RESILIENT ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow – a tool that uses crowdsourcing to collect and share accessibility information about places around the world. Founded in 2015, AccessNow is an innovative solution to a very real problem. Born with muscular dystrophy, Maayan has also become a proponent for disability awareness and a champion for creating access for all.

NEWCOMER ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Melina Terra Salomon is the founder of Gomma, a design tech company bringing new sustainable materials to fashion and consumer products. Born and raised in Brazil, Melina moved to Canada 4 years ago to embark on post secondary education at Humber College. Since then, Melina has become a leader in the fashion industry in Canada. Through Gomma’s sustainable, wearable, hypo-allergenic and fair trade wearable rubber, she is poised to change the world.

INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Heather Abbey is the founder of ShopIndig.ca, an e-commerce site where Indigenous artisans can post authentic designs and creations and sell to global audience, and Kiowa Sage Apparel, a trendy Indigenous clothing brand. Also a mentor and advocate, Heather is breaking glass ceilings for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Heather’s vision, leadership and entrepreneurship has directly supported more than 70 Indigenous entrepreneurs, at risk women and youth.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Born in Singapore and raised in the Canadian Prairies, Swish is a 19 year-old University of Toronto student who started his first business at just 7 years old. A serial entrepreneur and innovator, Swish built seven high-impact ventures including World Youth Fund, The Next Foundry, and Rafiki Media.

SENIOR ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Eli Fathi has built, scaled and exited many great companies in the National Capital Region. Currently, Eli is the CEO of MindBridge Ai. The company’s mission is to augment human intelligence with a powerful Ai to help professionals detect and prevent employees from committing fraud.

WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Nadia Hamilton is the founder of Magnusmode, a Waterloo-based technology company that provides tools and applications to enhance the quality of life of those with developmental disabilities. Nadia is both an entrepreneur and a life-long advocate for families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD | Dax Dasilva is the founder of Lightspeed – a cloud-based point of sale and inventory management software system that is transforming the restaurant and retail industries. Dax is also the founder of Never Apart, a Montreal-based non-profit organization bringing social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. Through Never Apart, Dax has launched various special projects including Colour by Icons – a colouring book and gallery exhibit showcasing historical figures in the LGBT community.

HIGH-GROWTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD | Founded in 2007 in Kamloops, British Columbia, iTel Networks offers one of the fastest and most reliable business internet and telecommunications networks in Canada. iTel Networks has quickly become one of Canada’s fastest growing telecom companies – a fierce competitor with revenues and employees growing over 20% annually.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD | Founded in 2013 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, this Indigenous-owned social enterprise partners with First Nations communities to ensure renewable energy systems are cost effective, and provide positive return for the community. Aki Energy is responsible for installing over $6 million in renewable energy systems in First Nations communities in Manitoba, leading to over a quarter of a million in annual bill reductions to date.

INNOVATION AWARD | iBIONICS is the creator of the Diamond Eye – a state of the art technology that uses a microchip solution to restore vision. As a 1-year old startup, iBIONICS punches above their weight in their R&D, robust commercialisation and global drive. Their bionic eye solution will potentially impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people afflicted with degenerative retina diseases.

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD | Founded in 2010, Surface Medical is dedicated to creating innovative products like CleanPatch to reduce the transfer of infection and facilitate the safe administration of healthcare for the benefit of practitioners and patients. 

STARTUP COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR | Startup Fredericton is an essential leader in creating a collaborative culture locally and across the Atlantic Region. Startup Fredericton, in partnership with Ignite Fredericton, and more than 20 entrepreneur support organizations created Taskforce Fredericton Startup Network with a mandate to steer the entrepreneurial direction alongside grassroots entrepreneurs and business leaders.

POLICY PRIZE | Brad Woodside is the former Mayor of Fredericton, and the city’s longest-serving mayor. A long-time advocate for innovation who led the city through two major development strategies – Vision 2000 and Vision 2020, Brad Woodside Championed Fredericton as a Smart-City with a bold vision of becoming the Startup Capital of Canada.

