Six months of competition came to an end last night as the winners of the 11th annual BCIC-New Ventures Competition were announced in Vancouver. From this year’s 178 applicants, top prizes were awarded to a polyurethane waste recycling system, a universal consumer loyalty network for the mobile age and a mineral sensing technology developed for the mining industry.

The 2011 BCIC-New Ventures Competition Winners are:

• $130,000 BCIC first-prize – Polymer Research Technologies

• $70,000 BCIC second-prize – RewardLoop

• $40,000 BCIC third-prize – MineSense Technologies Ltd

• $40,000 BC Hydro Sustainability prize – Awesense Wireless Inc.

• $20,000 B.C. Bioenergy Network prize – Diacarbon Energy Inc.

• $15,000 Vancity Social Venture prize – FundRazr

• $30,000 Shildroth Agritech Innovation first prize – GreenScene AgriTek Inc.

• $20,000 Shildroth Agritech Innovation second prize winners – Diacarbon Energy Inc and KOK Technologies (Due to a tie, each company will receive $10,000 each)

Congrats to all the finalists and winners. For those of you that missed last night’s Awards Ceremony, check out Giant Ant Media’s video montage on the finalists.

Tonight was the BCIC-New Ventures Competition 11th Annual Awards Ceremony at SFU’s Segal Graduate School of Business. After six arduous months and the survival of numerous tough rounds of competition, success is finally came to fruition for a select few BC companies. Over $350,000 in prizes were awarded.

Polymer Research Technologies Ltd. wins the 2011 BCIC-New Ventures Competition ($130,000 value including $110,000 cash and $20,000 worth of in-kind services from sponsors). RewardLoop wins second place ($70,000 value including $57,000 cash and $13,000 worth of in-kind services from sponsors).  MineSense Technologies Ltd. wins third place ($40,000 value including $33,000 cash and $7,000 worth of in-kind services from sponsors).

Awesense Wireless Inc. wins the $40,000 BC Hydro Sustainability prize, Diacarbon Energy Inc. wins the $20,000 BC Bioenergy prize, FundRazr wins the Vancity Social Venture $15,000 prize, and RewardLoop wins the Plug-n-Play Tech Centre $10,000 prize.

GreenScene AgriTek Inc. wins the first-place $30,000 Shildroth Agritech Innovation prize. Two companies tied for second place of the $20,000 Shildroth Agritech Innovation prize, splitting it. Diacarbon Energy Inc. and KOK Technologies each win $10,000.

Congratulations everyone.

The 10 finalists were:

• Awesense Wireless Inc.
• CapTherm Systems Inc.
• FundRazr
• MineSense Technologies Ltd. (3rd place WINNER)
• Polymer Research Technologies Ltd. (1st place WINNER)
• Precision NanoSystems Inc.
• RewardLoop (2nd place WINNER)
• Secodix Corporation
• semiosBIO Technologies Inc.
• Wifarer Inc.

The 5 agritech finalists were:

• BlueION Water Technologies Inc.
• Diacarbon Energy Inc. (2nd place WINNER)
• GreenScene AgriTek Inc. (1st place WINNER)
• KOK Technologies (2nd place WINNER)
• semiosBIO Technologies Inc.

The BCIC-New Ventures judges have made it official and today announced the 10 Finalists for the the 2011 competition as well as the Top 5 for the Agritech competition.

In alphabetical order by company name the Top 10 BCIC-New Ventures companies are:

• Awesense Wireless Inc.
• CapTherm Systems Inc.
• FundRazr
• MineSense Technologies Ltd.
• Polymer Research Technologies Ltd.
• Precision NanoSystems Inc.
• RewardLoop
• Secodix Corporation
• semiosBIO Technologies Inc.
• Wifarer Inc.

In alphabetical order by company name the Top 5 Agritech companies for 2011 are:

• BlueION Water Technologies Inc.
• Diacarbon Energy Inc.
• GreenScene AgriTek Inc.
• KOK Technologies
• semiosBIO Technologies Inc.

Congratulations to all 14 companies!

Join the New Ventures BC Society for our 11th annual awards ceremony on Thursday, September 22nd at 5:30pm. We will be celebrating our 2011 finalists and handing out nine prizes valued at $365,000.

