Today in funding: MESH/Diversity, Sollum Technologies, Heirlume, Nyoka
Summary
The funding will be used to support product development, sales and marketing, and customer success initiatives.MESH/Diversitys last financing totalled $950,000 and was also classified as a seed round in September 2019. Based on the behavioural science work done by the companys co-founder, Leeno Karumanchery, this approach seeks to address the unconscious system of attitudes and behaviours that shapes the culture in any organization.Montreal-based Sollum Technologies has raised $3.15 million from the Government of Quebec through Technoclimat, bringing its total funding in 2020 to more than $12 million.Technoclimat is a provincial program that offers financial support to innovative projects in terms of energy efficiency, renewable energies, bioenergy and reduction of emissions. The investment in Sollum Technologies will enable Sollum to trial the greenhouse production of peppers during the winter with its smart LED lighting solution.This funding follows Sollum Technologies receiving $5 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada and $3.9 million from Investissement Qu\xe9bec, its initial investor, and National Bank.In the context of increased consciousness around food autonomy, energy efficiency, and climate change, Technoclimats participation yet again confirms our sustainable development partners confidence in the environmental benefits and market potential our innovative technology provides, said Louis Brun, president and CEO of Sollum Technologies.Julie MacDonell, co-founder and CEO of legaltech startup Heirlume, has secured $150,000 in financing from the Ottawa-based SheBoot boot camp, which the startup recently completed.Heirlume, which aims to make the complex process of trademarking fast, accurate, and affordable, received the financing through a convertible loan, or short-term debt that later converts into equity. The funding was invested by a group of Ottawa angel investors.SheBoot is a four-week boot camp hosted by Capital Angel Network and Invest Ottawa, and is designed to prepare womxn-identifying entrepreneurs to pitch their business and secure investment.Audrey Bond, founder and CEO of Ottawas Vaultt, a secure information management and communication platform for families and caregivers, won the second-place prize of $50,000.Nyoka Design Labs and Nanotess have received funding from the Canadian Export Challenge, a pitch competition for entrepreneurs to pitch and win up to $25,000 in cash and $100,000 in support. Nyoka Design Labs aims to innovate the traditional plastic glow-stick and is working towards empowering the next generation of eco-conscious entrepreneurs.Founded by Yamila Franco, Nyoka uses permaculture design, Indigenous earth-caring knowledge, and biotechnology to power its Light Wand a bioluminescent, non-toxic, reusable glow-stick.Our Nyoka Light Wand, the worlds first plastic-free, non-toxic glow stick is only the beginning as we are now preparing for a bigger crowdfunding campaign that will support us as we build a more sustainable future, said Franco, who is also chief financial officer of Nyoka Design Labs.The Canadian Export Challenge scale-up category winner, Calgary-based Nanotess, won $25,000 and an additional $100,000 in in-kind support.Nanotess commercializes nano molecule-enabled health care and decontamination products.