Globally, Canada is known as a country of innovators. Thomas Edison bought patents for the light bulb after two Canadians invented it. Other fabulous tech creations from Canada, such as the robotic arm used to make the space shuttle and the pacemaker’s innovation, are some of the nation’s best revolutionary discoveries.
BDC Capital supporting innovative companies
In the innovative and research sector, BDC Capital is the only Canadian bank that sponsors innovative projects. BDC has shown generous support towards the next phase of Canadian innovations by supporting 700 tech companies in Canada. The bank has set aside 2 billion dollars to see startup companies achieve their goals.
BDC Capital has ventured into technology, healthcare, and communication. BDC has made its goal to provide small businesses and startups access to seed capital to create breakthrough services and products. BDC Capital’s support and hard work are evident through the tech sector’s gradual growth, which creates an international front in technology and artificial intelligence.
These three companies in the BDC Capital management portfolio are growing exponentially, from Miovision’s technology providing cities with security and ensuring safety to Ecobee’s revolutionary thermostat. Companies under the BDC portfolio demonstrate how the nest generation startups and entrepreneurs are showcasing Canadian Innovations to the global marketplace.
1. Hopper
Hopper’s CEO, Fredric Lalonde, discovered that the earlier customer to book air tickets and hotel reservations never gets a good deal. However, Hopper is an online booking company geared to provide lasting solutions.Fredric is an expert in online hotel booking who gained experience working at Expedia in 2012. He noticed the need to assist low-budget travelers in booking online without significant setbacks.
Hopper has shifted to adopting artificial intelligence since 2014. The platform analyzes online prizes and predicts the ideal time to book air tickets or hotels. Hoppers cutting edge innovation in providing different booking model has seen the company organize 100 million trips, making it a recognized traveling application in North America.
2. Ecobee
Today, Google has established a clear path ahead of its competitors. However, Stuart Lombard, founder of Ecobee, is giving his best to compete against the market’s Google brand.
Ecobee’s smart thermostat, created in 2007, has assisted millions of Canadian homes managing their energy use. The thermostat reduces energy consumption by 30 percent, placing Ecobee as a superior competitor in the market. When Lombard was launching Ecobee, his goal was to provide homeowners with a product that conserves energy and saves money. The main agenda of Ecobee’s creation is to make the world habitable.
3. Miovision
Miovision is a company that links software, uses artificial intelligence and sensors to obtain steady information. The company was founded by Kurtis McBride in 2005 to use technology to provide and analyze data from traffic to ensure safe road use.
Miovision aims at providing road users with safer routes and smarter ways to navigate. This innovative technology has assisted 65 countries in improving road usage by minimizing traffic and reducing carbon emissions. The technology advancement from Miovision has improved traffic flow by changing road signal timings for drivers.
