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Cash awards of up to $50,000 to help Nova Scotia startups spark something.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Spark Nova Scotia to Focus on Communities, Business Learning
Closer to Home - Cash awards of up to $50,000 to help Nova Scotia startups spark something.

Middle Musquodoboit, NS – Spark Nova Scotia, historically known as the Spark Innovation Challenge,
has launched with a stronger focus placed on communities and business learning.

“Spark is searching for those hidden startup gems in our coastal, rural and academic communities,” said
Erinn Smith, Executive Director of the NS Association of Community Business Development
Corporations (“CBDCs”). “When we find them, we can support them, all while promoting entrepreneurial
activity across the province.”

Spark is both a competition and education program tailored for early-stage innovative businesses in Cape
Breton, NS North and NS South West. Winners receive up to $50,000 and guidance from top NS business
professionals. Total value of prizes available for all of Nova Scotia is $375,000.

“We’re offering learning for all who apply, and in business centres that are geographically closer to the
startups themselves,” said Permjot Valia, Startup Mentor with Nava Marketing, a company providing
Spark organizing and training support. “We’re bringing the training to them.”

Spark 2019 will be held in three geographic regions, providing learning sessions for all companies that
apply. Entrants must be based in one of the following regions:

● Spark Cape Breton – Inverness, Richmond, Victoria & Cape Breton counties.
● Spark North – Guysborough, Antigonish, Pictou, Colchester & Cumberland counties plus East
Hants and Rural HRM (excludes Halifax, Dartmouth & Bedford).
● Spark South West – Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby, Annapolis, Kings &
West Hants counties.

While Spark is interested in startups from the ICT, life sciences, clean tech and ocean sectors,
submissions are welcome for any innovation with market potential. Entrants must have a new
knowledge-based product or service with zero sales revenue since inception. Funds awarded will be used
to support the completion of prototypes or preparation for taking the product or service to market.

To enter, businesses are asked to complete the form at sparknovascotia.com by midnight on October 17,
2019. Business, government, academic and community leaders in these communities are asked to share
this opportunity within their networks.

Contact: Sandra Goodwin, media representative; 1 (902) 441-5476; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Spark Nova Scotia is an initiative of the Community Business Development Corporations of Nova Scotia.