Breakthru Awards recognize innovative N.B. business plans, Telegraph Journal
By DAVID SHIPLEY
Canadaeast News Service
Published Friday November 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page A7
With an irresistible pitch and an innovative idea, business student Brad Pierce and the rest of his
team broke through to the judges of the Breakthru competition Thursday.
Pierce and his partners in Greenlight Geomatics are one step closer to launching a successful new
enterprise after winning the platinum prize of the new provincial business-plan competition.
"I've done this pitch so many times, it was just natural," Pierce said. "(This) is an opportunity to
take this project forward."
The Miramichi-based venture is developing a GPS-based, automated technology for railway
companies that maps and controls herbicide spray without affecting environmentally sensitive
areas.
Greenlight's team, led by land surveyor Herman Koops, also included engineering students
Anthony Illukwe and John Lord, and business student Khaled Taha.
The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation unveiled the winners of its first BreakThru
competition during a gala dinner at the Delta Fredericton Hotel. A panel of investment gurus
from government selected the platinum, gold and silver winners from among six finalists.
Greenlight will receive a $100,000 equity investment from the foundation, coupled with $39,500
worth of in-kind legal, marketing, accounting and IT services.
Rivers Corbett and his partners in Trivnet Media System were the gold award winners. Trivnet's
product is a tabletop multimedia device that entertains, informs and bills customers at their
restaurant table.
Trivnet will receive a $50,000 equity investment, coupled with $16,500 worth of in-kind services.
"We went into a dragon's den and came back out alive," said Corbett.
The silver award winner, Shawn Carver and the team behind MassRule, will receive a $25,000
equity investment and $9,000 worth of in-kind services.
MassRule is a new polling solution for marketers searching for opinions expressed by millions on
the Internet.
Smaller cash prizes were also given out. Greenlight, which was judged to have had the bestwritten
business plan, received $2,000. Trivnet received $1,000 for the best presentation, and
Justin Kennedy and his team with PlayDarts Now received $1,000 for the most innovative idea.
The innovation foundation created the Breakthru competition to assist entrepreneurs transform
their innovative ideas into viable enterprises.