BCIC CEO Carl Anderson. Photo: Trevor Nichols
A local startup has been awarded $35,000 for its innovative solution to one of the government’s big data problems.
Kelowna’s Ruby Industries Inc. won a province-wide challenge issued by the BC Innovation Council and BC Stats that challenged tech companies to create a more meaningful and impactful way to visualize provincial housing statistics.
The company won the contest by combining a variety of data visualization approaches “in a way that makes significant improvements to the accessibility and readability of BC Stats’ housing data,” according to the BCIC.
Ruby now has the chance to work with the government to help develop its solutions further. Along with the $35,000 prize, such a major customer is a big get for the Kelowna startup.
Before being named the winner Ruby was the only Okanagan company among the top five finalists. Each finalist was awarded $10,000, and Ruby Industries made an extra $25,000 after beating out four Vancouver competitors for the final prize.
BCIC says it runs these types of contest because they match government needs with B.C. tech companies, giving early stage companies experience and education with the government procurement process.
“We continue to focus on market-driven innovation to compress the sales cycles for B.C. tech,” said Carl Anderson, the president and CEO of the BC Innovation Council. “We’re giving companies what they need: access to qualified and prospective customers. This translates to a quicker path to revenue, at a lower cost.”
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