Winnipeg – May 25th 2018 | Startup Canada, the national rallying community and voice for Canadian entrepreneurs today named nine outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses and support organizations from the Prairies as winners of the fifth annual Startup Canada Awards. These awards are the hallmark event celebrating outstanding achievement in Canada’s entrepreneurship and innovation community.
The winners were announced today at a ceremony in Winnipeg, attended by leading Canadian investors, innovators, and anchor company executives.
“Congratulations to the 2018 winners of the Startup Canada Awards,” said Victoria Lennox, Co-Founder and CEO of Startup Canada. “These winners represent the very essence of entrepreneurship. We are proud to celebrate their success with Canadians and our partners around the world.”
“North Forge was honoured to host the Startup Canada Awards and to celebrate entrepreneurs throughout the Prairies,” said Jeff Ryzner, President of North Forge Technology Exchange. “ We have incredible talent in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. At North Forge we help entrepreneurs succeed. By shining a light on their success, we hope that they will receive the recognition that they deserve.”
The 2018 Prairies Award Winners are:
Jeff Ryzner (Winnipeg, MB)
President of North Forge Technology Exchange
Entrepreneur Promotion Award
presented by Intuit QuickBooks
Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB)
Entrepreneur Support Award
presented by Intuit QuickBooks
Poppy Barley (Edmonton, AB)
Global Entrepreneurship Award
presented by UPS
Hendrix (Edmonton, AB)
Innovation Award
presented by Intuit QuickBooks
CMNGD Linens, Calgary, AB
Social Enterprise Award
presented by The Centre for Social Innovation
Fiasco Gelato (Calgary, AB)
High- Growth Award
presented by Mastercard Canada
Katherine Regnier (Saskatoon, SK)
Founder of Coconut Software Corporation
Woman Entrepreneur Award
presented by Business Development Bank of Canada
Émilie McKinney (Winnipeg, MB)
Founder of Anishinaabe Bimishimo Corporation
Young Entrepreneur Award
presented by Business Development Bank of Canada
Sam Pillar and Forrest Zeisler (Edmonton, AB)
Co-Founders of Jobber
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
presented by Scotiabank
The regional winners will now be evaluated by the National Adjudication Committee; comprised of some of Canada’s leading entrepreneurship and industry experts. The national winners will be celebrated at the Startup Canada Awards Grand Finale in Ottawa on October 18, 2018 following Startup Canada Day on the Hill. Startup Canada Day on the Hill is Canada’s largest national entrepreneurship event convening leading entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, industry executives, and government representatives annually to raise the bar for Canada as a globally competitive innovation nation.
The Startup Canada Awards are proudly presented by Intuit Quickbooks, in partnership with Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Mastercard Canada, Scotiabank, UPS Canada, Rogers, and the Centre for Social Innovation.
For more information and to schedule interviews, please contact:
Maddie Stiles
Media Relations, Startup Canada
maddie.stiles@startupcan.ca
613-295-4590
Jeff Ryzner
President, North Forge Technology Exchange
jryzner@northforge.ca
204-262-6400
About the Startup Canada Awards
The annual Startup Canada Awards are the hallmark event that celebrates and recognize those driving impact and demonstrating excellence in Canada’s entrepreneurship and innovation community. The objectives of the Startup Canada Awards are to:
- Celebrate those working to advance entrepreneurship in Canada;
- Increase awareness of the importance of strengthening Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and culture; and,
- Incentivize efforts and elevate the ambitions of the Canadian entrepreneurial and innovation community.
For more information, visit www.startupaward.ca.
About North Forge Technology Exchange
North Forge Technology Exchange is an innovation-based economic development agency and a powerhouse community to fuel Manitoba’s innovation economy providing entrepreneurs with award-winning mentors, rockstar subject matter experts and a two-stage startup program that has helped over 60 companies access over 180 million dollars in financings and create hundreds of jobs. Armed with Canada’s largest non-profit fabrication lab, we operate out of 27,000 square feet across Innovation Drive and Innovation Alley in Winnipeg, Canada. www.northforge.ca
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the national rallying community and voice for Canada’s 2.3 million entrepreneurs. Since launching in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to represent more than 200,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots communities from coast to coast to coast. Through digital programs and flagship events, Startup Canada is the network promoting, inspiring, educating, connecting and giving a voice to Canada’s entrepreneurs; supporting them to start, operate and scale businesses that build a better Canada for the world today and for future generations. For more information, visit www.startupcan.ca.