Cape Breton Tech Sector Roundup

A snapshot of the export-focused technology sector in Cape Breton. You may be surprised by what you discover.

It’s hard not be impressed (and surprised) by the local tech sector, particularly when you see it all on one page.  goCapeBreton.com wanted to help our community discover the contribution and potential that exists in this sector.  

There are many more companies not in this list.  Add your company in the COMMENTS below, or even better, post your company in the DIRECTORY and BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES.

Protocase

  • Protocase makes custom metal enclosures.

  • Location Sydney (Harbourside Industrial Park)

  • Founded 2004

  • Founders:  Steve Lilley and Doug Milburn

  • Employees 100+

  • Accomplishments:  

    • Thousands of customers around the world, including Google, Apple, NASA, US Military, and more.  

    • Recently launched a new line of business called 45drives that is growing dramatically.

  • www.protocase.com

MediaSpark

  • MediaSpark develops educational games, simulations, mobile apps, and web platforms.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded: 1994

  • Founder:  Mathew Georghiou

  • Employees: 12 - 20+

  • Accomplishments:  

    • MediaSpark’s GoVenture products are one of the most widely used series of educational games and simulations in the world, with thousands of school customers and over 1 million users.

    • MediaSpark has also worked with industry leaders IBM, Cisco, HP, K12 Inc, TD Bank, PwC, the US Federal Reserve, Pearson, Cengage Houghton Mifflin, RTI, Canadian Tourism Commission, and many others.

    • MediaSpark has developed non-technology educational products used in a number of African countries to help build quality of life through entrepreneurship.

    • Over 20 years in operation.

  • www.mediaspark.com

Advanced Glazings

  • A glazing manufacturer that produces and sells advanced daylighting solutions.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded:1995

  • Founder:  Dr. Doug Milburn (company run by Michelle Milburn)

  • Employees: 20 - 40

  • Accomplishments:  

    • Solar Decathlon - US Dept. of Energy

    • Crystal Achievement Award - Glass Magazine

    • Nova Scotia Export Achievement Award

    • Clients include Bruce Power, Chapin School, Detroit School of Arts, Grand Prairie Art Gallery, Holland Performing Arts Centre, National Circus School, Pharma-Medica, and many more.

  • www.advancedglazings.com

VMP Group

  • A media agency that develops customer engagement solutions for a range of technology platforms

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded:1995

  • Founders:  Shawn Green, Sean Coyle, Rob Kean

  • Employees: 5-10

  • Accomplishments:  

    • CGI FX for Oceans of Mystery

    • Little Buck’s Christmas - animated holiday special for CTV

    • Evil Schmeevil - animated holiday special for Cartoon Network

    • Expresso - digital signage system

    • Bistro - social media platform for corporate communications

    • Wine Recommender app for NSLC

  • www.vmpgroup.com

Marcato

  • Develops and sells web-based management solutions for live event and enterprise deployment.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded: 2007

  • Founder:  Darren Gallop, Morgan Currie

  • Employees: 10 - 20

  • Accomplishments:  

    • Marcato Festival used worldwide

    • Over 2000 users

    • Clients include Coachella, CMA Fest, Iceland Airwaves, X Games, Pride Toronto, and many more

  • www.marcatofestival.com

Health Outcomes Worldwide

  • Develops software for tracking and managing wounds at point-of-care to improve health outcomes

  • Location: New Waterford

  • Founded: 2003

  • Founder:  Corrine McIsaac

  • Employees: 10 - 20

  • Accomplishments:  

    • Possesses the largest wound care database in Canada to monitor patient recovery and reduce costs.

    • Recently partnered with Think Research Group to network to 300 health care organization.

  • www.healthoutcomesww.com

Mimir Networks

  • Provide integrated cloud and premise-based platforms for defending against DDos attacks.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded: 2012

  • Founder:  Jim Deleskie

  • Employees: 5-10

  • Accomplishments:  

    • Provincial winner of the I-3 Startup Competition (2014)

    • Raised $1M in private seed funding

    • Sales office in Boston, MA

  • www.mimirnetworks.com

lokol.me and goCapeBreton.com

  • lokol.me builds smart communities by facilitating the sharing of hyperlocal news and information.  goCapeBreton.com is the first community website launched by lokol.me with more to follow.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded: 2015

  • Founder:  Mathew Georghiou and the team at MediaSpark (lokol.me is run by Richard Lorway)

  • Employees: 6+

  • Accomplishments:  

    • Developed a proprietary technology platform for rapidly building and launching community websites.

    • Launched goCapeBreton.com

    • A SPARK Cape Breton winner

  • www.lokol.me

BrandMetal

  • BrandMetal transforms logos, messages, and designs into premium metal signs and works of art.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded: 2013

  • Founder:  Mathew Georghiou and Joanie Cunningham

  • Employees: 2+

  • Accomplishments:  

    • BrandMetal signs and works of art are appearing in a number of places locally, and have been sold to customers throughout the US and Canada.

