Media Press Releases

Octopz Grabs Top Award At Inaugural Canadian Innovation Exchange
Akoha Places Second In Tight Race To Identify Canada’s Next Innovation Leaders


Toronto, ON [April 30, 2008] – Toronto-based startup Octopz (http://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. (http://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. (http://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 CIX showpage at http://cix.blip.tv/#872746.


For additional information, contact:
Julie Giles, GreenHAT Digital
Tel: 416-537-9774
E-mail: julie (at) greenhatdigital.com
Skype: greenhatdigital




Canadian Innovation Exchange Announces Dr. Gary S. Lynn (Spenser Trask & Co.) and
Andreas Stavropoulous (Draper Fisher Jurvetson) as Keynote Speakers
Venture Capitalists Focus On The Challenges of Building A Successful Start-Up


Submission Deadline Extended to April 4, 2008 for CIX Showcase


Toronto, ON [March 27, 2008] - Dr. Gary S. Lynn, co-author of Blockbusters: The
Five Keys to Developing Great New Products (HarperCollins), and Andreas
Stavropoulos, Managing Director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson, will deliver
keynote addresses that talk to the challenges of building a successful
startup as part of the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX), a two-day innovation
conference and showcase, which takes place April 29 - 30, 2008 at The Carlu in
Toronto.

Lynn will present the findings of his research into what makes "blockbuster"
products at a lunchtime keynote on Tuesday, April 29th. In his talk, Dr. Lynn
will outline the five critical practices that can launch products and change
industries. He will also offer insights into why products fail and how
venture-backed companies can overcome challenges to create success.

Andreas Stavropoulos will focus his talk on the advantages of creating a
collaborative relationship between investors and the companies they invest in
during his keynote address, which opens Day Two of the conference. Andreas knows
of what he speaks. He comes from a company whose stated mission is to "identify,
serve, and provide capital for extraordinary entrepreneurs anywhere who are
determined to change the world."

"Too often we ignore the upside of challenges," says Robert Montgomery, event
producer and one of three co-chairs behind CIX. "Our two keynotes will show how
problems can be good as well as profitable."

Dr. Gary S. Lynn is a leading management guru and author, whose ten-year
research study into why one-third of products go on to be "blockbusters" while
the other two-thirds fail, formed the basis for a best-selling book. Dr. Lynn
was selected by Business 2.0 Magazine as one of the nine leading management
gurus in the US, and recognized by the International Association for the
Management of Technology as being one of the top thought leaders in the field of
technology-innovation management. He is currently Chief Innovation Officer at
Spencer Trask & Co. (http://www.spencertrask.com), an affiliate of Spencer Trask
Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm.

Andreas Stavropoulos is a Managing Director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson
(http://www.dfj.com/), one of the world’s preeminent venture capital firms
with investments in more than 300 companies across many sectors, including such
industry-changing catalysts as Hotmail (acquired by MSFT), Baidu (BIDU), Skype
(acquired by EBAY), United Online (UNTD), Overture (acquired by YHOO),
Athenahealth (ATHN), EnerNOC (ENOC), Interwoven (IWOV), Four11 (acquired by
YHOO), Parametric (PMTC), and Digidesign (acquired by AVID). His past
investments include Mobile 365 (acquired by Sybase) and Centerpost (acquired by
West Corp.). Prior to joining DFJ, Mr. Stavropoulos was with McKinsey &
Company's San Francisco office, where he worked with senior management teams of
corporate clients with an emphasis on information technology.

CIX is produced by Achilles Media Ltd. and chaired by three Canadian investors
-- Robert Montgomery, Sean Wise and Rick Nathan. In addition to offering a
comprehensive program of workshops and presentations, the event also provides
early-stage companies in the communications, digital media and technology
sectors with the opportunity to showcase themselves before an audience of
investors and financiers from across North America.

The deadline to apply for "Presenting Company" status, and a spot on the
showcase roster, has been extended to April 4th. Interested parties can register
at http://www.canadianinnovationexchange.com.

About Achilles Media:
Achilles Media Ltd. is a leading event management company. Its event properties
include: History Makers: International Summit of History & Current Affairs
Producers, nextMEDIA and nextMEDIA Events, Banff World Television Festival,
Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and NATPE Mobile++. For more information,
visit http://www.achillesmedia.com.

