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eNews by Innovate Manitoba - your window to Manitoba's innovation scene

From the President's Desk:

Greetings to Manitoba's innovation network. 2014/15 was a groundbreaking year for Manitoba's startup and innovation scenes and I wanted to take a moment to thank you and celebrate the milestones we've achieved together.

We've recently completed our annual report, which reflects on some of the success we've had in meeting our key mandates, especially in the areas of promoting entrepreneurship, supporting the creation of next-generation startups, and stimulating access to risk capital. Here are some selected highlights:

•	$52.2 million of equity has been raised by the companies that have gone through Venture'Challenge since inception.
•	Since 2013, Venture'Challenge winners have raised a total of $2.2-million in risk capital, an average of $430,000 per company.
•	Of the 67 entrepreneurs that have participated in Pitch'Day to-date, 23 are now actively operating companies that have raised a total of $2.4 million in risk capital, an average of over $100,000 per company.

There is much more to celebrate and I encourage you to download and circulate the report with those who you think might find it interesting. You can also forward this eNews.

Thank you once again to all who have helped make this progress possible. We at Innovate Manitoba look forward to our continued journey to an ever more vibrant innovation scene in Manitoba.

Jan Lederman
President and CEO
Innovate Manitoba Inc.

Weren't able to attend Lift'Off?
We've captured some of the key insights for you!

Learn from the pros in this insight-filled recap of Innovate Manitoba's Lift'Off event that took place on June 17 at the Fort Garry Hotel.

•	Randy Smerik, an extremely successful startup entrepreneur who is four-for-four in startup exits totalling ~$750 million, imbibed the audience with his presentation on why thinking about an exit strategy early on is absolutely critical, but often overlooked.
•	Shopify's App Store lead, Blair Beckwith was joined by Stefan Maynard, director and co-founder of Bold Commerce, Shopify's most active partner in a panel session to kickoff the afternoon IQ Forum. They shared key insights on building a business with third party apps.
•	Venture'Challenge winners from 2014 shared their journeys and greatest challenges over the past year.
•	Jeff Ryzner, BDC's Canadian Mentor of the Year and president of the Eureka Project joined Smerik and Croll in an all-star mentor panel to address the previous panel's challenges and answer audience questions.

Get your insights here >

Lift'Off sets new benchmark for Manitoba's startup scene

Winnipeg's startup and innovation community rallied around six of Manitoba's hottest startups and two world class experts to make Innovate Manitoba's 2015 Lift'Off event on June 17 Manitoba's best startup event ever.

Find out who won, learn more and check out all the photos >

Manitoba startups making waves

Innovate Manitoba has witnessed the growth of several outstanding Manitoba startups first-hand, as well as the emergence of Winnipeg's startup community as a whole. As a heat check, we decided to catch up with four of the startups that are putting Winnipeg on the map as one of Canada's hottest startup communities. We also caught up with some of the key supporting players that are helping to make this happen: Jeff Ryzner, president of the Eureka Project and BDC's Startup Mentor of the Year; Joelle Foster, director of Futurpreneur Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, NWT; and Randy Thompson, leader of VA Angels, one of Canada's most active angel groups.

Learn how Winnipeg is making national
startup waves >

Exigence Technologies Co-founder Zach Wolff

Exigence Technologies is up for two major awards - they need your votes!

First up is the 2015 Gold Leaf Award in the category of Emerging Company, Agricultural and Industrial Biotech. Vote by July 3
Next up is the Sofinnova Partners Renewable Chemistry Startup Award which recognizes the most promising renewable chemistry startup. Vote by July 10
The winners of both votes will be selected and presented at the Bio World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology in Montreal on July 19-22, 2015.

Do you really know your market? You better if you are looking for risk capital!

Innovate Manitoba has teamed up with MaRS Discovery District to create its Market Intelligence Program. This world-class program provides Manitoba's leading entrepreneurs and startups with access to the best market research available — and at no cost! A limited number of opportunities are available. Apply now!

Get intimate with your market >

Guided Customer Validation for Early Stage Ventures

Why do startups fail? A vast majority of the time it's because they've built a product or technology that no one is willing to pay for. Fail fast by testing whether your proposed product or service will work in the market before you fully develop it. Use your interviews with potential customers to design the features that customers really want.

Validate your customer! >

Forward this to someone who might find it interesting →

Partner and
community events

Various dates across Canada

2015 ITAC INGENIOUS AWARDS

ITAC is now accepting nominations for the Ingenious Awards, a top ICT accolade recognizing the use of innovative technology to achieve business results. It is also seeking nominations for the 2015 Canadian CIO of the Year. Nomination deadline is July 17, 2015.

Learn more >

July 20 - 24, 2015 in Toronto

MARS FUTURE LEADERS

The MaRS Future Leaders Boot Camp is a week-long summer camp program for high school students, where they will be taught the entrepreneurial mindset and challenged to start a company in one week.

Learn more >

July 24, 2015 in Manitoba

RESEARCH MANITOBA PROVINCIAL RESEARCH STRATEGY SURVEY

Research Manitoba is mandated to develop, coordinate, and implement a provincial research strategy. Please complete this survey to contribute your perspective to the development of the strategy.

Take the survey >

Various Dates in Winnipeg

WORLD TRADE CENTRE FREE TRAINING/SEMINARS

Learn about various subjects to help you succeed in business, including: Government Procurement, HR priorities, Provincial Sales Tax, Supply Chain Management, Twitter and more.

More info >

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Contact Us

Brent Wennekes
tel. 204.631.3323
brentwennekes
@innovatemanitoba.com

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