Mississauga Mayor Says No Idle Time For Busy RIC Centre's Innovator Idol III Finalists

The Research Innovation and Commercialization Centre (RIC) announced the four finalists for it's upcoming annual Innovator Idol III contest. To be held at 8:30 AM on June 15th at Mississauga Central Library.StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Jun 09, 2011 – Prior to a meeting with Mayor Hazel McCallion, Pam Banks, Executive Director of the Research Innovation and Commercialization (RIC) Centre, a leading member of the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE), announced the four finalists for the upcoming Innovator Idol III contest. The high profile event, scheduled June 15th at Mississauga Central Library, will feature four finalist companies as they pitch a panel of investment experts, as well as a live audience, for their share of $40,000 worth of prizes. Innovator Idol III finalists are Carmel Vision, Induce Biologics, Isobarex and Rivalries Corporation.

Mayor McCallion praised RIC and Innovator Idol III in an interview, saying “RIC Centre programs like Innovator Idol help bring innovators to the point of success by highlighting their accomplishments, and by showing off their products and services to investors.”

Like its popular TV show namesake, Innovator Idol III is a reality-based contest in which winners are selected by a live audience.  “Idol is just one example of how we use creative marketing to connect star innovators with motivated investors,” explained Banks. “Because of events like Idol III, RIC Centre has become the go-to resource for many early stage companies who need help to find the best pathway to successful commercialization.”

Past winners not only benefited from exposure to funders and valuable prizes, they have gone on to become significant players in Canadian and international markets. Innovator Idol I winner Jodi Glover, CEO of Real Tech , explains that winning Idol paved the way to a host of new global opportunities as a result of the entrepreneurial expertise provided by RIC's dedicated team and Entrepreneurs In Residence like James Sbrolla and Tim Scott.

“Our finalists have invested many hundreds of hours in sweat equity to get to this annual grand finale of our Growing Your Business breakfast series,” said Sbrolla. “They are all talented and committed star innovators who benefit from prize sponsors like Bereskin Parr, C Worthy, Intelligent Office, Gowlings, Marketing Pad, Meyer Norris Penny, RBC and Sustained-Media.”