Waterloo Region – October 2, 2012 – One of six promising digital media startups being hosted at the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) initiative in New York City is Tabillo, a startup company working within Communitech’s Venture Services Group mentoring program. Participating companies are looking to capitalize on business-building opportunities. Tabillo has been able to successfully participate in the unique event thanks to the support and management provided by the Canadian Trade Commissioner (CTC) Service.
“Our Canadian entrepreneurs are in a very good place right now,” said Steve Currie, VP of Venture Services at Communitech. “It’s no longer a matter of ‘go big or go home’. With access to world class mentorships provided by leading innovators at Communitech along with the backing of the Canadian government, our entrepreneurs can compete at home and abroad.”
Tabillo, http://www.tabillo.com/ which offers a web-based business collaboration tool, enables small to medium-sized companies to go beyond online file sharing. Sophisticated knowledge management capabilities allow users to work with and structure content in a variety of ways. Businesses can collaborate on internal processes, tailor apps to meet specific needs and easily access/share multiple types of files internally and externally.
A division of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the CTC Service works to extend valuable resources to businesses looking to enter the international market. With its three-month program, the CTA NYC is designed to further this goal by acting as a launching pad for Canadian companies. It functions to raise the profile of startups and their services in New York City, a dynamic community on the lookout for new digital media related technologies. The CTA NYC also helps startups work towards achieving a global presence through the attainment of angel investors and VC funders, the strengthening of strategic partnerships, and the exploration of business development within New York, a magnet for advertising, media, commerce, financial services and innovation.
Communitech leveraged the Canadian Digital Media Network’s (CDMN) Soft-landing Program, which helped facilitate Tabillo’s participation in the New York Accelerator Program. The program provides up to three months of residency in partner facilities equipped to help with companies’ development. Also providing up to $4,000 Canadian for transportation and hotel costs, the program serves as a strong support system for emerging startups.
“None of this would have been possible for us without Communitech’s support and the CDMN Soft-Landing program,” said Sanjeev Arora, founder of Tabillo.
During the three-month New York stint, Tabillo will be able to review valuable input in preparation for a Demo day in November for which startups will have the opportunity to showcase what their businesses have to offer. CTA NYC started on September 5th and is running until November 30th.
“We are learning a lot in such a short period of time. The sessions and experts organized by the Canadian Consulate CTA team provide incredible insight on how to pitch and market as well as access networks and customers,” said Arora. “The visit to New York has been instrumental in helping us gain exposure, increase web traffic and refine our business development process. We are looking forward to the upcoming Demo day and express our thanks to the Canadian Consulate for this memorable experience.”
About Communitech
Communitech www.communitech.ca is located in Waterloo Region, 110 kilometres (66 miles) west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded by a group of dedicated entrepreneurs in 1997, Communitech is the regional hub for the commercialization of innovative technologies supporting and building a Southwestern Ontario tech cluster of close to 1,000 companies that now generates more than $30B in revenue. A member of the Ontario Network of Excellence (www.oneinnovation.ca), which is funded by the Ontario government, Communitech supports tech companies at all stages of their growth and development – from startup companies, to rapidly growing SMEs, to large global players – to create greater numbers of successful global businesses for Ontario and for Canada.
Media Contact
Shelley Grandy, Sr. PR Advisor, Communitech, 905-866-2656 or segrandy@communitech.ca