Registration closes at 2:30pm on September 22nd.

Join us for the 11th annual BCIC-New Ventures Awards Ceremony on September 22nd to find out this year’s winners.

Top 10 companies announced August 30th.

REGISTER NOW

The BCIC-New Ventures Competition is excited to announce an additional prize for 2011. The top performing ICT (Information and communications technology) company will be awarded a spot in the Plug and Play Tech Center Accelerator Program in Sunnyvale, California – a $10,000 value.

Plug and Play Tech Center in Silicon Valley is a community of over 300 high tech start-up companies across 3 centers in the areas of consumer internet, software, mobile, wireless, gaming, social media and other verticals.

Since its inception in January 2006 start-ups in the Plug and Play community have raised in excess of $750 million in venture funding. In 2010, more than $100 million in funding was raised by 30 companies and 15 companies had exits with a combined value of over $600 million.

Entrepreneur-centered with strong relationships with over 150 VCs, technology and corporate partners as well as local and international universities, Plug and Play has become the ultimate place to launch and accelerate promising emerging technology companies.

On a related side note, last week two Canadian startups placed Top 4 at the Plug and Play Expo.

It’s official. The companies advancing to Round 2 of the 2011 New Ventures Competition has been shortlisted, and it’s a long list.  Not for long though as the Round 2 submission deadline is May 11th and the judges will cut it down to 40 companies.

The companies advancing to Round 2 in alphabetical order are:

• 3D Imaging through Super-resolution
• 7Geese
• AdviceScene Enterprises Inc.
• Aeromancer Flight Design Inc.
• AgBio Energy
• Agile Schedule
• All Pet Naturals
• Amitech Automation
• Assess Innovations
• ATD Waste Systems Inc.
• AutoInjected.com
• Avatar Canada. On farm Anaerobic Digesters.
• Awesense Wireless Inc.
• Axine Water Technologies Inc.
• Bablingo!
• Bet Smart Media
• Beyond Limits Technologies
• Biomolecular Design Ltd.
• BlueION Water Technologies Inc.
• BookNow.me – Appointments made easy!
• Briefed.ca
• BuyIn6.com
• CakeDeals
• CanadaWorld.com
• CANFIBER
• CapTherm Systems Inc. – Progressive Thermal Management
• Caregaroo
• CCRI (Command & Control for the Robotics Industry)
• CET (Clean Energy Technologies)
• ChatterBlock
• Checkfront – Smart, Simple Online Bookings
• ChicVoyage
• ClickRealty.ca
• Clinicbook
• Compact Solar Tower
• Compass Engine
• ConnectionPoint
• Conquer Mobile Inc.
• ContractTailor.com
• CP Agri-tech
• Crosswind Power Systems Inc.
• Current Trends Carbon Capture Canada Inc.
• Cursor Interactive Inc.
• D2D Campaign Solutions Inc.
• DealByDay
• Dealerflip
• Desired Digital Media
• Diacarbon Energy Inc
• DS Software Services
• DuVax Vaccines and Reagents Inc.
• DyMo Technology Corp.
• DynaBox
• Eatz
• EKA Innovations Inc
• ElectroMotion Energy Corporation
• EnergyMeter
• Enhanced Energy System developed by Energy Enhanced Group
• eSaver
• Fast Food Video by PitchPage.
• Foodtree
• Form Tools
• FREE-EMR
• FriendsBazaar
• Fuel From Water
• Fullboar Creative Corp.
• G7 Nutrient Recovery
• Global Digital Receipt Solutions Inc.
• Global Endeavours Ltd.
• Gobi Carbon Management Solutions Inc.
• GreenPages Directory Inc.
• GreenScene AgriTek Inc
• Groupshore Technologies
• GymTechnik (Consumer Edition) and Trainerize (Enterprise Edition)
• Healthism
• Instaclient
• INTA
• Intelligent Airbag Solutions
• iProgen Biotech Inc.
• Jobcast.net
• kibooco
• Kinjoe.com
• Kispiox Kreations
• KOK Technologies
• Leaders of Water
• Left of the Dot Media
• Leto Maison Security Inc.
• LocAZu
• Luminex
• Mall Rat
• Memoon Shift Vacancy Manager
• MemoryLeaf Media Inc.
• Mentionmapp.com
• minderfinder.ca
• MineSense Technologies Ltd
• MoBe – Electric Bicycle
• Mobilisys Inc.
• MobSafety, Inc. & SocialScanner.com
• Mookers.com
• MuttMad.com Ultimutt Marketplace for Everything Dog
• MyBestHelper.com
• Network Immunology Inc.
• No Bark. All Byte.
• Noble Endeavours Inc.
• NR instruments
• OneBigBroadcast.com
• Online Job Application Manager (Organizer)
• Original Harvest Farms
• Pacific Rim BioEnergy
• Party X
• Peerpic
• Placeling
• Plant Whisperer® photo-biotechnology, from LEC Light Emitting Computers, Inc.
• Polymer Research Technologies Ltd.
• Precision NanoSystems Inc.
• Professional You
• Pug Pharm
• Q5 Innovations Inc.
• QR Loyalty
• QRCode Promos – ROI Media works
• QuikPiq
• QuoteRobot
• Raman Gemology
• Ready2Own
• Reality Games Inc.
• Reef Safe Fish Inc.
• ReFleX Wireless
• RENERGY Foods Canada Inc.
• Rentyourgoods.com
• RepliBone
• Robson Valley Bio-Fuels
• Rolgear
• Scan2.co QR Code & Mobile Marketing Platform
• Secodix Corporation
• Second Harvest – Turning Straw into Paper
• semiosBIO Technologies Inc
• Shai Lah Interactive
• Simplicity Development
• Skwez ride share
• Smart Button Technologies Ltd.
• Sokanu
• sportLab(TM)
• Squeezease Therapy
• STORYPANDA
• Stratalinks
• Simcolab Software Inc.
• Superna Life Sciences Inc.
• SuperSmartCart
• TAITLABS (Tait Laboratories Inc.)
• TanMan Sun Control Products Ltd.
• TaxiNow
• The Shorty List
• ThinkValue
• Thinware Media
• Tiger Eye Corp
• Tiipz
• Tranzub Technologies Inc.
• Tribal Education Technologies
• Urban Foliage Inc.
• Using wireless technologies to provide indoor navigation and location based services
• Vantreight Farms Foodwaste Biogas Project
• VersatileCapitalist
• Victoria BEV’s (All battery powered electric vehicles)
• ViewsIQ Inc.
• Warrantylife.com
• WarriorHealth CombatCare
• West Coast Medical Devices
• Wifarer Inc.
• Wolf Trailer Company, Inc.
• www.15thAvenue.com
• ZedPress
• Zuzee
• ZwagZ

