N.B. Entrepreneurs Nab Several Startup Canada Awards
FREDERICTON– New Brunswick startups and innovators had a strong showing Thursday night at the regional Startup Canada awards.
The awards honoured 10 outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses and support organizations from all over Canada’s Atlantic region as winners, five of which are from New Brunswick.
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Jordan Kennie, CEO of Stash Energy took home the Young Entrepreneur Award. Dr. Ali Ghorbani, Founder of Eyesover Technologies, was awarded the Senior Entrepreneur Award. Dhirendra Shukla, founder of Energia Ventures nabbed the Entrepreneur Promotion Award. Fredericton-based Remsoft scored the award for Global Entrepreneurship and Moncton’s Bibi Lyn Designs Inc. took home the Social Enterprise Award.
The other winners were:
- Anne Whelan, President and CEO, Seafair Capital Inc., Entrepreneur of the Year
- Christina Dove, Owner, Newfoundland Chocolate Company, Woman Entrepreneurship Award
- Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre, Entrepreneur Support Award
- BlueLight Analytics, Innovation Award
- B4CHECKIN, High-Growth Entrepreneurship Award
“Congratulations to all of this year’s 2017 regional award winners,” said Victoria Lennox, founder and CEO of Startup Canada . “Each and every one of these outstanding recipients have an immense impact on the future of Canada and they all represent the greatness and diversity of our nation’s entrepreneurship community.”
Three of the five New Brunswick winners, Stash Energy, Eyesover Technologies and Energia Ventures, were from the University of New Brunswick (UNB).
“This is tremendous and well-deserved recognition for all three of these innovators at the University of New Brunswick,” said UNB President Eddy Campbell in a release.
“We’re so very proud of Jordan, who has proven his mettle through the Summer Institute at UNB as well as our diploma and master’s programs in technology management and entrepreneurship. On top of all that, he earned a place as one of the first to be accepted into our new Energia Ventures accelerator.”
Campbell called Dr. Ghorbani and Dr. Shukla “two of the most hard-working and committed individuals I know.
Dr. Ghorbani, director of the newly established Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity at UNB, adds the Startup Canada award to an impressive list of accolades.
“Ali and Dhirendra are outstanding researchers, dedicated teachers and incredible mentors,” said Campbell. “They’ve helped and inspired countless individuals pursue opportunity and innovation through entrepreneurship. I’m so pleased that Startup Canada has recognized them for their far-reaching influence and contributions.”
The regional winners will now be evaluated by the National Adjudication Committee; comprised of some of Canada’s leading entrepreneurship and industry experts. The national winners will be celebrated at the Startup Canada Awards Grand Finale in Ottawa on Oct. 19, following Startup Canada Day on the Hill.