FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 11, 2017, Kingston ON – Eight high-potential startups have been selected to participate in the GrindSpaceXL-Kingston program at Queen’s Innovation Park (945 Princess Street). The companies were selected following a 2-step application process including a competitive pitch to a panel involving industry technical advisors, mentors, and entrepreneurs on August 31st.
The following companies will participate in the Fall 2017 cohort:
Airbrowz – Mobile marketing platform showcasing local businesses www.airbrowz.com
Appoon Corporation – All in one tool for employee productivity and employee engagement www.appoon.com
BidSettle Inc. – Online legal services and automated procedures www.bidsettle.com
CutlerKeys – Expanding musical keyboard possibilities for all performers www.cutlerkeys.com
DreamAgain – Custom sleep apnea masks for a better sleep
Mero Technologies – Tools giving predictive insights to cleaners and property managers
Spectra Plasmonics – Ultra-sensitive detection of contaminants in liquids www.spectraplasmonics.com
Your Mobility Innovations – Adjustable assistive devices for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
“Queen’s University is delighted to continue providing leadership of the GrindSpaceXL program, in Kingston, which will accelerate the development of innovative startups from campus and across the region,” says Dr. Jim Banting, Assistant Vice-Principal (Partnerships and Innovation). “Having already graduated approximately 50 companies, the program has earned a strong reputation, and attracts many quality applicants from the region and beyond. The Office of Partnerships and Innovation (OPI) team looks forward to helping accelerate the growth of this year’s companies and to retaining them in the region.”
The cohort-based program offers early-stage ventures the opportunity to engage with other motivated entrepreneurs while working on deliverables laid out in a personalized development plan based on a needs assessment. Participants will have access to numerous resources through their interactions with Queen’s University, including shared lab, office, collaboration, and meeting room space at Innovation Park, services through the Research Partnerships Unit of OPI to facilitate research and customer development, and access to legal counsel and services through the Queen’s Business Law Clinic (QBLC). Participants will also benefit from intellectual property, commercialization, and financial expertise available through the Technology Transfer Unit of OPI, and mentoring and coaching services provided by Launch Lab. Secker Ross and Perry LLP will meet with each company to identify opportunities to strengthen corporate governance and provide feedback and recommendations regarding tax structuring and compliance matters.
Queen’s OPI, QBLC, and Launch Lab will also provide support to participating entrepreneurs and startups following graduation from GrindSpaceXL, including facilitating access to funding opportunities. Selected graduates will have the opportunity to pitch their business to the Southeastern Ontario Angel Network. One founder who demonstrates having made significant progress in advancing his/her company’s goals during the 2017 program will have the opportunity to attend a multi-day management program, offered by Queen’s Executive Education at Smith School of Business, in recognition of his/her growth.
GrindSpaceXL is one of the feature programs in the suite of services offered by Queen’s OPI, Launch Lab, and SOAN under the InnovationXL banner. Supported by the National Research Council-Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), InnovationXL forms part of a broader collaboration with Invest Ottawa and L-SPARK, a B2B SaaS incubator and accelerator, to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem in Eastern Ontario.
The program officially begins on September 19 and will run until early December. This is the fifth GrindSpaceXL cohort taking place in Kingston.