing to spend

time to help without any expectation of

reward. The University of Guelph has a

very applied focus (at least in Engineering

and Computer Science) as well as a culture

of collaboration with other faculties

and disciplines that leads to interesting

exchanges of ideas.”

Being an entrepreneur is... “about

following our dreams. Being our own

boss, following the problems we feel

are important and bringing our vision to

the world are why we started our own

company. It’s really exciting working on

something that other people are willing

to invest in, that other people are willing

to work for (sometimes even for free), and

that ultimately people will buy with their

own hard-earned money.”

Most likely to: “Be seen on a mountain

bike as often as we are in the lab. We love

to mix our hard work and long hours

with intense physical activities that are as

extreme and fun as working on robots.”

Future Plans: “In the short-term we will

be launching a crowdfunding campaign

that will get the Redtree Hydra into the

hands of anyone who wants to design,

build, program or even play with robots.

In the medium- and longer-term we’ve

got a bunch of amazing projects where

the Redtree Hydra will power enterprise

level applications doing everything from

automated agriculture, natural resource

discovery to tele-presence and security/

policing.”

REDTREEROBOTICS.COM

REDTREEROBOTICS

@REDTREEROBOTICS



Founders:

RICHARD PREISS & ANGUS ROSS

IG Client Since: September 2014


Jobs Created: 2

Sector: Agriculture Technology

ESCARPMENTLABS.COM

ESCARPMENT YEASTLABS

@ESCARPMENTLABS

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Completion of the CBaSE Hub program,

where we tested and validated our

business model.

• Purchasing and setting up our

equipment.

• Producing and delivering our first pro

brewery sized pitch of yeast!


does it matter?

“Escarpment Yeast Laboratories provides

fresh liquid yeast to Canadian craft brewers.

This matters because Canadian breweries

are seeking out local ingredients with local

flavour.”



growth?

“The mentorship provided through IG has

been extremely helpful, offering advice in

areas where we are inexperienced such as

legal work.”


community special?

“There is a sense of community, belonging

and opportunity for collaboration at IG

and in the business community in Guelph

that doesn’t always exist elsewhere. We

wouldn’t exist without support from local

breweries (Wellington Brewery, Royal City

Brewing), and the highly collaborative

business community in Guelph has led to

many potential collaborations. For example,

we collaborated with Royal City Brewing

and fellow IG client The Custom Tea

Company to produce two tea beers: an earl

grey porter, and a hibiscus saison!”

Being an entrepreneur is… “a more

intense learning experience than any job or

degree.”

Most likely to...

Never shave our beards.

Future Plans: “To culture yeast from maple

trees, in search of the ultimate Canadian

beer. “


+



The focal point of the GIN is Guelph, with partner and organizational

nodes stretching from Cambridge, through Guelph-Wellington

County and up to Orangeville in Dufferin County. Together we work

to leverage our thriving business ecosystem and resource network

to grow overall prosperity for our region.

The vision for the GIN is to assist in the development of 100 small

and medium-sized enterprises with 10 or more employees and more

than $5 million in annual revenue by 2025.

INNOVATION GUELPH IS THE LEAD PARTNER IN THE GUELPH INNOVATION NETWORK (GIN), A COLLECTIVE OF 11 BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE AGREED TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TOWARDS SUPPORTING BUSINESS GROWTH IN GUELPH AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.

GIN Partner Organizations



This four-part lecture and learning series,

which ran in January and February 2015,

was the first of its kind in Canada. the

series explored the main pillars of the

Benefit Corporation assessment and helped

participating companies of all sizes and

stages prepare for the certification process.

Speakers from businesses currently

doing social good in Guelph provided

inspiration, encouragement and advice

on becoming a more socially and

environmentally sustainable enterprise.

Speakers included Bill Barrett of Planet

Bean, Marie Zimmerman of Hillside Festival,

Crista Renner of Conestoga College and

Court Desautels of The Neighbourhood

Group, among others.

Participants included students from the

University of Guelph, Conestoga College,

the Guelph business community and

Innovation Guelph clients.

Several Innovation Guelph clients

who attended B Corp Bootcamp are

currently working through the intensive

B Corp certification process – including

FLOW Office Wisdom, Something Green

Bridal Boutique, Grey Rock Clothing Co.,

Happenate, Innovative Cloud Cats, Sweet

Temptations Cupcakery and Sourdough

Ontario. And, in an effort to support young

entrepreneurs and make Guelph the B Corp

capital of Canada, Innovation Guelph has

provided partial funding to companies with

core team members under 30 to help cover

the cost of legal fees and certification.

The B Corp Bootcamp also highlighted

a need for strategic counsel as companies

work through the certification process.

Erin Doherty was brought on board as

an IG mentor to help companies meet

stringent B Corp requirements.

Stay tuned for updates as we work

toward making Guelph the B Corp capital

of Canada!


FOLLOWING UP ON THE INTEREST AND SUCCESS OF OUR NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL FILM SCREENING AT THE BOOKSHELF CINEMA IN JULY 2014, INNOVATION GUELPH CO - CREATED B CORP BOOTCAMP WITH GUELPH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP, B LAB AT MARS DISCOVERY DISTRICT, AND ERIN DOHERTY, SUSTAINABILITY INSTRUCTOR AT CONESTOGA COLLEGE.

