Two Innovation Cluster Startups Take Home Bears’ Lair Grand Prize for Innovation and Goods & Services Stream - 2019-05-01
Innovative eye care company, Alexander Optical, and health food company, Electric Juice Factory, are looking to be game changers in their industries. The winners for the Innovation and Goods & Services Stream were announced during the 9th annual Bears’ Lair Entrepreneurial Competition on April 30, 2019 at The Venue. The grand prize cash value for each winner was $8,350. The four runners-up each received $1,000. Four out of the six contestants were Innovation Cluster startups.
Three finalists per stream were given a duration of 10 minutes to pitch their business. This time included a Q&A by heavy hitting judges Teresa Kruze, Broadcaster, TV Producer, Best-selling Author and Community Activist; Steve Reble, Owner of etee and Brenda M. Hogan, Senior Investment Manager.
For the Innovation Stream, Alexander Optical took the grand prize. Alexander Optical is increasing access to eye care in the community through organized pop-up clinics that bring professionals on-site to perform comprehensive eye exams and find eyewear solutions. Pop-up clinics are facilitated at locations, such as but not limited to schools, seniors residences and local businesses to benefit patients.
With partnerships including Fleming College, Trent University and local eye care professionals, judges were impressed with the accomplishments the company had completed so far and the potential of growth it can have in the future. Founder Dylan Trepanier went in front of the judges.
“I’m so proud to be a part of such a supportive community and have such incredible mentors that helped me get here,” says Trepanier. “I put 
my heart into the pitch and I’m feeling blessed that the audience and judges were receptive to the change we are trying to make in the community. I can’t wait to start working with more eye care professionals and employers in the area to bring services to them. I can hardly wait to see what the future holds.”
Trepanier says winning Bears’ Lair will help when promoting the company to eye care professionals.
“I know Bears’ Lair is exactly what we needed to take our business to the next level and get the support we are looking for with the community,” says Trepanier. “The prize money is going to be poured into marketing to develop a direct marketing campaign to speak to employers and eye care professionals in the area and encourage them to try working with Alexander Optical and see the difference we can make for them.”
For the Goods & Services Stream, Innovation Cluster startup Electric Juice Factory took the top prize. Cheryl Gould went in front of the judges pitching the company’s innovative smoothie puck product, successfully impressing the panel. The company recently launched the product in five flavour options in addition to its array of raw plant-based juices.
Gould expressed her gratitude toward the community that has been a continued support over social media after winning, saying, “It’s time to get to work.”
Local Startup Wakhal Transforms How Social Media Can Connect Community Groups Through Online Platform - 2019-04-30
Local digital startup, Wakhal, has officially launched its community building platform, Community4E. Using the four (4) E’s of community building, Engagement, Empowerment, Education and Entertainment, the platform mirrors the trust characteristics of a local, “in-person” community but on a virtual and global scale.
Wakhal Founder Rojit Sorokhaibam says, “Social media has existed for more than a decade and, while social media is a powerful platform, we believe it is ready for an evolution. There is an urgent need to reset the course of social media development so that the very basis of every interaction is one based on trust, privacy, and protection for those that use it.”
Community4E is a modern intranet collaboration platform between organizations and their stakeholders that offers vital tools to improve productivity and aids problem-solving, making it a vital pillar in the infrastructure of a business or an association of like-minded organizations.
“Using a white-label approach, the platform enhances organizational engagement by creating a community-branded social media site,” says Founder Rojit Sorokhaibam.
Wakhal is currently offering its solution to the Innovation Cluster, Peterborough, in partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development, Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre in the Durham Region, Parry Sound Muskoka Community Network, Muskoka, Global Homeopathy User Community and more. From all the participating communities, the platform has attracted over 40,000 registered users so far.
The Innovation Cluster’s programming connects its community of startups with innovation specialists, angel investors and knowledge 
partners. With the number of remote clients actively growing, the Cluster is looking to use the platform to better connect these entrepreneurs to its ecosystem.
