Octopz Grabs Top Award At Inaugural Canadian Innovation Exchange
May 1, 2008
Akoha Places Second In Tight Race To Identify Canada’s Next Innovation Leaders
Toronto, Ontario – Toronto-based startup Octopz (www.octopz.com), which develops advanced online collaboration technologies for creative professionals, grabbed the ‘Canadian Innovation Leader’ Award as the inaugural Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) wrapped-up two days of presentations and business networking in Toronto. Octopz was among 20 of Canada’s hottest innovation companies to present during a four-hour showcase at The Carlu in Toronto. Award runner-up was Akoha Inc. (www.akoha.org) of Montreal, PQ with a presentation for a massive multi-player reality game that recently received $1.9 million in angel funding.
“We are thrilled to win this award, which ideally positions us for the next phase of growth,” said Ron McKenzie, CEO of Octopz Inc. McKenzie swayed attending delegates with an impressive and polished presentation that described the platform’s ability to accelerate decision making and speed-to-market for companies in the advertising, design and media sectors.
All 20 companies participating in the CIX showcase were shortlisted from over 100 applicants by a selection committee of leading investors from across Canada. The award winner was determined by a vote among attending delegates carried out via text message. CIX was organized by three Canadian investors, Robert Montgomery, Sean Wise and Rick Nathan, who saw a void in the marketplace for events leading to funding opportunities and partnerships.
“I am happy to have been a part of CIX,” said Rick Nathan, Event Co-Chair and Managing Director of Kensington Capital Partners Ltd. (www.kcpl.ca). “The event provided a much needed forum where Canada’s leading innovation companies could connect with investors and major corporations.”
This was the first year for CIX, which brought together entrepreneurs, venture capital firms, angel and public company investors, along with corporations such as Microsoft and Research in Motion. In addition to the showcase opportunity, the event provided workshops and presentations by major players in the innovation ecosystem. CIX will be returning next year as an annual event.
CIX was organized by Achilles Media Ltd., a leading event management company. Achilles Media Ltd. events include: History Makers: International Summit of History & Current Affairs Producers, nextMEDIA, Banff World Television Festival, Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and NATPE Mobile++. For more information, visit http://www.achillesmedia.com.
For more information on CIX and the CIX Award winners, go to http://www.canadianinnovationexchange.com.
Video content from CIX is available on blip.tv. Go to http://www.blip.tv and search CIX or visit the showpage at http://cix.blip.tv/#872746.
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