Flow Ventures Invests in ArtAnywhere

Flow Ventures has made their second investment of 2009, into an online art rental business based out of Montreal called ArtAnywhere. This enterprise helps artists toiling in cities around the world hook up with people who want to turn their non-traditional spaces into galleries at a reasonable cost.

ArtAnywhere is also the first startup created and spun-out of Flow Ventures itself.  Leading ArtAnywhere is CEO and co-founder Christine Renaud, an experienced educator and social entrepreneur who is already well-known in local startup circles.

Congratulations to both Flow Ventures and ArtAnywhere for opening up a new niche with the power of the Internet!

Precarn Announces New T-Gap funding for Startup Companies

Precarn has just released a call for applications to its reinvigorated T-GAP Program. Like its predecessor, the program focuses on the gap between technology innovation and commercialization. The program is designed for very small and start-up companies working in the area of intelligent systems.  Applications must be received by September 2nd, 2009 for consideration under this program.

Precarn is seeking immediate applications to this program. $1,000,000 has been allocated for projects costing up to a maximum $75,000 in Precarn contribution. Precarn funding will be up to 65% of the total eligible project costs. Once a project is approved, 50% of the Precarn funds will be paid at midterm of the project and the remaining 50% will be paid upon project completion and delivery of a final report.

Full details can be found on Precarn’s web site by clicking here or pasting the following in your web browser (http://www.precarn.ca/news/2009TGAP.html)

The Technology-Gap Assistance Program (T-GAP) is the conduit through which the funds are awarded.

The T-GAP program has the following characteristics:

• A focus on very small (2-10 person) companies and start-up companies;
• Maximum funding is $75,000;
• Maximum Precarn support is 65% of total project costs;
• Project duration of six months or less;
• Proposals may be submitted at any time; and,
• 50% of Precarn’s contribution will be paid at the midpoint of the project and the remaining 50% will be paid upon project completion and receipt of the final report.

Available funds are primarily intended to bring technologies closer to commercial readiness; naturally, this represents a wide range of different activities, but some examples include:

• Building engineering prototypes,
• Refining and implementing designs,
• Conducting scale-up activities,
• Product-specific market research,
• Conducting field studies, or
• Carrying out technical and market assessments.

Equally diverse are the expenses that can be claimed under the program; typical examples include:

• Salaries,
• Consultants fees,
• Materials and supplies,
• Project-related travel, and
• Other necessary direct costs

Available  funds are primarily intended to bring technologies closer to commercial  readiness; naturally, this represents a wide range of different activities, but some examples include:  building engineering prototypes, refining and implementing designs, conducting scale-up activities, product-specific market research, conducting field studies, or carrying out technical and market assessments.

For the details download one of the following:

Download the T-GAP Proposal requirements here (PDF)

Download the T-GAP Proposal requirements here (MS-Word)