Newfoundland-based Technology Company Accepted into the Canadian Extended Reality Start-up Market Accelerator in Seattle, Washington

Feb 2, 2021

ST. JOHN’S, February 2, 2021 — Engage Creative Technologies (Engage) is excited to be one of just ten companies across the country to take part in the inaugural Canadian XR (Extended Reality) Startup Market Accelerator in Seattle, Washington. Engage is focused on leveraging AR (Augmented Reality) to enhance marine navigation and integrate with other emerging ocean technologies, and this program will play a vital role in its planned expansion into the US market over the coming years.

“With a first-of-its-kind prototype developed for the marine industry, we’ve combined cutting edge AR technology with traditional radar technology to enhance situational awareness and allow for safer navigation in low-lighting and low-visibility settings, specifically in an offshore environment” said Aaron Dawe, President, Engage Creative Technologies. “This accelerator will help lay the foundation for our expansion into the US market over the coming 12-24 months.”

The eight-week accelerator is designed to prepare ten hand-selected Canadian VR, AR, and voice-related start-ups for expansion into the American market. The virtual accelerator will include a mix of curriculum, introductions and mentorship to help participants grow their entrepreneurial skills and begin market validation in the U.S.

“Extended reality is on the cusp of reimagining legacy industries like healthcare, construction and hospitality, and these ten companies represent some of our industry’s best and brightest” said Michael Schutzler, CEO, WTIA. “Through this program, each participant will receive tailored, individual guidance as they work to expand into the U.S. market, bringing unparalleled innovation into the rapidly developing industry.”

“The greater Cascadia region has grown into a hub of XR market leaders with the likes of Microsoft, Facebook and Google in Seattle; plus, Electronic Arts (EA) and Finger Food Studios in Vancouver,” said Brandon Lee, Consul General of Canada in Seattle. “This XR Startup Market Accelerator program provides a great opportunity to further develop the region as an industry leader, coupling cultural and economic links between Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Led bysome of the industry’s brightest minds, the ten accelerator participants – which hail from Vancouver, BC to St. John’s, Newfoundland – are primed for a successful step into the U.S. market.”

About Engage Creative Technologies

Engage Creative Technologies is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based innovation-driven company focused on creating value-added digital solutions that reshape reality and allow humans to harness the power of technology. We use our suite of proprietary solutions, together with leading-edge user experience and design principles, to develop visualization and augmented reality / mixed reality technologies for a broad range of applications.

About WTIA

The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is a non-profit trade group representing over 1,100 member companies – the largest in the United States. The primary mission of the WTIA is helping Washington residents gain access to high-wage tech-industry jobs. The WTIA acts as an independent, unifying voice to motivate industry, education and government peers to collaborate effectively and also uses group-buying power to help tech companies grow profitably. The WTIA group includes the 501c6 WTIA Member Trade Association, the 501c3 WTIA Workforce Institute, the 501c9 WTIA Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiaries Association, and the for-profit company WTIA HR Benefits, Inc. ApprentiTM is a program operated by the WTIA Workforce Institute.

About Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada manages Canada’s diplomatic relations, provides consular services to Canadians, promotes the country’s international trade, and leads Canada’s international development and humanitarian assistance. The Consulate General of Canada in Seattle serves to strengthen trade and economic ties as well as enhance political, academic and cultural links between Canada and the four U.S. Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

Within Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) is a network of more than 1000 trade professionals working in Canadian embassies, high commissions, and consulates located in 161 cities around the world and with offices across Canada. For more than 120 years, the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) has been helping companies navigate international markets.

About British Columbia Trade & Investment

British Columbia Trade & Investment supports BC-based companies expand into international markets, as well as assists foreign companies with setting up and expanding operations in BC.

Media Contact:
Aaron Dawe
President – Engage Creative Technologies [email protected]
(709) 765-1045

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