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT AWARD North Forge Technology Exchange is a collaborative innovation network in the heart of Winnipeg. North Forge is home to Canada’s largest non-profit fabrication lab and provides entrepreneurs with world class mentors, subject matter experts and a multi-stage startup program. 

ENTREPRENEUR PROMOTION AWARD | Meredith Powell is the co-founder of Vancouver-based non-profit The Next Big Thing, which empowers youth with the tools they need to succeed as entrepreneurs. Launched in 2013, the incubator has had more than 50 entrepreneurs go through the program – raising nearly five million dollars in seed financing and creating more than 80 new jobs. Powell is also the founder and CEO of Powell and Co., a company that specializes in bespoke startup strategy and rapidly scaling early stage organizations.

ADAM CHOWANIEC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | Randy Yatscoff is an entrepreneur, community builder and mentor who has been instrumental in building Edmonton into a thriving entrepreneurial city. Randy is committed to mentoring and supporting the growth of early-stage companies, and has mentored 500 companies since 2009. Over the years, he has helped technology-based companies raise more than $250 million. In 2010, Randy formally joined TEC Edmonton, where he is now the Executive Vice-President of Business Development.  

RESILIENT ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow – a tool that uses crowdsourcing to collect and share accessibility information about places around the world. Founded in 2015, AccessNow is an innovative solution to a very real problem. Born with muscular dystrophy, Maayan has also become a proponent for disability awareness and a champion for creating access for all.

NEWCOMER ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Melina Terra Salomon is the founder of Gomma, a design tech company bringing new sustainable materials to fashion and consumer products. Born and raised in Brazil, Melina moved to Canada 4 years ago to embark on post secondary education at Humber College. Since then, Melina has become a leader in the fashion industry in Canada. Through Gomma’s sustainable, wearable, hypo-allergenic and fair trade wearable rubber, she is poised to change the world.

INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Heather Abbey is the founder of ShopIndig.ca, an e-commerce site where Indigenous artisans can post authentic designs and creations and sell to global audience, and Kiowa Sage Apparel, a trendy Indigenous clothing brand. Also a mentor and advocate, Heather is breaking glass ceilings for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Heather’s vision, leadership and entrepreneurship has directly supported more than 70 Indigenous entrepreneurs, at risk women and youth.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Born in Singapore and raised in the Canadian Prairies, Swish is a 19 year-old University of Toronto student who started his first business at just 7 years old. A serial entrepreneur and innovator, Swish built seven high-impact ventures including World Youth Fund, The Next Foundry, and Rafiki Media.

SENIOR ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Eli Fathi has built, scaled and exited many great companies in the National Capital Region. Currently, Eli is the CEO of MindBridge Ai. The company’s mission is to augment human intelligence with a powerful Ai to help professionals detect and prevent employees from committing fraud.

WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Nadia Hamilton is the founder of Magnusmode, a Waterloo-based technology company that provides tools and applications to enhance the quality of life of those with developmental disabilities. Nadia is both an entrepreneur and a life-long advocate for families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD | Dax Dasilva is the founder of Lightspeed – a cloud-based point of sale and inventory management software system that is transforming the restaurant and retail industries. Dax is also the founder of Never Apart, a Montreal-based non-profit organization bringing social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. Through Never Apart, Dax has launched various special projects including Colour by Icons – a colouring book and gallery exhibit showcasing historical figures in the LGBT community.

HIGH-GROWTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD | Founded in 2007 in Kamloops, British Columbia, iTel Networks offers one of the fastest and most reliable business internet and telecommunications networks in Canada. iTel Networks has quickly become one of Canada’s fastest growing telecom companies – a fierce competitor with revenues and employees growing over 20% annually.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD | Founded in 2013 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, this Indigenous-owned social enterprise partners with First Nations communities to ensure renewable energy systems are cost effective, and provide positive return for the community. Aki Energy is responsible for installing over $6 million in renewable energy systems in First Nations communities in Manitoba, leading to over a quarter of a million in annual bill reductions to date.

