XpertSea Solutions, a firm specializing in aquaculture, has won the $30,000 Devtech 50 grand prize ($15,000 in cash and $15,000 in services). The prize was bestowed by "Presenter" partner Essor Strategies.
"On behalf of Quebec International, I would like to congratulate all of the winners along with all participants in the second edition of Devtech 50. The quality of the participants and the quality of the presentations we attended provide fresh proof that high-tech entrepreneurs in the region have what it takes to reach the very top," said Line Lagace, Vice-President, Business Growth Support at Quebec International.
During the ceremony, seven awards were presented, with a total value of nearly $90,000. The other winners are:
Second prize, valued at $15,000 ($7,500 in cash and $7,500 in services), presented by the Business Development Bank of Canada: B-Temia
Third prize, valued at $15,000 ($7,500 in cash and $7,500 in services), presented by Deloitte: Devolutions
Prize for the best socially responsible initiative based on sustainable development principles, valued at $15,000 ($7,500 in cash and $7,500 in services), presented by CLD de Québec: Veridis Solutions
Fourth prize, valued at $5,000 ($2,500 in cash and $2,500 in services), presented by Norton Rose: Caristix
Prize for best innovation, valued at $5,000 ($2,500 in cash and $2,500 in services), presented by Inno-Centre: XpertSea Solutions
Prize for best business model, valued at $5,000 ($2,500 in cash and $2,500 in services), presented by Teralys Capital: Devolutions
Participation in the Quebec City Next Generation High-Tech Growth program: Guillivert Technologies
Ten hours of consultation with Niviti: Second
Cycle
The grand finale of Devtech 50, hosted by Sigrid Ellefsen, Regional Director of Sales and Business Marketing at TELUS and collaborator on the Generation Inc. TV program, brought together more than 100 attendees, primarily from the business community and the high-tech sector. The competition was preceded by a presentation by Eric Ries, a successful entrepreneur and author of the bestseller The Lean Startup, a concept that is literally revolutionizing how high-tech products are developed and sold.
The second edition of Devtech 50 was made possible thanks to the support of various partners. In addition to the support of Essor Strategies, which served as the "Presenter" partner, the event featured the participation of "Gold" partners, such as the Business Development Bank of Canada, the Quebec City Local Development Centre (CLD-Québec) and Deloitte, as well as "Silver" partners, including Inno-Centre, Teralys Capital and Norton Rose. Anges Quebec and Niviti were also event partners.
"I'd like to thank all of the event partners. Our leaders' ability to rally around initiatives such as Devtech 50 and, in a broader sense, around the overall Devtech Strategy, is an increasingly essential part of Quebec City's economic signature, along with innovation. The success of the Devtech strategy and its many concrete benefits prove that we all have something to gain by pursuing this goal," said Ms. Lagace.
About Devtech 50
Devtech 50 is a competition involving high-tech startup companies. It is structured along the lines of major entrepreneurial competitions such as MIT 100K and Waterloo's LaunchPad 50K. Thanks to the participation of Quebec International's regional partners and sponsors, the winning teams share more than $90,000 in cash and services.
About Quebec International
Quebec International contributes to regional economic development and promotes Quebec City's international standing. As the region's pre‑eminent economic development agency, Quebec International fosters business growth, supports key economic clusters and attracts talent and investment. For further information, please visit www.quebecinternational.ca.