+ +




does it matter?

“FLOW Office Wisdom is a triple bottom

line social enterprise that serves small and

medium-sized enterprises and not-for-profit

organizations by being able to fulfill all the

essential back office functions needed for

growth, stability and effectiveness.

FLOW provides organizations access to

a team that is passionate about providing

administrative services in areas such as

bookkeeping, marketing, social media,

grant writing, HR, project management,

administration, event planning and more.

Having the FLOW team step into the gaps

allows organizations to keep things flowing,

develop in areas that were constantly put

on hold, and ultimately focus on building

their business and doing their part to make

positive change in the world.”



growth?

“We have made use of many of Innovation

Guelph’s services, including business

coaching, workshops, use of the space, and

networking. The business coaching has

helped to keep us accountable to goals we

are striving to reach and has resulted in

some referrals. Both the networking and

the workshops we have taken part in have

provided so much information, and given us

a good idea of the small business landscape

in Guelph. We were able to use the space at

Innovation Guelph for our business launch

as well, which helped us to increase our

profile in the community.”


community special?

“Guelph is a community that supports

its own. There is such a great network of

business people that authentically want

to see others succeed. Starting a business

that is committed to environmental and

social responsibility could have been a huge

challenge if we had launched in a city other

than Guelph. The business community here

embraces positive change, and even rallies

behind helping to make it happen.”


Fun, exciting, AND not for the faint of heart!

Most likely to... ”Take a field trip to

Madagascar.”

Future Plans: “Triple bottom line world

domination.”

Founder: APRIL BURROWS

IG Client Since: September 2012

Mentor: Erin Doherty

Jobs Created: 9

Sector: Education

2014/15 SUCCESSES

• Increased our team to 9 dedicated and

inspiring individuals

• Surpassed our 2014 revenue goal by

almost 50%

• Given more than our commitment of

10% of revenues back to our partner

organizations

• Created and hosted the first Hooping

for Hunger event (and met our goal of

raising $10,000)

FLOWOFFICEWISDOM.COM

FLOWOFFICEWISDOM

ASSIGNMENT:MAKE GUELPH THE B CORP CAPITAL OF CANADA

GUELPH



SPIRITCOMMITTEE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

J. PAUL HAYNESChief Executive Officer

eSentire Inc.

The unique combination of expertise and talent of our Board of Directors, Staff and Mentors are what keep Innovation Guelph on track to success.

KIRK ROBERTSPrincipal

Tyrcathlen Partners

BRIAN COWANBoard Chair

JAMIE DORANChief Executive Officer

Innovation Guelph

IG Founder

IG Founder

RANDALL HOWARDGeneral Partner

Verdexus

MARK STODDARTChief Technology Officer &

Executive Vice President of

Sales and Marketing, Linamar

ERIN SKIMSONDirector, Catalyst Centre at

University of Guelph

LLOYD LONGFIELDMentor

Innovation Guelph

IG Founder

BOARD ALUMNI



STAFF

JAMIE DORANChief Executive Officer

Most likely to... Have a big idea.

Extracurriculars: Art Appreciation,

Leadership Team, Mathletes,

The Mentorship Band, Yearbook Club

KRISTEL MANESDirector, Innovation Centre &

Women’s Economic Advancement Project

Most likely to... Make stuff happen.

Extracurriculars: Advocacy Committee,

Leadership Team, Keepin’ It Real Club

PEGGY DIXChief Financial Officer

Most likely to...

Get a hole in one (liner).

Extracurriculars: Golf Team,

Mathletes, Yearbook Club

Staff Photos: Chris Tiessen

HEATHER WATTERWORTHOutgoing Marketing & Communications Specialist

Most likely to... Pursue entrepreneurship.

Extracurriculars: Fruit Club,

Messy Desk Club, Student Council,

Yearbook Club

SASHA ODESSEClient Services Associate

Most likely to...

Prank her colleagues.


Fruit Club, Yearbook Club

KEVIN BOONClient Services Manager

Most likely to... Practice Tai Chi at his desk.

Extracurriculars: Fruit Club,

Meditation Council, Messy Desk Club,

The Mentorship Band

KIRK ROBERTSPrincipal

Tyrcathlen Partners

SNOW CONRADGraphic Designer

Most likely to... Wonder what

she’s gotten herself into.


Fruit Club

MADDIE WEBBFront of House Coordinator

Most likely to...

Make you take a fitness break.

Extracurriculars: Advocacy Committee,

Fruit Club, Wellness Committee

RANDALL HOWARDGeneral Partner

Verdexus

Counsel



SPIRITCOMMITTEE

MentorsSTEVE BARRETTMost likely to... Speak Italian in the office.

Extracurriculars: European Languages Club (President), Hospitality Club, The Mentorship Band

Steve is extremely helpful in getting us meetings with the Golden Triangle Angel Network and Angel One, and gave us great advice about how to prepare for them. - Jason Ernst, RedTree Robotics

KEVIN BOONMost likely to... Provide comic relief.

