DURHAM REGION, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spark Innovation Centre is pleased to announce IFTech as the Young Entrepreneur winner and Sound Options as the General Entrepreneur winner of the 2015 Ignite competition. Both companies have taken the top prize of $25,000 each.
Inventing Future Technology Inc. (“IFTech”) co-founded by son and father duo Brodie Stanfield and Michael Stanfield are innovators in wearable technology, leading the next generation of immersive gaming. Their first product is ARAIG (As Real As It Gets), a high-tech, multi-sensory gaming suit. The ARAIG gaming suit provides a new unique immersive experience through multi-sensory feedback. Whether it is for gaming, training, virtual reality, augmented awareness or another market entirely, ARAIG can deliver the most cutting edge technology to its users.
Sound Options, founded by Dr. Michael Chrostowski, designs accessible and affordable treatments for chronic ringing in the ears known as tinnitus. The company works with hearing clinics to provide patients with a software-generated customized sound therapy embedded in music. Using current knowledge of the brain changes that trigger tinnitus, the treatments are tailored to each individual using cutting-edge software that takes into account a person’s tinnitus and hearing loss.
Along with the $25,000 prize, these two companies will be given free office space in Spark Centre’s head office The Loft, located in Oshawa, and will also join Spark Centre’s Thrive Accelerator Program which offers significant advisory and business support services to achieve a faster market entry.
“I am continuously impressed with the amount of entrepreneurial talent in Durham Region. The level of competition this year was at its highest and I congratulate all 72 companies who participated throughout the process,” said Dennis Croft, President & CEO of Spark Centre. “Congratulations to IFTech and Sound Options, two incredibly dedicated and hard-working companies. Spark Centre is looking forward to being a part of their journey and continued success.”
About Ignite: Currently in its third year, Ignite is an exciting entrepreneurial journey organized by Spark Innovation Centre. The competition is an extensive journey which includes a 60 second pitch competition, a three minute pitch competition, and a 30 minute boardroom presentation in front of the Ignite Power Panel before two $25,000 winners are chosen. For more information visit ignitedurham.ca.
