Entrepreneurship Competition Team Entries

3BC

3BC - Point of Care Interactive Education

3BC is a software development company that specializes in creating medical web and mobile applications. We are a team with a background in medicine, software engineering, design and statistics. We bridge our technical knowledge with innovative software solutions. Our current focus is on creating technologies that help make sense of the exponentially growing medical literature in order to enable patients and doctors to make informed decisions.

The proposed solution is an application for tablets that enhance the consenting procedure performed by doctors. 3BC assists the physician’s verbal description of the procedure with relevant information and 3D animations. Our app will also allow doctors to upload a consent form that can be signed by the patient and stored digitally. Doctors will purchase this product as it will increase patient care by clearer communication, standardized and documented consent, mitigating risks and improving efficiency.

3BC envisions adapting the consenting app into other areas of medicine. It can be ideally adapted for pharmaceutical clinical trials. The core of our product is to assist informed decision-making by interactive tablet applications. This can be applied to a universal setting, such as market research, marketing commercial banking products, and real estate agreements to name a few.

CabShare

CabShare

High cab fare is a deterrent for commuters to take cabs, especially those travelling independently in the Greater Toronto Area. The individual commuter lacks an efficient and effective way to find other commuters travelling in the same direction to share the cab fare with, which results in commuters often finding other forms of transportation. Without knowledge of where commuters are, cab drivers often drive aimlessly or wait to be flagged down, which causes increased traffic congestion and inefficiency.

By harnessing the power of location-aware smartphones, CabShare offers a way to connect with others sharing common destinations and origins. The application will match users nearby, divide up the fare evenly, and even arrange for a cab to be called to the pickup location. Founded by University of Toronto students Christina Cai, Jonathan Ng, and Donnie Yee, CabShare provides a unique solution to the problem of high cab fares.

Damn Heels

Damn Heels

After one excruciatingly painful post-party walk home, Hailey Coleman decided that walking the streets barefoot was a faux pas that could - and needed - to be prevented. Damn Heels is saving women from their (beloved) damn heels. We’ve introduced chic, fold-up flats tucked into a small pouch that expands into a trendy tote bag. Women simply slip their sore, blistered feet into the soft-sided flats and their stilettos into the tote. Giving women a convenient, comfortable and fashionable alternative to heels. They are available in black, gold and silver, in small (5/6), medium (7/8), large (9/10) and extra large (11/12), and retail for $20. They are perfect for any woman who's working, traveling, at wedding and events, and make great gifts!

www.damnheels.com

www.facebook.com/damnheels

www.twitter.com/damnheels

www.damnheels.tumblr.com

Elentric

Elentric

With the ongoing rise in energy costs, the demand for efficient light bulbs in commercial and residential properties is increasing rapidly. LED lighting, short for “light-emitting diode”, is a recent innovation in the lighting industry that only captures about 2% of the current lighting market. However, LED is poised to replace most conventional lighting in the next decade, as they last 4 times longer and uses half of the energy of the common fluorescent lighting systems.

Elentric is seeking to create value for our clients by replacing their conventional lighting system with LEDs. We will begin with targeting small and medium commercial property owners who show strong interest in reducing their energy consumption. We also hope to expand beyond mere installation services by incorporating lighting design as part of our services, fully utilizing LED visual capabilities and the creativity of our design team.

Finizi

Finizi

Finizi is a free online platform where financial institutions are able to bid for the business of customers in live auctions. Targeted towards both individuals as well as business entities, Finizi eliminates the need for customers to shop around in order to get good rates while giving financial institutions an additional channel through which to acquire new customers. Finizi has a simple to use interface, quick process and does not handle money or collect any personal information. This is the first service of its kind in Canada, aiming to provide the best rates on investment and lending products. Finizi is launching with Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs).