Extracurriculars: Fruit Club, Meditation Council, Messy Desk Club, The Mentorship Band

Innovation Guelph is: “Skilled at building trusting relationships with clients, community partners

and other innovation centres. We strive to be flexible in our thinking, and to hire the best talent,

whether they’re part of our core team or our team of mentors. We have a mix of baby boomers, Gen

Xers and Millennials – and believe it or not we get along and work well together. We do our best to

keep it fun!”

ERIN DOHERTYMost likely to... Inspire you with positivity.

Extracurriculars: Advocacy Committee, Sustainability Society

Erin is helping us through the B Corp certification process, including finding two students to help with the process. Plus a grant to cover the costs! - Kris Braun, Happenate

JAMIE DORANMost likely to... Encourage you to consider entrepreneurship as a career.

Extracurriculars: Art Appreciation, Leadership Team, Mathletes, The Mentorship Band,

Yearbook Club

Innovation Guelph is: “A really special place to work. Our team cares so much about the work we

do in the community and the companies we coach.”



MONICA SCHUTMost likely to... Make you feel important.

Extracurriculars: Advocacy Committee, Art Appreciation

Best IG Moment This Year: “This year I worked with a client who had previously been uncomfortable with

leadership and decision-making in her business. And then one day – after a few months of hard work on

herself and in her business – I discovered a new tone in her voice which was deeper and had real strength

in it. She had finally found clarity, confidence and focus that were hers now to own. What a privilege it is to

work such great entrepreneurs!”

MARK GOLDBERGMost likely to... Invite you to band practice.

Extracurriculars: Angling Team, Science Society, The Mentorship Band

Mark has made some great connections for us.

He wants us to be successful and puts in the extra

effort. - Julianna van Adrichem, Guelph Solar

BOB ILMONENMost likely to... Make you realize you should have studied more.

Extracurriculars: Debate Team, Energy Conservation Crew, Engineering Society

Innovation Guelph is: “A very special place. It operates within a community of neighbours who are

especially invested in a wide range of science, technology and social initiatives. There is no place in

Canada as holistically dedicated to innovation than Innovation Guelph.”

LLOYD LONGFIELDMost likely to... Live tweet from a meeting.

Extracurriculars: Cycling Team, Energy Conservation Crew, Engineering Society

Best IG Moment This Year: “Seeing engineers from two businesses connect through Innovation Guelph to

turn over 1 million pounds of scrap plastic into a ‘next generation’ plastic part. Innovation Guelph acted as a

connector, helping both businesses and the planet at the same time.”

Is there a mentor of the month award that I can nominate Bob for? - Colleen Simmons, Intravision

NIEL PALMERMost likely to... Hang out in IG’s co-working space.

Extracurriculars: Angling Team, The Mentorship Band

Innovation Guelph is: “A collaborative, cohesive team that possesses a diverse range of skills, personalities

and business backgrounds. I enjoy being part of an organization that efficiently provides real, tangible

benefit to the community and the local economy (and enjoys doing it).”

Monica was extremely motivating and was able to give me perspective, as well as various ideas for resources and business processes.

- Lauren Duffield,TEIM Empowered Inc.



CHEERLEADERSSponsors, Partners & Funders

IG acknowledges and is grateful for the support and collaboration of the following organizations.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Ministry of Research and Innovation Business Acceleration Program

Speedway™ Supporter

MINISTRY OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION/ MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,

TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT

Special Projects Grant for the First

Canadian Global Impact Competition

An agency of the Government of OntarioUn organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario

Women’s Economic Advancement ProjectWomen’s Economic Advancement Project Fast Lane™ Supporter



PROGRAM PARTNERS

CONNECT GUELPH PORTAL PARTNERS

CORPORATE SPONSORS



Innovation Guelph continues to provide excellent customer service and guidance and is particularly supportive in

helping us focus on our goals in order to achieve results.

Jamie Draves, Katan Kitchens

IG is a great hub for connecting with resources and services, and through networking events such as Startup Drinks.

- Brittany Burek, The Custom Tea Co.

IG has given us a platform to meet other like minded business people in our community.

Rob Murray, Intrigue Media


I consider it a privilege to

be associated with

Innovation Guelph’s professional

and highly effective team.

- Niel Palmer, IG Mentor

Innovation Guelph has an amazing team that is both knowledgeable and genuinely helpful. They care about their clients and about the City of Guelph’s new business infrastructure. Holly Haller, Studios FM

IG’s helpful and friendly staff are

available and proactive to our needs.

-Keith Harris, Troll bridge Creek

You guys are doing great things.

THANK YOU!Nathaniel Groendyk,NGTronix Inc.

Spearheading innovative approachesto prosperity and community wellbeing

INNOVATIONGUELPH.CA INNOVATIONGUELPH @INNOVATEGUELPH @INNOVATIONGUELPH

111 FARQUHAR STREET, 3RD FLOOR, GUELPH, ONTARIO, N1H 3N4 • (519) 265-4495 • [email protected]

innovation guelph

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