SingularityU Canada Global Impact Challenge Announces 2019 Winner
The 2019 SingularityU Canada Global Impact Challenge, hosted by ReMAP and i-onCONNECT is pleased to announce Canada’s next Exponential Leader. This year’s award for Canada’s coveted spot at SingularityU’s Global Startup Program (GSP) goes to Bo Simango, founder of Holocene. The prize is valued at $40K USD.
Announced in October, 2018 the #canadagic challenge was open to Canadian entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists, technologists and engineers to bring their BIG idea to impact the lives of 1 million+ Canadians and beyond using exponential technology. Submissions ranged from a wide variety of technologies to improve food security, the environment, energy, water, education, health, space, prosperity and disaster resilience.
The Finalist Pitch Event was held in Burnaby, BC at i-onCONNECT on May 29th where five contestants pitched their BIG, bold ideas to an esteemed panel of judges. Winner, Bo Simango will attend SingularityU’s Global Startup Program (GSP) starting on September 4th, 2019.
Aiming to scale startups into global businesses, the GSP brings together entrepreneurs from around the world for immersive workshops and intensive fieldwork, as well as continued access to support. Structured in three phrases, the GSP consists of:
Activate: 4-week competitive residential experience in Delhi, India, a SingularityU Partner country.
Accelerate: 4-week accelerator at the NASA Ames Research Park in Mountain View, CA
Connect: 1-year connection to leverage SU’s digital courses, webinars, virtual meetings and more.
At the live pitch event, Bo Simango, presented his idea to develop an app that addresses the needs of Disaster Resilience in Canada and beyond. The technology provides real-time asset location tracking for government disaster response departments & teams using a web app. Responders can assist survivors at staging locations or along evacuation routes and save lives. Using RFID, cellular and GPS, low cost, low power IoT tags tracks real-time location information of high value, critical assets such as mobile equipment, vehicles, medical supplies, food and shelter. Data is sent wirelessly via a server link to electronic devices anywhere. Built on the SAGE platform, Holocene has created a visual geolocation solution with worldwide reach and asset level data.
The other four top Canadian’s who pitched at the eventreceived honorable mentions for their ground-breaking ideas.
Geoffrey Ching,Co-Founder, AUGOS shared his BIG idea to improve access to eye care through combined application ofonline screening tools and data insights that help optometrists streamlinetheir optometric practice.
Shelena Marsh, Founder, Open World Access, introduced her company that uses augmented reality and artificial intelligence to provide accessible communication for sign language users.
Dan McCann,President, Kodisoft pitched a disruption of HealthTech Diagnostics with theirstartup –the world-leading producer of smart tables for public environments. TheirIP is the IoT sensor technology that allows people to use a smart table throughvery thick glass so you can collaborate through touch and visualization.
Francis Vala,Founder, H.E.A.T (Human Empowerment and Transformation) Academy shared hisinnovative idea to save lives with a holistic approach to wellness thatsupports people AND health professionals.
The 2019 judging panel included Tamara Etmannski, Lecturer, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Group, Sauder School of Business, UBC; Anastasia Hambali, Growth Advisor & Connector, BC Tech; Min S. FitzGerald, CEO, Nutrigene; Raghwa Gopal, CEO, Innovate BC; Ernest Daddey, Managing Director and CTO, i-onCONNECT; and Regina Njima, Director, SingularityU Global Impact Challenge.
The same competition took place in Australia and Chile andwill take place in several other countries around the world throughout 2019. Canadahas a celebrated history of world-changing innovations in medicine, energy,transportation, food, technology, and more. “Canadians have the talent,drive, dedication, and opportunity to succeed, “said Irene Sterian,Head of the Canada GIC and President & CEO of ReMAP.
Special guests at the gala event included, 2015 Canada GIC Winner, Andrea Palmer, CEO of Awake Labs, as well as, Keynote Anne Connelly, SingularityU Faculty- Blockchain.
The 2019 SingularityU GIC is an opportunity for Canadians to rise to the occasion. The winner & their BIG, bold idea to solve grand global challenges with exponential technology will be recognized and connected with global thought leaders. Bo will join students from around the world, as Canada’s representative to develop his moonshot idea for an abundant future.
About i-onCONNECT
i-onCONNECT links innovation to industry by providing a place to work, learn, connect, develop your products, grow your business, and be a part of a community. We offer co-working space, mentorship, and product hardware development to entrepreneurs looking to commercialize their products and grow a successful business.
We are a high-tech company which focuses its corecapabilities in the Sensors, IIOT, and Big Data space with the integration ofnanotechnologies and advanced materials as part of the product developmentofferings. To learn more, visit www.i-onconnect.com
About Global Impact Challenges
GICs are annual competitions created by Singularity University and held in partnership with sponsor organizations worldwide to find solutions to global grand challenges. GICs serve as a platform to identify outstanding entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists, and engineers with the most innovative ideas for positively impacting millions of lives locally and globally within the next 3-5 years. Since 2010, Singularity University has worked with partners to host 130 Global Impact Challenges in 49 countries, awarding 184 winners with fully sponsored seats at the Singularity University’s Global Solutions Program (GSP) in Silicon Valley. To learn more about Singularity University GICs, go to https://su.org/gic.
About the GlobalStartup Program
The Global Startup Program brings together entrepreneurs from around the world for structured, immersive workshops and intensive fieldwork in multiple locations around the globe, as well as continued access to support and resources via a best-in-class connectivity platform. We’ll start by helping you cultivate a new mindset and toolset to overcome the challenges of technological disruption. Next, we’ll work with you to accelerate your time to product-market fit, transform your startup from an idea to a venture that can help a billion people (“billion-scale”), and connect you with a global community to catalyze results. In short, GSP is designed to help you create a 10x startup at a global level.
About SingularityUniversity
Singularity University (SU) is a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tackle the world’s biggest challenges and build a better future for all. SU’s collaborative platform empowers individuals and organizations across the globe to learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions using accelerating technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital biology. A certified benefit corporation headquartered at NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley, SU was founded in 2008 by renowned innovators Ray Kurzweil and Peter H. Diamandis with program funding from leading organizations including Google, Deloitte, and UNICEF. To learn more, visit SU.org, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @SingularityU, and download the SU App.
5140 Yonge Street, Suite 1900
Toronto ON M2N 6L7
info@remapnetwork.org
416.476.7388
