Five Atlantic Canadian early stage technology startups will join the Fall 2020 intake of Volta Cohort, presented by Canada’s East Coast Innovation Hub – Volta. The companies will each receive a $25,000 investment from a fund co-founded by Volta, BDC Capital, Innovacorp, as well as mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and resources to help grow their businesses. The program’s operations are supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

“Volta Cohort Pitch Competitions continue to prove that there is no shortage of big ideas and innovative thinking in Atlantic Canada. The calibre of companies and the significant impact they intend to make on various industries and sectors is incredibly impressive and rewarding to be part of,” said Meghann Coleman, Vice President, Programs and Partnerships at Volta, who served as a judge at the semi-annual pitch competition on Wednesday evening. “Almost 30 companies have participated in this program to date and most have achieved national and global success, so we are excited to work with and support these Founders as they take their early stage startups to the next level.”

Companies were selected at a virtual pitch event on Wednesday, November 25. Sixteen Atlantic Canadian startup founders pitched their businesses to a panel of judges, including representatives from Volta, Innovacorp, ACOA, and the region’s startup community.

The companies selected to join the next Volta Cohort include:

• Granville Biomedical (St. John’s, NL) is a women’s health tech company, specializing in the design of anatomical models to enhance health care training, advance patient education, and innovate device demonstration.
• MICC Financial (Charlottetown, PEI) is a collaborative platform that helps groups of people save money, access capital and build credit.
• Pocket Finance (Halifax, NS) is a personal finance management mobile application minimizing waste, highlighting banking fine print, and improving financial literacy.
• Smooth Meal Prep (Dartmouth, NS) delivers healthy fitness-focused meals provided by the community conveniently to your door.
• Swiftsure Innovations Inc. (Pasadena, NL) develops products that benefit frontline workers, patients, and healthcare institutions overall.

More than 100 full-time employees have been hired through Cohort companies since the program’s inception in 2017; as well as more than $9,000,000 in combined investments raised (secured and pending), and more $3,900,000 in grant dollars received by Cohort companies.

Visit voltaeffect.com/cohort to learn more.

-30-

About Volta
Volta (formerly known as Volta Labs) is one of Canada’s largest innovation hubs, located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Innovation Hub houses more than 45 tech-based ventures, four Innovation Outposts, and six service and community partners, collectively employing more than 400 people in our space. Established in 2013, Volta is a place where members of the Atlantic Canadian innovation ecosystem can work, connect and learn from one another by accessing Co-Working Space, events and programs. Learn more at www.voltaeffect.com.

About the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive, by working with diverse communities to develop and diversify local economies, and by championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada. Together, with Atlantic Canadians, ACOA is building a stronger economy. For more information, please visit www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca.

About​ ​BDC​ ​Capital
With more than $2-billion under management, BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC,
serving as a strategic partner to Canada’s most innovative and high potential firms. It offers a
range of equity, venture capital and flexible growth and transition capital solutions to help
Canadian entrepreneurs scale their businesses into global champions. To find out more, visit
bdc.ca/capital.

About​ ​Innovacorp
Innovacorp is Nova Scotia’s early stage venture capital organization. It finds, funds and fosters
innovative Nova Scotia startups that strive to change the world. The goal is to help those
startups commercialize their technologies and succeed in the global marketplace. In addition to risk capital, Innovacorp gives entrepreneurs access to world-class incubation facilities, expert advice and other support to help accelerate their companies. More information at innovacorp.ca.