FoodLink

FoodLink

Many people face the recurring problem of wanting to have home-cooked meals, but not having the time to shop for groceries or simply don’t know what to buy. This means that they often fall back to going out to eat, or ordering their meals... all the time. [FoodLink] aims to solve this problem by restructuring the recipes-to-grocery-shopping experience. Our business will allow consumers to order groceries directly through recipe websites or from smartphones, then have the packaged items be delivered or ready for pickup at a predetermined store. This service will successfully satisfy the consumer need to spend less time shopping for groceries, and more time on activities that matter most to them. Recipe companies, supermarket chains, and food suppliers will also benefit from partnering with [FoodLink] by increased publicity and developing a niche clientele base through offering an additional, differentiated service. [FoodLink] will utilize modern web browsers and existing mobile platforms like iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone to provide consumers maximum flexibility and convenience.

Freshmat

Freshmat

FreshMat is an in-studio device which sanitizes yoga mats, providing a fast, standardized cleaning approach. FreshMat is not a traditional spray or wipe option, but an electrically powered device that involves washing and drying a yoga mat in under 30 seconds. FreshMat eliminates the unreliability of manual cleaning techniques by applying proven cleaning methods and natural products. Users are able to feed their mats into the device, and through a series of unique cleaning and drying steps the mat emerges fresh and ready for storage. Our company provides a supplemental cleaning solution that is supplied in small, recyclable cartridges. FreshMat provides a faster, more efficient option compared to the products that currently exist. For consumers who own mats, the availability of a reliable cleaning solution would be an attractive feature that would attract them to studios that offer our device. For the studios who provide mats, this device supports their business on two primary fronts; financially, it reduces the amount of labour that their staff currently allocates to hand-cleaning mats, and hygienically, they are able to rely on a standardized, proven cleaning method which avoids the possibility of human error and as a result, bacterial development.

GameDunzo

GameDunzo

GameDunzo is an online gaming platform that eliminates the problems other platforms face. GameDunzo acts as a neutral host and automates logistics. GameDunzo also offers the most popular social networking tools (news feed - user activity, friends, likes, comments etc…) and video streaming, becoming the best online gaming experience. GameDunzo has state of the art console server technology and auto verification technology that documents and logs all games played. If you’re feeling confident about your skills, set up a quick wager with your opponent, knowing you’re in the most fair and secure gaming environment. Our technology organizes all aspects of the challenge and tournament with automated technology. GameDunzo registers players, advances them to the next round, and transfers cash prizes instantly. Spend more time enjoying the tournament knowing you are in the most secure gaming environment. Once you build up your confidence, visit our Pro-Gamers page and challenge gamers that have been winning every competition in the nation.

GOVision

GOVision

GOVision (Global Oriental Vision) is currently a global platform of communication and exchange for Chinese overseas students. Our mission is to facilitate information-exchange and experience-sharing among Chinese overseas students, in the ways of online support, conferences, and regional events. Our 6000 members are distributed in 42 post-secondary institutions in North America. Currently there are 460,000 Chinese overseas students across the globe, and that number is still growing exponentially. As the first organization specializing in this market with 50 billion dollars, GOVision is dedicated to building a top platform for this targeted group.





GOVision headquarter is in Toronto. Our central management team comes from University of Toronto, and we understand the needs of our customers. GOVision is operating both online and offline. GOVision has already set up a multifunctional website (www.globalorientalvision.com) since October, 2010, acting as an online community as well as information center. GOVision is also building up mentorship and partnership programs by cooperating with different companies and organizations for global events (annual conference) and regional events.

HYGIENNA

HYGIENNA

Hygienna, Inc. is a Canadian corporation that was founded in December 2009 and will offer innovative personal hygiene products. The flagship product is a personal healthcare device called HygiennaTM and it is the world’s lightest portable bidet. This portable bidet is a simple, low‐cost, reusable device that enables busy people to alleviate the problem of using excessive toilet paper and help maintain cleanliness throughout the day.

HygiennaTM is small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand and attaches onto many different brands of plastic water and juice bottles. Once attached to a plastic drink bottle that is filled with water, the nozzle is pointed to the desired wash area. With a simple squeeze of the bottle, HygiennaTM releases a refreshing stream of water from its shower‐head nozzle.

Our primary market segment will be Muslim communities who already have an established cultural history of using bidets. Our secondary target segments will include campers, outdoor enthusiasts, as well as the emerging market of people with Irritable Bowel Diseases. It is anticipated that HygiennaTM, Inc. will reach profitability six months after product launch in the GTA, which will serve as a platform to approach distributors throughout North America and to expand the product portfolio of personal hygiene products.

