British Columbia Innovation Council

Media Release | December 6, 2010

Vancouver, BC - BCIC-New Ventures is pleased to announce the top 20 finalists in its newly launched BCIC New Ventures - Regional Competition for early-stage BC technology entrepreneurs based outside the Lower Mainland.

Similar to the province-wide competition that celebrated its 10th anniversary in September, the four-month, three-round regional competition includes a unique mix of business education, networking and mentoring. This year's regional competition attracted more than 40 applications from technology startups from across our province.

The top 20 finalists include businesses in the life sciences, cleantech, sustainability, new media and high technology sectors. They are:

1. A22 Rent-A-Bike
   
   
2. AC Global Systems Ltd.
   www.acglobalsystems.com
   www.twitter.com/acglobalsystems (@ACGlobalSystems)
   
   
3. EcoMeter by EnviroSpeak Media
   www.envirospeakmedia.com/ecometer
   www.twitter.com/envirospeak (@EnviroSpeak)
   
   
4. Find It EZ
   www.finditez.com
   
   
5. HuStream Technologies Inc.
   www.hustream.com
   www.twitter.com/hustream (@HuStream)
   
   
6. Hydra Cat Performance System
   www.hydrogen-electric-energy.ca
   
   
7. JuliasWild.com
   www.juliaswild.com
   
   
8. KoK Technologies Inc
   www.koktech.com
   
   
9. Map Jungle
   www.mapjungle.com
   
   
10. MemoryLeaf Media Inc
    www.memoryleaf.ca
    
    
11. Rapid Water Testing Ltd
    
    
12. Reef Safe Fish Inc.
    
    
13. Resonessence Labs
    www.resonessence.com
    
    
14. Ripcharger
    www.ripcharger.com
    
    
15. SchedulePanda.com
    www.schedulepanda.com
    
    
16. SideStix Ventures Inc.
    www.sidestix.com
    www.twitter.com/sidestix (@SideStix)
    
    
17. Smile software (Smart Menu)
    
    
18. TRiBiNET
    www.tribinet.com
    
    
19. Vida
    
    
20. Wolf Trailer Company, Inc.
    www.wolftrailer.com

The top 20 companies will now be paired with a team of mentors and will attend a final business education seminar in January. Each company will have one more chance to present to a panel of experts from February 9-11 in Victoria and Kelowna where they will convince a jury of venture capitalists, financiers and angel investors of the commercial viability of their business idea and that they have what it takes to succeed in the marketplace.

BCIC is the title sponsor of the 2010 BCIC-New Ventures Competition: Regional and proud to support the competition's top three prize packages for a total of $60,000. They include the $30,000 BCIC First Prize, $20,000 BCIC Second Prize and $10,000 BCIC Third Prize. This contribution is part of BCIC's overall commitment of $390,000 as title sponsor of both the regional and larger provincial technology idea competition advancing BC's emerging technology industry.

The winners of the 2010 BCIC-New Ventures Competition: Regional will be announced February 24, 2011 at a special reception.

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Media Contact:
Candice Pedersen
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
T: 604.691.7394
M: 604.789.3324

About the BCIC-New Ventures Competition: Regional
The BCIC-New Ventures Competition: Regional addresses the special interests of BC's early-stage tech companies located outside Metro Vancouver, and supports BC's emerging technology industry. Established by SFU Business, the BCIC-New Ventures Competition is operated by the non-profit BC Ventures Society and made possible through the generous support of BCIC, private and public sponsors, and volunteer mentors, speakers and judges.
www.newventuresbc.com
www.twitter.com/nvbc (@nvbc)

About BCIC
BCIC develops entrepreneurial talent and commercializes technology through startup companies and partnerships between industry and academia. BCIC focuses on competitively positioning British Columbia in today's global knowledge economy in order to provide significant employment opportunities and a high standard of living for British Columbians.
www.bcic.ca
www.twitter.com/bcic (@bcic)