WEtech Alliance, a Regional Innovation Centre serving Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, has selected five startups to join Cohort 6 of its award-winning ScaleUP Accelerator Program, in partnership with Libro Credit Union and Invest WindsorEssex.

Over the next four months, the startups will work closely with WEtech Alliance, and receive intensive business mentoring + in-kind services valued at $78,000, access to a global network of support, access to $500,000 in discounts and tech perks, and the opportunity to pitch for a $20,000 top prize in front members of the Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN) and the Regional Alliance of Windsor-Essex in December 2022.

“Our job as an organization is to provide resources at the right time, in the right format. Our ScaleUP program allows us to do that in a unique way that not only addresses the needs of our clients but helps them build a network and a community around their ideas and businesses,” said Adam Castle, Director of Venture Services at WEtech Alliance. “It’s grassroots economic development and it provides a tremendous benefit to Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent. With 25 graduates of this program, 22 million dollars in revenue earned, and 168 jobs created, we are so excited to see the growth of this year’s cohort, and the numbers they add to the ever-growing impact of this program on our local economy.”

With startups bracing for lean times and possible downtown, the 2022 cohort will focus on resilience and tackle some of the most pressing issues and skill sets needed to tackle today’s turbulent environment.

“Great companies are born in difficult times. Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Airbnb and Uber, are all examples of successful companies that were started during economic downturns,” said Stephen MacKenzie, President and CEO at Invest WindsorEssex. “I have no doubt that our region and its entrepreneurs will take full advantage of this opportunity.”

The five startups in Cohort 6 are:

Optimotive Inc.: Optimotive is a Windsor based startup focused on the enablement of automation for customers operating in muddy, dusty and otherwise unpredictable conditions. They build robotic offerings to be new members of the workforce, focused on automating tasks and working side by side with humans to make their life easier on a day-to-day basis. You can find their robots operating in settings like construction, mining, and oil & gas.

Climate Neutral: Climate Neutral is a Canadian cleantech company creating innovative digital tools to accelerate climate action. They are presently launching their flagship software – a greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventory Management System which automates the reporting, visualization and analysis of GHG and Energy for Municipalities, Cities, and Regions. This innovative platform empowers local governments with the tools to track, report, and update vital data annually – improving accountability and transparency while providing decision-makers and community members with valuable environmental impact data and insights

SRT Accounting: After building a reputation as traditional accountants with a unique focus on efficiency, quality, and customer service, the SRT Accounting team is now focused on the creation of their new A20 Ecosystem. A20 allows accountants to embrace remote and digital nomad work styles, and to control their income, and future goals. A20 will help accounting firms connect with their clients and reduce costs and issues related to employee turnover, while increasing control of client work, quality, and efficiency. The Ecosystem ultimately helps businesses gain better service and more insight, as they work with accounting professionals to make better decisions for their businesses and families.

REEL Outline: REEL Outline is building technology solutions to assist pharmacists with patients’ health journeys across various sectors of care. Using REEL provides opportunities for pharmacists to perform more efficient and effective clinical services such as: medication reviews, optimizing clinical workflows, streamlining documentation processes, integration with key resources, diversifying income along with promoting patient centricity.

GaiaDigits: GaiaDigits is a software as a service (SaaS) company focusing on a hybrid office solution, Gaia Workspace, that helps their clients migrate from traditional working mode to hybrid office mode, increase the office utilization rate, improving team collaborations, and make better balance between work and life. They transform hybrid office from concept to a measurable practice and provide analytics to evaluate hybrid office KPIs.

Members of the community will be invited to celebrate the ScaleUP Accelerator Program success and connect with founders and startup community members on December 1st, 2022 as part of a special Founders Night YQG.

WEtech Alliance introduced the ScaleUP Accelerator Program in partnership with Libro Credit Union in 2017. Designed to assists regional tech and tech-enabled companies in scaling new lines of revenue, strengthening the state of their sales, management, marketing, and Intellectual Property processes and strategies, as well as provide introductions to a roster of truly global mentors and industry partners.

“At Libro, we believe that small business is the foundation of our communities, but we also recognize the role innovation and scale play in building stronger and more resilient companies,” said Lori Atkinson, Regional Manager at Libro Credit Union. “We are so pleased to continue our partnership with WEtech through this program, and our team is excited to provide insights and expertise throughout the next four months, to ensure these 5 companies have everything they need to plan for a very bright future.”

For more information on the ScaleUP Accelerator, please visit www.wetech-alliance.com/scaleup.