9 Inspiring Startups That Came From Venture Prize
In 2021 we're celebrating ten years of the Coast Capital Savings Venture Prize competition! It has been amazing to see startups with immense potential launch from the competition. The competitors' drive and passion are what fuel us to organize Venture Prize year after year (even if we have to reformat it into an online experience!) Let's take a look back at the Top Venture Prize winners since the competition began in 2012.
And if you're inspired, don't forget to submit your application by February 15!
2012 TEXTS4HEALTH
Texts4Health is a mobile phone platform co-created by a SFU MBA alumnnus, Bella Hwang, to help health organizations use their resources more efficiently. Patients respond to automated text messages that are automatically categorized by the software and analytics platform, increasing efficiency in hospitals and clinics and allowing for greater patient load.
2013 WITTY COOKIE
WittyCookie was co-founded by SFU SIAT grads, Michael Cheng and Elvin Cheung to help their clients refine their online presence through specialized website creation.
2014 METAOPTIMA TECHNOLOGY INC
MetaOptima was co-founded by SFU Computing Science PhD grads Maryam Sadeghi and Majid Razmara to simplify skin imaging. They are dedicated to developing digital health solutions for skin cancer prevention and diagnosis.
2015 EMPOWER OPERATIONS
Meet Empower Operations! Co-founders Dr. Gary Weng, George Cheng and Geoff Groos took automated design to the next level. Their software, OASIS, optimized the product design process. This enabled companies to produce higher quality products while reducing development costs.
2016 IONOMR
Co-founded by SFU PhD chemistry grad Dr. Benjamin Britton, Ionomr developed revolutionary ion exchange membrane technology that can be found in clean-tech energy and purification systems.
2017 ORELLO TECHNOLOGIES INC
Orello Hearing Technologies Inc. was co-founded by SFU students with the goal of making hearing healthcare more accessible. They offered a customizable hearing aid with built-in tuning technology, providing an affordable and comfortable option for those who are hard of hearing.
2018 ZENNEA TECHNOLOGIES
In 2018, Zennea Technologies took home the Top Venture Prize and the Female Founder Award! The team of SFU students developed a sleep wearable to reduce snoring and improve quality of rest for chronic snorers and people with mild obstructive sleep apnea.
2019 SPEXI GEOSPATIAL
In 2019, Spexi Geospatial took home the Top Venture Prize (worth over $35,000) and the Top Science & Technology Award! Co-created by two SFU Master of Technology MBA graduates, Spexi Geospatial used drone technology to make geospatial data more accessible. This aerial intelligence allowed companies to easily procure drone missions and access image projects while saving time and money
2020 MALA THE BRAND
Mala the Brand was created by SFU Communication alumnus, Melody Lim, with a focus on sustainability. Mala the Brand provides an earth-friendly alternative to current toxic candles in the market, making hand-crafted soy candles with natural ingredients while avoiding unnecessary waste throughout the process. Additionally, a tree is planted for every candle purchased!