Southern Ontario Spotlight - March 2019

In the age of misinformation and fake news, demand for credible video content is growing. Enter Vubble, a women-led next-generation digital media company that uses artificial intelligence to provide customized and curated video content from reputable sources. Co-founders Tessa Sproule and Katie MacGuire are working with Professor Vida Movahedi from Seneca’s School of Information and Communications Technology, to design a system that automatically categorizes and labels video content. According to Prof. Movahedi, video curation is increasingly important, particularly for younger audiences. “In addition to finding interesting content more easily, this generation needs to watch more quality videos,” she says. FedDev Ontario supports SOSCIP projects, which bring together industrial partners and academic researchers.

With a goal to eliminate bias and uncertainty, Plum co-founder and CEO Caitlin MacGregor, is proud of the company’s recruiting platform that measures a range of abilities to identify competent job candidates. Currently in use by the University of Waterloo’s co-operative education program, Plum’s Ultraviolet software relies on artificial intelligence and industrial-organizational psychology to help companies pick the best person for the job. In its early stages, Plum received up to $483,480 from FedDev Ontario. Today, the company employs 21 people in Waterloo and boasts a relationship with German software giant SAP, which invested in Plum and offers the platform in its app store.

Necessity was truly the mother of invention when it came to Mame Faye and the launch of Eden Organyx. The owner developed her own line of skincare products because of a sensitivity to other mainstream products. Faye’s growing company offers 100-percent-natural products for the whole family. Eden Organyx was recently selected by Costco as part of its Local Entrepreneur Vendor program, and the skincare products will soon be available at select stores. Grand Erie Business Centre, which receives funding from FedDev Ontario, has played an important role in providing critical access to financing that is helping Eden Organyx meet production demands.

Alida Burke and Corey Ellis, founders of Growcer, recently caught the attention of the Dragons! The young entrepreneurs, who received support to scale their hydroponic farming solutions business through Invest Ottawa’s Accelerator program at Bayview Yards, appeared on an episode of Dragon’s Den where they wowed the investors and were offered a $250,000 deal. More than 250 people attended a special viewing party at the FedDev Ontario-funded incubator to celebrate. The containerized growing systems are made from shipping containers and come with everything to grow produce year round—even in the toughest climates. To date, 14 modular farms are operating across Canada and the United States.