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To encourage innovation and cultivate diversity and inclusion, ventureLAB, in partnership with York Region, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund, dedicated to supporting non-profit organizations that encourage innovation among underrepresented communities and SMEs that catalyze the evolution of Cleantech and Agri-Tech Innovation in the region.
Steam 1: Non-Profit Organizations
In recognition of cultivating an inclusive community, stream 1 of the 2024 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund awards $10,000 of funding to two non-profit organizations leading initiatives that promote, support, or enhance entrepreneurship or innovation for underrepresented communities operating in York Region and beyond.
We are pleased to announce the recipients of stream 1 of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund:
CAYR Community Connections
CAYR Community Connections was originally founded as the AIDS Committee of York Region in 1993 and formally incorporated as a registered charitable organization in 1996. Our Mission and Vision is to create safe, confidential, and inclusive spaces and services in York Region where people can access dignified support and meaningfully engage in self-determined pathways to well-being. We envision an informed, stigma-free and compassionate community. We offer specialized and combined programs for: People living with HIV/AIDS, people affected/ at risk of HIV and Hep C, people who use drugs, people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, people supporting vulnerable and marginalized community members.
NewMakeIt
NewMakeIt is a not-for-profit organization located in the heart of Newmarket. It is a digital innovation hub, makerspace and interactive training and co-working facility. The organization hosts workshops in blacksmithing, woodworking, welding, pottery and jewellery making. NewMakeIt is a community hub that is membership based and innovation focused.
Stream 2: Small Businesses or Entrepreneurs Developing Agri-tech and Cleantech Solutions
This year, ventureLAB is proud to emphasize the importance of York Region as Canada’s second-largest tech hub and fourth-largest food and beverage processing hub. The second stream of the Entrepreneurship Innovation Fund dedicates grants to highlight York Region’s growing urban centers and the mix of players spanning the entire Agri-food value chain.
To acknowledge the evolution in the Agri-Tech and Cleantech industries, Stream Two of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund awards $10,000 to 7 York Region-affiliated startups and organizations to stimulate, promote, and encourage more entrepreneurship and innovation in Agri-Tech and/or Cleantech sectors by opening more doors to capital.
We are pleased to announce the recipients of stream 2 of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund:
Aruna Revolution
Aruna Revolution is a pioneering cleantech and agri-tech company focused on transforming the menstrual health industry with our innovative, 100%compostable menstrual products. We utilize
proprietary fiber extraction technology to repurpose agricultural by-products, such as crop waste, into high-performance, environmentally friendly menstrual pads. Our mission is to revolutionize menstrual care by providing products that are better for the body and the planet, addressing the urgent need for sustainable alternatives in a market dominated by plastic-based products.
Our products not only meet the growing demand for eco-friendly menstrual solutions but also align with global sustainability goals by reducing waste and supporting the circular economy. Based in
Nova Scotia, we are committed to making a significant impact both locally and globally by promoting sustainable practices and driving innovation in the menstrual health sector. We have developed strong partnerships with local suppliers and manufacturers, ensuring that our products are made and distributed locally, thus supporting regional economic growth.
With a focus on scalability and impact, Aruna Revolution is poised to expand its product offerings into related markets such as diapers and medical PPE, furthering our commitment to environmental
sustainability and social responsibility. Through our work, we aim to not only provide a healthier alternative for menstruators but also to set a new standard in the industry for sustainability and innovation. Our ultimate goal is to create a global impact, ensuring that future generations inherit a cleaner, healthier planet.