    • Of particular note is that BrandMetal works very closely with Protocase and the business was created because of the local manufacturing capabilities provided by Protocase.

  • www.brandmetal.com

Venture Solutions Inc.

  • Venture Solutions provides business services and support to startups and existing businesses.

  • Location: Edwardsville and Sydney

  • Founded: 2009

  • Founder: John C. Aylward and Merrill Carmichael

  • Employees: 4+

  • Accomplishments

    • Has worked with over 80 companies, employing more than 300 people in a variety of sectors.

    • Created an estimated 300 new jobs, with over $7 million in salaries.

    • Operates two local business incubators to support emerging companies in Cape Breton.

  • www.venturesolutionsinc.com

GoVenture World

  • GoVenture World is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) being billed as the most authentic business and entrepreneurship simulation ever created.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded: 2012

  • Founder:  Mathew Georghiou and the team at MediaSpark

  • Employees: See MediaSpark

  • Accomplishments:  

    • The game is still in development with the beta version being launched in 2015.

    • Received significant support from the National Research Council of Canada

    • Selected as one of the 50 brightest new startups in the world during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Also profiled on CNBC.com in “The World’s Most Promising New Companies.”

    • Finalists in the Startup Canada and Intuit Financial Literacy Startup Awards

    • I-3 Tech Startup Finalist

  • www.goventureworld.com

Techlink Entertainment

  • UPDATE:  Techlink filed for bankruptcy in 2015

  • Produces games and management systems for responsible gaming.

  • Even though in June 2015 Techlink encountered some business challenges that make its future uncertain, its contribution to the local community by providing well paying, high-skilled employment is a success story.

  • Location: Sydney

  • Founded: 1994

  • Founder:  John Xidos

  • Employees: 60+

  • Accomplishments:  

    • Raised over $50 million in financing

    • Products used in a number of gaming jurisdictions

    • Over 20 years in operation

  • www.techlinkentertainment.com

SLYCE

  • Visual recognition technology company.

  • Location: Head office in Toronto with satellite office in New Waterford

  • Founded:  2012

  • Founders:  Cameron Chell and Erika Racicot

  • Employees:  60 in New Waterford

  • Accomplishments:

    • Visual product recognition platform launched in 2013

    • Publicly traded on TSX

    • Received over $10 million in Series A funding

    • Clients include a growing list of Fortune 1000 brands

  • www.slyce.it

HALIFAX BIOMEDICAL

  • Surgical and medical instrument manufacturing company
  • Location: Head office in Mabou, Cape Breton
  • Founded: 2004
  • Founder: Chad Munro
  • Employees: 14
  • Accomplishments:
  • Obtained regulatory approval for its medical devices in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Australia.

  • Creating a mobile spinal imaging system to be stationed in Boston.

    • www.halifaxbiomedical.com

    There are many more companies not in this list.  Add your company in the COMMENTS below, or even better, post your company in the DIRECTORY and BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES.

    Past Successes

    How did these companies come about?  What other companies contributed to the success of Cape Breton in the past?  Find this out and more by reading, The Epic History of the Tech Sector on Cape Breton Island!


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    https://capebreton.lokol.me/cape-breton-tech-sector-roundup
    A snapshot of the export-focused technology sector in Cape Breton. You may be surprised by what you discover.
    Business Success Story Business Type Computers, Communications, Electronics, Technology

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    Depth
    Joe Ward Follow Me
    Mind blowing capital raised by Techlink! Well... at least for our local market. You can get 50 Million for a "How to Tie a Knot" app in Silicon Valley as long as you say: "It's the Tinder of on-demand, crowdsourced knot tying positioned to take advantage of the sharing economy, with a freemium model where we can explore ad revenue options in the future somehow, unless Facebook buys us for $2 Billion first". Kidding :P Q. Did their revenues surpass the funding level and did they ever hit cash flow positive status? I know the latest news and layoffs reportedly came as a result of running out of cash with a pilot project still in the works - and after loss of the responsible gaming contract. But in prior years, were they ever running in the green?
    Mathew Georghiou Follow Me
    Yup, $50M is super impressive for CB.
    James MacKinnon Follow Me
    I'm not 100% sure, but I believe Heimdall is now Mimir Networks.
    Mathew Georghiou Follow Me
    Hey James ... I suspect Mimir may be the building not the individual company, but Jim can let us know if there has been an official change. AG Research should be in our list above ... send me the same data you see above and we will add it.
    James MacKinnon Follow Me
    Ah, yeah could be my mistake. The websites for both are so similar I wasn't sure if it was a rebranding or a offshoot project.
    Joe Ward Follow Me
    "... said Jim Deleskie founder of Mimir, formerly known as Heimdall Network, that assists companies with online security needs." A name change, according to Jim's recent CB Post coverage. http://bit.ly/1K5HHk8

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