The following 25 companies are also entering the Agritech Competition Stream, competing for $50,000 in prizes:

• AgBio Energy
• ATD Waste Systems Inc. brings a new business model to the hog industry.
• Avatar Canada. On farm Anaerobic Digesters.
• BlueION Water Technologies Inc.
• CANFIBER
• CP Agri-tech
• Diacarbon Energy Inc
• Enhanced Energy System developed by Energy Enhanced Group
• Foodtree
• G7 Nutrient Recovery
• GreenScene AgriTek Inc
• Kispiox Kreations
• KOK Technologies
• Noble Endeavours Inc.
• Original Harvest Farms: Community Scale, Organic, Hothouse Production with Net Zero Energy
• Pacific Rim BioEnergy – Generating BioDiesel from Algae
• Plant Whisperer® photo-biotechnology, from LEC Light Emitting Computers, Inc.
• Reef Safe Fish Inc.
• RENERGY Foods Canada Inc.
• Robson Valley Bio-Fuels
• Second Harvest – Turning Straw into Paper
• semiosBIO Technologies Inc
• TAITLABS (Tait Laboratories Inc.)
• Urban Foliage Inc.
• Vantreight Farms Foodwaste Biogas Project

The BCIC-New Ventures Competition is one of North America’s largest technology business idea competitions. The Competition attracts BC entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries including cleantech, digital media, Internet, information technology and life sciences who compete for more than $360,000 in prizes.

Included in the competition is a 9-week business education seminar series which is free for students (with valid student ID) to attend. Students can network with the New Ventures BC Community, gain valuable tips on how to launch and manage a startup, and if you’re they’re not entered into the competition this year, they’ll have a leg up on next year’s competitors.