Image Matters

Image Matters

Image Matters is an organization that began with a vision to introduce technology worthy of reshaping the medical industry, as it is known today. The aid to patients, increased efficiency and the projected future growth of the organization’s technology is the beginning of the commercialization of a new frontier of medical advances. Engineers in both software and hardware fields along with medical professionals combined efforts to pioneer the development. This unity stems from the original vision and is representative in the technology and in the company, today. The involvement of Trent University’s Business Administration undergraduates provided strength and innovation through the implementation process, in turn lifting the technology to a marketable audience. Image Matters is recognizing the future and ceasing it in the present. By remaining united in developing efficient surgical room advancements for both patients and surgeons, the expansion of our organization is undeniable.

Mobile Shoppers Inc

Mobile Shoppers Inc

Mobile Shoppers Inc. is a company aiming to revolutionize the shopping experience at supermarkets and large retail stores. We plan to implement a mobile app that allows products to be scanned into a "virtual shopping cart" and incorporate a point of sales system that works in conjunction with the app to provide a faster and more convenient shopping experience for consumers. Our team consists of five Engineering Science students at the University of Toronto and also has strong connections in commerce and computer science. With our passion for technology and our solid technical foundation, we strive to bring the newest technological innovations into the shopping aspect of life. We are passionate innovators and entrepreneurs, and are very excited to present our business idea at NBTC 2011!

Mobywan

Mobywan

Based in Toronto, Ontario and founded in July 2010, Mobywan has developed Mobeo for Android, iPhone and (soon) BlackBerry smartphones.

Mobeo is a location-based social game that allows you to connect with your friends based on where you are in the real world. Drop a Slippery Banana at your brother's favourite coffee shop for his next visit, throw a Flaming Cabbage at your friends when they're at the mall, or find notes that a friend left for you to discover. Mobeo makes everyone's daily routine more exciting!

SOCIAL
Keep in touch with your friends with cross-platform messaging, gifting and event sharing via Twitter or Facebook.

PRIVATE
Powerful & easy-to-use privacy controls ensure Mobeo only shares your location and profile with the people you choose. Specify who you play Mobeo with: create private games for groups of friends, or challenge the world and join a public game.

REAL-TIME
Get notified when friends encounter your traps, when your throws hit their target, or when you discover notes around town.

FLUID GAMEPLAY
With Mobeo, it's not about broadcasting your location via 'check-ins'. It's about using your location to facilitate fun interactions with friends. Our location technology enables fluid gameplay without the need to manually update your location.

Notesolution

Notesolution

Notesolution is a brand new on-line platform to improve academic interaction amongst Canadian university students. In essence, the site provides a knowledge exchange portal that allows students to find supplementary material for all of their courses. Much of the material is contributed by upper year students who have taken the course previously as well as current students who are taking the course. The site allows users to quickly search through our database for the most comprehensive and relevant summary of any university course. Currently, Notesolution is 100% free and operates on a credit system. Students receive credits for uploading notes and have to spend credits when downloading. As well, the site encourages academic interaction among students, giving new students a platform to learn from the experiences of older students. It is our mission to ensure that all university students are on an equal playing field and provide a forum for the unconfined exchange of intellectual dialogue and content.

NoteWagon

NoteWagon

NoteWagon.com is an academic social learning platform revolved around students sharing course content online. Students can upload course material online, tag the classes they are in and receive (tokens) for every download. Students can collect tokens and exchange them for gift cards, (real) money and other cool deals in their city.

OOHLALA Mobile

OOLALA Mobile

Our mission is simple, to create a global mobile platform (iPhone, iPad, iPod, BlackBerry, Android, others coming soon) that helps students navigate their student and social life. Our platform allows you to connect with your student unions/clubs, check-in to campus events, chat with nearby students, and get location based deals, coupons, guest-lists from your favourite venues and merchants. Since our launch just twelve weeks ago (Toronto, Montreal, Kingston) we have brought on board 100+ merchants/venues ranging from popular brands such as Subway, and Sunrise Records to major universities such as the University of Toronto and McGill.