“We are excited to implement our programming on this platform which will allow for more cross-collaboration that is no longer limited by geographical location,” says John Gillis, President and CEO of the Innovation Cluster. “Other key outcomes we aim to achieve through Community4E is improved reporting, more extensive client data, and a reduction in the overall administrative footprint of running an incubator.”
Similarly, east of the GTA, Durham Region is experiencing a boom in the number of innovation companies calling the region, and Eastern Ontario, home. Spark Centre is responding to this boom by partnering with innovation centres from Pickering to Kingston and developing a robust Eastern Ontario innovation network that includes both regional and international innovation cells.
“Community4E is exactly what we are looking for, a community platform that is private, secure and enables engagement across multiple innovation cells, time zones and cultures,” says Sherry Colbourne, CEO of Spark Centre. “The platform will allow our Startup Visa applicants to engage with the Eastern Ontario innovation ecosystem well in advance of immigrating to the region and will develop our cross cultural ties to international markets. It will also allow our local startups to capitalize on the phenomenal talent that exists in the region and abroad and supports our very deliberate polycentric development of the Eastern Ontario innovation ecosystem.”
Wakhal is also participating in and has pre-qualified for Startup Canada’s Global Entrepreneur Cohort and investment competition Muskoka 4.0.
With the browser version of Community4E launched, Wakhal is now inviting community organizations and business owners to sign up and use the platform in order to collaborate and stay connected with their members.
Wakhal aims to be the next generation of social media platforms that connects community members and like-minded groups to one another utilizing Wakhal’s unique virtual identity and verifiable approach. This approach enables individuals to connect to others through trusted and relevant channels that allow users to share opportunities, expose their talents, and cooperate in a virtual local ‘sharing economy’.
Wakhal is working to re-define social media into a productive and useful tool in an age of communication and collaboration. The research suggests that people want a safer and more relevant place online, where like-minded people can stay connected with a tangible sense of community. Community4E is that place.
Those interested can contact Founder & CEO Rojit Sorokhaibam at rojit@wakhal.com
Visit: www.community4e.com.
Local Digital Startup Random Acts of Green Receives $200,000 to Launch Mobile App Across Canada That Encourages Communities to Take Climate Action - 2019-04-26
Peterborough’s Random Acts of Green (RAOG) has received $200,000 from the Climate Action Fund, that provides $3 million annually to support projects that raise awareness and increase participation in climate change across Canada, including small businesses. RAOG will be using this funding to further develop and launch its mobile app, Random Acts of Green, that rewards users for making environmentally friendly actions.
As a digital technology startup through the Innovation Cluster, RAOG plans to take on climate change one community at a time. Through the mobile app, Founder and CEO Jessica Correa plans to help the everyday person wanting to take action for a better world.
“Random Acts of Green (RAOG) is grateful to Canada’s Climate Action Fund for this funding that will help us spread the word and get 
more Canadians using the app – as a tool for individual climate change action,” says Correa. “The app has the power to measure how individual Canadians are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. We want to prove to Canadians that seemingly small daily choices make large collective impacts so that we can all make a difference for the future of the planet, where, and when we can – starting now.”
The app will focus on providing a list of ways to make low carbon choices, or “Green-Acts”. When users do these acts, they earn Green Points. Green Points can be redeemed for real-world discounts on products and services from participating businesses, such as restaurants, zero-waste product companies, green services, or experiences.
Including RAOG, over 50% of the startups the Innovation Cluster supports are in the digital sector, several being mobile app development.
“As an organization that supports digital and cleantech innovation, we are excited to see the impact Random Acts of Green will have throughout Peterborough and the Kawarthas,” says Michael Skinner, President & CEO of the Innovation Cluster.
There will be an official launch party at Market Hall Performing Arts Center in Peterborough on Tuesday, May 28. Starting in the fall Correa will be touring across Canada to promote the mobile app.