For additional information, contact:
Julie Giles, GreenHAT Digital
Tel: 416-537-9774
E-mail: julie (at) greenhatdigital.com
Skype: greenhatdigital


 


 


 


Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) to Showcase Canada’s Hottest
Innovative Companies Through a Program That Puts the
“Googles of Tomorrow” in Front of Major Investors

Submissions Deadline to become a “Presenting Company” is March 31, 2008

Toronto, ON [March 3, 2008] – The Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) today announced the launch of a program that will showcase Canada’s hottest innovation companies. Firms on the hunt for funding or for partners can apply for “Presenting Company” status at CIX and pitch themselves “live” in front of some of the most important investors in North America.

Applications must be submitted online at http://www.canadianinnovationexchange.com by March 31, 2008 in order to be eligible. CIX takes place April 29 - 30, 2008 at The Carlu in Toronto.

Emerging companies working in the communications, digital media and technology sectors are eligible to apply for “Presenting Company” status. Each company profile submitted to CIX as part of the “Presenting Company” program will be reviewed and voted on by a selection committee composed of 20 leading investors from across Canada. (See below or visit http://www.canadianinnovationexchange.com/look.who.coming.php for a list of selection committee members.) Companies who pass the review process will be assigned one or more private meetings with potential investors and have the opportunity to showcase themselves at CIX before an audience of investors and major companies from across North America.

All companies who submit a profile, whether or not they make it to the short-list, will receive valuable feedback from the selection committee regarding their investment potential.

CIX is designed to fill a void in the marketplace for events that lead to funding opportunities and partnerships for Canadian
companies in the communications, digital media and technology sectors. The two-day program includes keynote addresses, workshops, presentations, and facilitated and non-facilitated networking opportunities. CIX is chaired by three Canadian investors -- Robert Montgomery, Sean Wise and Rick Nathan.

For more information on CIX, go to http://www.canadianinnovationexchange.com.

CIX is 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 additional information, contact:
Julie Giles, GreenHAT Digital
Tel: 416-537-9774
E-mail: julie (at) greenhatdigital.com
Skype: greenhatdigital




KEY INVESTMENT PLAYERS ANNOUNCE NEW EVENT FOCUSING ON INNOVATION IN CANADA

CIX To Bridge Gap Between Entrepreneurs and Investors, Highlighting
Best-of-Breed Technologies and Exploring How Today’s R&D Impacts Tomorrow’s
Economy


Toronto, Canada (December 6, 2007) -- Three Toronto-based investors -- Robert
Montgomery, Sean Wise and Rick Nathan -- today announced the inaugural Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX), a new event focusing on innovation in Canada, which takes place April 29 and April 30, 2008 at The Carlu, Toronto.

“Canada is an innovative nation,” says Sean Wise, CIX Co-Chair
and a leading Canadian entrepreneurial evangelist. “CIX will showcase
the best and brightest entrepreneurs and shine a spotlight on emerging technologies.”

The two-day event will feature an innovation marketplace, flash-forward presentations on the state of technology, and facilitated networking opportunities. Key participants from the U.S. and other countries will be invited, as befits the world-class status of Canada and the Toronto area with the highlight of the event being a showcase of Canada’s top startup companies.

Co-chairs of CIX are Robert Montgomery, a private investor and CEO of Achilles
Media; Sean Wise, Managing Director of Wise Mentor Capital and former Chair of
the Canadian Venture Forum; and Rick Nathan, Managing Director of Kensington
Capital Partners Limited and President of CVCA, Canada's Venture Capital and
Private Equity Association.

CIX is intended to fill a void in the marketplace for an efficient and cost-effective meeting place leading to the development of innovative companies.

CIX is geared towards:

* CEOs, CIOs and CTOs of public and private companies interested in
innovation
* Founders of fast growing startups
* Members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem including banks, lawyers
and government officials
* Sources of capital

For more information, visit www.canadianinnovationexchange.com.

CIX is organized by Achilles Media Ltd., a leading event management firm focused on facilitated networking and noted for the quality of the content of its other events including nextMEDIA and the Banff World Television Festival.

For additional information, contact:

Julie Giles, GreenHAT Digital
Tel: 416-537-9774
E-mail: julie (at) greenhatdigital.com
Skype: greenhatdigital