 

Check us out at www.gotoohlala.com or download "OOHLALA Mobile" on your Smartphone app store.

Rayku.com

Rayku.com

Rayku.com is a peer-to-peer micro tutoring website that lets students share and ask for academic help, on demand, in real time.

Traditional tutoring is expensive and inconvenient. It is inaccessible to most of the student population even though it has very apparent benefits. We want to cut the price of tutoring in half and bring it down to micro-tutoring rates of $0.25-$0.30/minute, and make tutoring available at any time of the day.

First, based off of a unique algorithm, Rayku matches students with other students that are most qualified to help them. Next, Rayku provides a live shared whiteboard for immediate no-wait conversation and communication.

Rayku.com features an innovative and unique model for an industry that is exploding. Our vision is to make one-on-one tutoring openly accessible to anyone and everyone.

Red Inc

Red Inc

The team Red Inc. consists of first year MBA candidates (Bharat Bhardwaj; Sri Phani Krishna Donepudi and Daniel Rosenberg) from the Rotman School of Management. The combined knowledge and expertise of the members will provide the leadership required for Red Inc. to be a success in the telecom space.

Red Inc.’s vision is to not only assist telecom operators in the developing world to increase their revenue stream but also to give the power of the internet to common people. To meet this vision Red Inc. will design set top boxes (including the software solution) for telecom operators in the developing world. The device will allow users to access customized internet enabled applications via the television set.

TadWANA

TadWANA

Frustration was the trigger that brought TadWANA to life. One evening, Sorin was sitting down with his wife trying to unwind in front of his TV set. Like most members of his generation he does not watch “TV” on his TV set, he watches online videos. He realized that watching online videos happens in tandem with searching for online videos across multiple “walled gardens” and often the “SEARCHING” takes just as long if not longer than the “WATCHING”. There must be a better way to truly unwind while watching online videos, he thought, and over a weekend at Startup Weekend Toronto the better way was born under the name of TadWANA.

TadWANA knows what you like to watch, what your friends or the people you follow like to watch and it creates your own personalized online video channel. If you are an enterprise TadWANA is your training platform, PA system and virtual online video filter. Its customization and analytics engines allow you to gain the visibility and control that will ensure your organization gains value out of the vast amount of information being disseminated online via video. As a consumer of online video, all you have to do is WATCH!

Vyind

Vyind

Vyind’s mission is to become the world’s online hub for personalized learning. It is widely observed that the traditional education system has become increasingly deficient in preparing learners to excel in today’s complex and competitive workplace. Vyind is founded by two experienced engineering graduates, Enoch Lam and Brian Wu, who are keenly aware of the systemic problems in education and are passionate to make a difference in other learners’ lives.

At Vyind, we believe that genuine learning occurs best when it is personalized, self-organized and goal- oriented, with extensive community interaction with like-minded peers and committed involvement of experienced professionals. Vyind seeks to create a web platform that complements the tertiary education system by making learning more effective, interactive, enjoyable and rewarding. The pseudo- word “Vyind” originated from the symbolic meanings of “vine” (interconnectivity and mutual help between community members) and “find” (the search for knowledge, meaning, direction, and fulfilling relationships in life).

Weev

Weev

Socialappetite is a team of six UBC students, three engineers and three commerce, with the goal of using mobile technology to enhance human social lives in the real world. Our premiere product, Weev is the first proximity-based social network exclusively for universities, seaming together the fabric of university life. Weev helps students tap into the potential of nearby peers and resources, thus creating a stronger sense of community on campuses. Unlike other social networks, Weev is about real time location networking for immediate results. Weev will create a more engaging campus experience by generating a list of other nearby students based on faculty, courses, current activities, and interests. Weev is about who is nearby, how users can help each other, and connect right here, right now. Universities are a prime market for a location based social network, given itʼs high density of people with many commonalities and reasons for collaboration. The users themselves are extremely valuable; high influencers, highly educated, and the up-coming professional demographic. We also offer value to Universities as a way to connect to their student body and promote certain news. Weev is about creating real-time peer collaboration.