BHF Agrobot
BHF Agrobot are developing autonomous modular agricultural robots for row crop farmers that can selectively treat weeds with high voltage electricity guided by AI to replace mass application of herbicides, as well as precision fertilization technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on farms. BHF estimates that their weeding solution can reduce 95% of the annual input costs for farmers, is 60 times more energy-efficient, and it is effective at killing weeds of all species and growth stages, and reduces 40% GHG emissions during weeding and fertilizations.
elerGreen Industry Corporation
elerGreen makes its patented electrochemical reactor that recovers valuable products from wastes and renewable electricity, economically and eco-friendly. As a key differentiator, elerGreen invented an electrochemical reactor of moving electrode against stationary blades to continuously harvest solid products. This facilitates pollutants conversion, including CO2, tailings and petrochemicals, into valuable metals, polymers and feedstocks, using renewable electricity. In layman’s term, elerGreen is like Tesla for chemicals/manufacturing plants to replace combustions by clean electricity.
Kevares Autonomous// Services
Kevares fuses robots, AI and software into autonomous services - lawn-mowing, litter collection, snow removal and more, helping clients decarbonize their operations and augment staff. We solve labour shortages, carbon-emitting operations and long-term strategic efficiency by applying robotics in a turnkey fashion to municipalities and private sector clients.
Kiwi Charge
Kiwi Charge is looking to accelerate the deployment of EV charging infrastructure by eliminating the cost-prohibitive initial infrastructure costs. We are reimagining the charging experience through our Charging-as-a-Service model. We specifically help EV owners in existing buildings that lack the charging infrastructure due to high retrofit costs and low EV adoption. We bring the charger to them. As EV adoption increases in these buildings, we are developing an autonomous charger that can navigate the parking lot and charge multiple vehicles without any human intervention.
RideAlike
RideAlike is a community-driven car-sharing platform that allows vehicle owners to offset ownership costs by renting out their cars, while providing renters with convenient and affordable access to vehicles. With a focus on urban sustainability, RideAlike helps reduce the need for personal car ownership, lowering traffic congestion, minimizing under used parking spaces, and cutting carbon emissions. By collaborating with property developers, condominium boards, and municipalities, RideAlike is integrating car-sharing solutions into high-rise buildings and urban communities.
RideAlike has reached $20K MRR (monthly recurring revenue), driven organically through word of mouth. The platform is available on both iOS and Android, with every trip powered by $2M liability insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance. Additionally, RideAlike is making the platform AI-enabled to engage community members more efficiently and promote sustainability.
Currently, RideAlike has secured key partnerships in the Greater Toronto Area and is preparing to scale across Canada and into the U.S. in 2025. As the company continues to grow, it is seeking strategic investments to support expansion, focusing on technology enhancements, marketing, and community development.
Spero Analytics
As more governments pass strict regulations requiring energy companies, landfills, and mines to quantify, track, and minimize their greenhouse gas emissions, there is an emerging need for a reliable, flexible, cost-effective methane monitoring system. However, existing surveillance technologies either do not scale to cover large facilities, lack the necessary resolution for leak detection, or provide snapshots of methane emissions (as opposed to passive monitoring).
This is where Spero Analytics comes in: We build and deploy wireless mesh networks for continuous, automated methane monitoring in industrial facilities. Our networks are cost efficient, do not require cellular connectivity to operate, and can cover several hundred kilometres, above-ground and underground. They are also sensor agnostic, so they can adapt to any type of environmental or structural sensor. Our primary markets are energy producers, natural gas distributors and landfills - all sectors which are coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny.
About York Region
York Region is Canada’s second-largest tech hub, home to a mosaic of cultures including 47% of residents born outside of Canada, home to Canada’s most ethnically diverse community (City of Markham) with more than 120 different spoken languages and over 230 distinct ethnic origins.
About ventureLAB
ventureLAB is a leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. Located at the heart of Ontario’s innovation corridor in York Region, ventureLAB is part of one of the biggest and most diverse tech communities in Canada. Our initiatives focused on raising capital, talent retention, commercializing technology and IP, and customer acquisition have enabled thousands of companies to create over 6,800 jobs and raise more than $420 million in investment capital. ventureLAB is powering hardtech founders to build and scale globally competitive ventures that advance Canada’s knowledge-based economy.