INNOVATION AWARD | iBIONICS is the creator of the Diamond Eye – a state of the art technology that uses a microchip solution to restore vision. As a 1-year old startup, iBIONICS punches above their weight in their R&D, robust commercialisation and global drive. Their bionic eye solution will potentially impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people afflicted with degenerative retina diseases.

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD | Founded in 2010, Surface Medical is dedicated to creating innovative products like CleanPatch to reduce the transfer of infection and facilitate the safe administration of healthcare for the benefit of practitioners and patients. 

STARTUP COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR | Startup Fredericton is an essential leader in creating a collaborative culture locally and across the Atlantic Region. Startup Fredericton, in partnership with Ignite Fredericton, and more than 20 entrepreneur support organizations created Taskforce Fredericton Startup Network with a mandate to steer the entrepreneurial direction alongside grassroots entrepreneurs and business leaders.

POLICY PRIZE | Brad Woodside is the former Mayor of Fredericton, and the city’s longest-serving mayor. A long-time advocate for innovation who led the city through two major development strategies – Vision 2000 and Vision 2020, Brad Woodside Championed Fredericton as a Smart-City with a bold vision of becoming the Startup Capital of Canada.

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT AWARD North Forge Technology Exchange is a collaborative innovation network in the heart of Winnipeg. North Forge is home to Canada’s largest non-profit fabrication lab and provides entrepreneurs with world class mentors, subject matter experts and a multi-stage startup program. 

ENTREPRENEUR PROMOTION AWARD | Meredith Powell is the co-founder of Vancouver-based non-profit The Next Big Thing, which empowers youth with the tools they need to succeed as entrepreneurs. Launched in 2013, the incubator has had more than 50 entrepreneurs go through the program – raising nearly five million dollars in seed financing and creating more than 80 new jobs. Powell is also the founder and CEO of Powell and Co., a company that specializes in bespoke startup strategy and rapidly scaling early stage organizations.

ADAM CHOWANIEC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | Randy Yatscoff is an entrepreneur, community builder and mentor who has been instrumental in building Edmonton into a thriving entrepreneurial city. Randy is committed to mentoring and supporting the growth of early-stage companies, and has mentored 500 companies since 2009. Over the years, he has helped technology-based companies raise more than $250 million. In 2010, Randy formally joined TEC Edmonton, where he is now the Executive Vice-President of Business Development.  

RESILIENT ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow – a tool that uses crowdsourcing to collect and share accessibility information about places around the world. Founded in 2015, AccessNow is an innovative solution to a very real problem. Born with muscular dystrophy, Maayan has also become a proponent for disability awareness and a champion for creating access for all.

NEWCOMER ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Melina Terra Salomon is the founder of Gomma, a design tech company bringing new sustainable materials to fashion and consumer products. Born and raised in Brazil, Melina moved to Canada 4 years ago to embark on post secondary education at Humber College. Since then, Melina has become a leader in the fashion industry in Canada. Through Gomma’s sustainable, wearable, hypo-allergenic and fair trade wearable rubber, she is poised to change the world.

INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Heather Abbey is the founder of ShopIndig.ca, an e-commerce site where Indigenous artisans can post authentic designs and creations and sell to global audience, and Kiowa Sage Apparel, a trendy Indigenous clothing brand. Also a mentor and advocate, Heather is breaking glass ceilings for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Heather’s vision, leadership and entrepreneurship has directly supported more than 70 Indigenous entrepreneurs, at risk women and youth.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Born in Singapore and raised in the Canadian Prairies, Swish is a 19 year-old University of Toronto student who started his first business at just 7 years old. A serial entrepreneur and innovator, Swish built seven high-impact ventures including World Youth Fund, The Next Foundry, and Rafiki Media.

