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R3 Innovation Awards
Presented by NBIF -
Breakthru is a bi-annual business plan competition hosted by the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF).
It starts with a call to action to all New Brunswickers to apply with a two-page summary an innovative product or service that they would like to turn into a business. After the mandatory Breakthru Boot Camp, participants submit a fully-formed business plan. This year, 42 teams entered Breakthru and have been vetted down to these five finalists. Each are competing for over $400,000 in cash investments and professional services, making it the largest competition of its kind in Canada.
The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that makes venture capital investments in new companies and applied research. All of its returns on investment go back into the Foundation to start up even more companies and research projects in New Brunswick.
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BLACK MAGIC
If you like getting your hands dirty but have trouble getting rid of the grease and grime, Black Magic is, well, a magic solution like you’ve never seen before. Most heavy-duty hand cleaners are toxic, and have abrasives that basically scrape the dirt from your hands. Black Magic’s two-step, non-toxic solution will take any oil-based substance off of your skin, even dried spray paint.
Team leads: Greg Bailey, Steven Likely, Garrett Nelson
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CETEX
Wastewater treatment has been around for decades with little change. Many companies cannot flush wastewater into the public sewage system. CeteX’s small, on-site wastewater treatment system has demonstrated considerable demand. Plus, their novel process supplies enough residual biogas to make the treatment process energy neutral.
Team leads: Gregory Armstrong, Nathan Armstrong
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RTV
Today, there is no reliable way to catch repeat impaired drivers that are unknown to police except by direct observation and spot checks. RTV Group has developed a technology that analyzes police data sources for specific patterns. Together with the profiles of known impaired drivers, Repeat Target Vehicle data can be produced. There are no known commercial solutions for impaired driving prevention.
Team lead: James Stewart
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STOREIT SQUIRREL
Do you have unused storage space? Store-It Squirrel can put that space to work and make you money. The online service connects people who need storage space to people who have it—for a fee. A typical 10-foot square storage locker can cost up to $175 a month. With Store-It Squirrel, those fees can cut by 60%. With advanced security protocols, Store-It Squirrel promises to make and save money for all.
Team lead: Mikeal Abramoff
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TOTAL PAVE
Managing pavement systems is expensive. Current instruments for high-speed data collection and analyses are pricey and rarely updatable. Total Pave’s smartphone app allows engineers to acquire and wirelessly report the Pavement Conditions Index and International Roughness Index. It’s price, speed and updatability will save governments thousands of dollars.
Team lead: Coady Cameron
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Who would you like to see win the 2013 Breakthru Business Plan Competition?
Online voting for the CBC Viewers Choice begins March 15!