Cloud-based business management company Vonigo is the winner of the BC Innovation Council's (BCIC) 13th annual New Ventures Competition, the New Ventures BC Society announced September 26.
First prize for the award, which was founded by Chrysalix Energy's Wal van Lierop to recognize and develop entrepreneurship and innovation in British Columbia's start-up technology sector, was $107,000.
"This year's finalists were the strongest and most promising set of companies we've seen over the 13-year history of the competition," said Angie Schick, Program Manager, BCIC-New Ventures Competition.
The second prize of $62,000 went to Vancouver's AbCellera, a biotech company that works with the pharmaceutical industry. SmartPager Systems of Victoria came in third place ($42,000) with their cloud-based communications management system for the health sector.
Of the 146 applicants, the winners of the competition were:
- first prize ($107,000): Vonigo, a cloud-based business management system for on-site service companies, such as cleaners, painters, movers, and maid services;
- second prize ($62,000): AbCellera, a biotech company that works with thepharmaceutical industry to accelerate the discovery of monoclonal antibody therapeutics (mAbs) – molecules that are naturally produced by the immune system to fight off infections and diseases;
- third prize ($42,000): SmartPager Systems, a cloud-based communications platform company that unifies pager systems, answering services and texting for medical practices and hospitals;
- $40,000 Wavefront Wireless prize: MetaOptima, a Burnaby-based digital health technology company for its Molescope smartphone app that helps monitor, record and assess potentially cancerous skin lesions;
- $20,000 BC Bioenergy Network prize: Industrial Plankton, a company developing a series of automated bioreactors for aquaculture hatcheries, the industrial biotech sector and biofuels research;
- $15,000 Vancity Social Venture prize: Kelowna's Two Hat Security Research Corp., for its PottyMouth Chat Tools helps block cyber-bullying and child predators by measuring children's chat for risk before it goes on the screen.
Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services Minister Andrew Wilkinson said, "For more than a decade, the BCIC-New Ventures Competition has helped to encourage new technology leaders and entrepreneurs.
"We are proud to support programs like this that encourage innovation and help develop the talent that is so important for new companies to grow and thrive. Our tech sector is a vital part of the economy, and as it expands it creates new jobs and prosperity for BC families."
