By Bill Power
Business Reporter, Chronicle Herald
Published: Saturday, July 11, 2009
Pages C1 & C4

At first glance, 10 Nova Scotia business startups, producing everything from packaging equipment to baby-feeding devices, seem to have little in common, except they have somehow dodged the ravages of the recession and are moving forward.

It turns out the link between them is a technology startup competition organized by Innovacorp, a provincial Crown corporation that helps early stage Nova Scotia firms commercialize their technologies.

The small businesses won cash and businesses services from the corporation through the competition last year and remain operational. All are bringing prototypes and finished products to market or seeking patents for products.

“We’re in the process of packing some equipment for a promotional trip to California, to Salinas, which is called the Salad Bowl of the World, for their production of things like lettuce and broccoli," said Roland Swift, founder of MorSwift Machines Inc. in Digby.

The company won the provincial competition last year for its bundling devices used for loose products like broccoli and crab legs.

Mr. Swift said despite the sad state of the U.S. economy, he is confident of increasing sales of his bundling devices in that region when people see how they can accelerate the process by about 700 per cent. He said he also has some meetings arranged with companies in Seattle that are interested in using the equipment in the Alaskan crab fishery. A check with each of the 10 winners in the I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition that concluded last February, shows product innovation can open business doors, regardless of the state of the economy.

Dan MacDonald, president and CEO at Innovacorp, said the 10 companies won a total of $450,000 between them, and also received consultation time with top professionals in their selected fields.

Mr. MacDonald said since last year, the 10 companies have gone on to raise about $2.5 million in private investment equity and are in various stages of bringing technology based products to market.

He said Innovacorp provided links to consultation services for each of these companies that won competitions in five zones across the province, and also maintains close links with another 25 startups that did not win in the competition, but are proceeding with product development.

“This $450,000, used as cash awards, played a significant role in helping 10 young companies start from scratch and also served as an incentive to the others," he said.

“We are continuing to track each of the 35 participating startups and they are all active and going concerns," the president and CEO said in an interview.

He said it is exciting that the competition revealed a vibrant spirit of product innovation and business development in rural parts of the province.

“It is great to see so much research and development happening in the urban areas, especially within the academic environment, but numbers speak for themselves, and startups in rural areas are achieving remarkable results," he said.

Mr. MacDonald said Innovacorp is currently working out details of another edition of the I-3 competition, with tentative plans to begin seeking submissions in the fall. He said details will be announced soon.

Recession Beaters 

Ten small Nova Scotia businesses are still going strong after obtaining support and exposure from a technology startup competition in 2007-08 that attracted participants from all across the province.

MorSwift Machines Inc.: A Digby company manufacturing packaging machines, it is pursuing big customers with a new U.S. distribution partner. Some people are sceptical about the system until they see it in action, said president Roland Swift. The company has seven people on payroll and is exploring marketing possibilities in Europe.

Marcato Digital Solutions Inc.: This Sydney software developer has about 300 entertainers, artist managers and special events organizations using its planning system. Company founder Darren Gallop said people in the industry are learning from current users about the benefits of the system and some big festivals are expected to come onboard within the year.

Skillz Systems: A Bedford-based hockey training system developer is winning rave reviews for its interactive approach. The company is promoting its training and entertainment possibilities and exploring possibilities for other games besides hockey.

BioNovations Inc.: An Antigonish operation, it is gearing up to begin manufacturing its live seafood transportation system before the end of the year. President Joe Bourdreau said the specially designed transport trailers will dramatically increase the range for shipping live product.

CleanCount Inc.: This Chester operation plans to begin testing a secure medication handling system later this year. Partner Michael Jarvis said details of the first prototype are just being finalized. The system speeds up handling of medications at the retail level.

Stack-A-Buoy Marine Products Ltd.: Will increase production and continue field testing in the Petit de Grat area of Cape Breton, with hundreds of units purchased and in operation. President Blair Gotell said he is getting orders and great reviews for his interconnecting buoys from the lobster fishing sector and aquaculture industry.

EvacuAir Inc.: Truro partners are currently seeking certification for an emergency breathing apparatus. Partner Kim Stewart said the device reduces risk of personal injury in smoke-filled environ¬ments and has possible markets in the emergency worker and consumer safety markets.

Pida Infant & Maternity Prod¬ucts Ltd.: The Pubnico operation has its Heartstring Baby’s Companion in production and for sale.

Partner Pierrette d’Entremont said consumers are responding favourably but slowly to these non-toxic parenting devices.

EcoGenomics Inc.: Halifax partners expect to begin marketing soil testing technology for the land remediation industry within the year. Partner Sina Adl said the system has huge potential, especially with so much government support available for green industries.

Millenium Hemp: The operation in Annapolis Royal is currently seeking a patent for a hemp-fibre processing process that company founder Norman Naime said will revolutionize the industry. He said there are countless products that can take advantage of hemp fibre.

Halifax Hawks Atom hockey players Jacob Burke stickhandles a ball while teammates Brock Behner, Barrett Dachyshyn, and Skillz Systems chairman and COO Dean Dachyshyn watch at Skillz Systems in Bayer Lake on Jan. 8, 2008. (PETER PARSONS / Staff)

Sina M. Adl, associate professor of biology at Dal¬housie, and his Halifax partners, are designing soil DNA chip technology tailored to environmental and agricultural management and remediation. (ERIC WYNNE / Staff)

Darren Gallop, 33, president of both Marcato Digital Solutions and Company House Records, is developing an online program that will connect artists with other players in the music industry. (LAURA FRASER / Cape Breton Bureau)

Joe Boudreau, president of BioNovations Inc. in Antigonish, is preparing to manufacture a live seafood transport system. (File)