SENIOR ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Eli Fathi has built, scaled and exited many great companies in the National Capital Region. Currently, Eli is the CEO of MindBridge Ai. The company’s mission is to augment human intelligence with a powerful Ai to help professionals detect and prevent employees from committing fraud.

WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR AWARD | Nadia Hamilton is the founder of Magnusmode, a Waterloo-based technology company that provides tools and applications to enhance the quality of life of those with developmental disabilities. Nadia is both an entrepreneur and a life-long advocate for families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD | Dax Dasilva is the founder of Lightspeed – a cloud-based point of sale and inventory management software system that is transforming the restaurant and retail industries. Dax is also the founder of Never Apart, a Montreal-based non-profit organization bringing social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. Through Never Apart, Dax has launched various special projects including Colour by Icons – a colouring book and gallery exhibit showcasing historical figures in the LGBT community.

HIGH-GROWTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD | Founded in 2007 in Kamloops, British Columbia, iTel Networks offers one of the fastest and most reliable business internet and telecommunications networks in Canada. iTel Networks has quickly become one of Canada’s fastest growing telecom companies – a fierce competitor with revenues and employees growing over 20% annually.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD | Founded in 2013 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, this Indigenous-owned social enterprise partners with First Nations communities to ensure renewable energy systems are cost effective, and provide positive return for the community. Aki Energy is responsible for installing over $6 million in renewable energy systems in First Nations communities in Manitoba, leading to over a quarter of a million in annual bill reductions to date.

INNOVATION AWARD | iBIONICS is the creator of the Diamond Eye – a state of the art technology that uses a microchip solution to restore vision. As a 1-year old startup, iBIONICS punches above their weight in their R&D, robust commercialisation and global drive. Their bionic eye solution will potentially impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people afflicted with degenerative retina diseases.

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD | Founded in 2010, Surface Medical is dedicated to creating innovative products like CleanPatch to reduce the transfer of infection and facilitate the safe administration of healthcare for the benefit of practitioners and patients. 

STARTUP COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR | Startup Fredericton is an essential leader in creating a collaborative culture locally and across the Atlantic Region. Startup Fredericton, in partnership with Ignite Fredericton, and more than 20 entrepreneur support organizations created Taskforce Fredericton Startup Network with a mandate to steer the entrepreneurial direction alongside grassroots entrepreneurs and business leaders.

POLICY PRIZE | Brad Woodside is the former Mayor of Fredericton, and the city’s longest-serving mayor. A long-time advocate for innovation who led the city through two major development strategies – Vision 2000 and Vision 2020, Brad Woodside Championed Fredericton as a Smart-City with a bold vision of becoming the Startup Capital of Canada.

ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT AWARD North Forge Technology Exchange is a collaborative innovation network in the heart of Winnipeg. North Forge is home to Canada’s largest non-profit fabrication lab and provides entrepreneurs with world class mentors, subject matter experts and a multi-stage startup program. 

ENTREPRENEUR PROMOTION AWARD | Meredith Powell is the co-founder of Vancouver-based non-profit The Next Big Thing, which empowers youth with the tools they need to succeed as entrepreneurs. Launched in 2013, the incubator has had more than 50 entrepreneurs go through the program – raising nearly five million dollars in seed financing and creating more than 80 new jobs. Powell is also the founder and CEO of Powell and Co., a company that specializes in bespoke startup strategy and rapidly scaling early stage organizations.

ADAM CHOWANIEC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | Randy Yatscoff is an entrepreneur, community builder and mentor who has been instrumental in building Edmonton into a thriving entrepreneurial city. Randy is committed to mentoring and supporting the growth of early-stage companies, and has mentored 500 companies since 2009. Over the years, he has helped technology-based companies raise more than $250 million. In 2010, Randy formally joined TEC Edmonton, where he is now the Executive Vice-President of Business Development.