The majority of seminars are held on Thursday nights from April to June at the SFU Segal School of Business at 500 Granville Street in Vancouver, BC. To register for any or all of the events, go online to: http://www.newventuresbc.com/the-competition/schedule/#seminars

Application for the competition ($200 application fee) closes on April 18, 2011 and is open to any BC person, resident or business with a technology-focused idea that has not yet secured significant financing from external investors (i.e. investors other than friends, family and company founders). Register today and learn what it takes to make your company a success from the program’s seminars, speakers and networking opportunities with industry experts.

It’s that time of year again! The BCIC-New Ventures Competition: 2011 is now open for applications until April 18 at midnight.

The competition dates and seminar schedule have been officially set and now it’s up to you to invest $200 in your technology business idea and learn how to develop it into a profitable company.

As one of North America’s largest technology business idea competitions, we attract applicants from a wide range of industries including cleantech, media, Internet, information technology and life sciences.

BCIC and the New Ventures BC Society invite BC entrepreneurs to submit your ideas to the 11th annual BCIC-New Ventures Competition offering the chance to win a share of the more than $360,000 in prizes.

Added to the mix of prizes to be won this year are the $15,000 Vancity Social Venture Prize and two prizes for Agricultural technologies, valued at $30,000 and $20,000.

The competition is open to any BC person, resident or business with a technology-focused idea that has not yet secured significant financing from external investors (i.e. investors other than friends, family and company founders).

Business education seminars, open to both the public and competition applicants,  will take place in Vancouver at the SFU Beedie School of Business beginning April 4, 2011.

Register today to:

• Learn from some of BC’s top business experts at our business-education seminars
• Network with top professionals in business, law, finance, government and academia
• Improve your business and strategies during each round of competition
• Receive advice and insight from mentors In Round 3
• Present your condensed business plan to a panel of ‘angel’ investors, venture capitalists and industry experts in Round 4

Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Good luck!

We’re working diligently behind the scenes to launch the eleventh annual BCIC-New Ventures Competition. The 2011 Competition will feature new prizes from partners Vancity (Social Venture Prize) and the Ministry of Agriculture (Agritech Innovation Prizes), in addition to our existing prizes graciously sponsored by BCIC, BC Hydro and the BC Bioenergy Network among others.

This year will mark the launch of a new stream for the competition focused on ventures in Agritech, in the categories of: Primary production, Food, and Bioenergy/Bioproducts (for or from agriculture). This new program is funded through Growing Forward, a federal/provincial agreement between the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to support agri-food technology innovation and commercialization.

More details will be available shortly with registration open to the public next week.

2010 has been a year of firsts for the BCIC-New Ventures Competition: celebrating our first decade, awarding three awards to one recipient for the first time in the competition’s history and launching our first Regional competition exclusively for entrepreneurs located outside of the Lower Mainland.

Congratulations again to the winners of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place BCIC prize packages in our 2010 provincial competition: Hiretheworld.com, Solegear Bioplastics and Quadrogen Power Systems. Quadrogen and Solegear also garnered additional prizes, with Solegear winning an unprecedented three awards.

In addition to the networking and mentorship opportunities offered to entrants in the competition, the education component has always been integral to the success of the program and its applicants.  Topics like “The Lean Startup”, and “Social Media for Startups” were among the 11 seminars presented this year.

The BCIC-New Ventures Competition: Regional attracted more than 40 applicants, with 39 eligible candidates from across the province proceeding to Round 2.  In the second Round, entrepreneurs in cleantech, medical device technology, digital media, web and other industries pitched to a panel of industry experts. On December 3, we announced the Top 20, with representation from the Thompson-Okanagan, the Kootenays, Northern BC, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. Our three winners will be announced at the February 24 awards ceremony in Kelowna.

In closing, thank you to the applicants, volunteer mentors, board members, sponsors, judges and speakers who continue to ensure that the BCIC-New Ventures program is a key component to fostering innovation in British Columbia. Not only were we proud to celebrate our tenth anniversary this year, we were pleased to announce our new brand as the BCIC-New Ventures Competition. Thank you to our title sponsor BCIC for their continued support.