
The Bootstrap Awards 2022
Join us on June 7th at the Tech Tuesday Ceremony!
2021 winner videos and round table discussion
The Annual Bootstrap Awards celebrate self-capitalized businesses that have “bootstrapped” their growth with limited outside funding and achieved commercial success. The awards were created to recognize the outstanding achievements of early stage companies in all industries, both for-profit and non-profit, and across a range of distinct criteria-based categories.
Companies must be located in the National Capital Region, from Eastern Ontario to Western Quebec, have been in business less than seven years, and have received no more than $500,000 in outside capital funding (excluding debt).
The Bootstrap Awards began in 2004, when Dr. Bruce Firestone, a local entrepreneur and founder of the Ottawa Senators, believed self-funded entrepreneurs deserved more recognition. Originally headed by Exploriem, the awards were relaunched by The Ottawa Network in 2017.
Awards
GREEN AWARD
The winner demonstrates how their company or organization is striving to improve the environment or contribute to environmental health or awareness through a combination of environmental and economic (commercial) sustainability.
INNOVATION AWARD
The winner demonstrates how their company has applied scientific and/or engineering expertise and technology to solve a problem in a way that is unique and innovative.
SAAS AWARD
The winner demonstrates how their company uses Software as a Service to provide a product that has customer uptake and enthusiasm as shown in number of customers and/or growth.
MARKETING AWARD
The winner demonstrates how they used innovative marketing strategies to attract media attention and stakeholder involvement while cost-effectively acquiring customers and clients.
BOOTSTRAP CAPITAL AWARD
The winner demonstrates their ability to self-finance and “bootstrap” their enterprise with limited or no help from Angel or Venture Capital investors, and grow their business while remaining economically viable and profitable.
DISRUPTOR AWARD
The winner demonstrates how they are boldly trying to turn a business or paradigm on its head or changing an industry, and have received some early traction from supporters. This award celebrates those who have a big vision and are taking a risk to make their vision a reality.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
The winner demonstrates how their efforts or organization has had an impact on the community in terms of social good by improving diversity, providing a service or product to an under-served community, raising awareness of a cause or initiative through a unique event, campaign, or fundraising program and by using innovative and/or entrepreneurial techniques. This award may be given to an individual entrepreneur or company.
FOUNDER OF THE YEAR
This winner demonstrates exceptional leadership and ability to grow their company and build their business through stakeholder engagement and networking, and/or shown themselves to be a leader and influencer in the business community, acting as a peer role-model for other founders.
Green Award: greenre President: Keith Loiselle
Innovation Award: CoGenerate Solar CEO: Ra'ed Arab CTO: Bruno Rocha
SaaS Award: Noibu Co-founders: Robert Boukine and Kailin Noivo
Marketing Award: Wicket Co-founders: Jeff Horne and Laura Mindorff
Bootstrap Capital Award: RedLore CEO: Niek Van Dierdonck
Disruptor Award: Extend Pharmacy Specialists Founder: Jason Wentzell Manager: Meghan Hayes
Community Impact Award: Treehouse Medical Founder: Julia Slanina
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Founder of the Year: Jason Lee Company: SmartCone Technologies
Green Award: Backcountry Wok Founder: Melanie Ang
Innovation Award: Tungsten Collaborative Co-founders: Mike Brown, William Dicke, Dave McMullin
SaaS Award: Rilea Technologies CEO/CTO: Lisa Hallsworth, Rob Hallsworth
Marketing Award: Hit Point Press Founder: Ricardo Evangelho
Bootstrap Capital Award: Space Strategies Co-founders: Adre Dupuis, Maria Rey, Anne-Marie Dupuis
Disruptor Award: Lightship Security Directors: Jason Lawler, Brad Proffitt, Greg McLearn, Lachan Turner
Community Impact Award: Sprig Learning CEO/CTO: Jarrett Laughlin, Faud Khan
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Founder of the Year: Meta Innovation Technologies Founder: Dr. Ellie Ardakani
Green Award: Ecovena Founder/CEO: Trevor Boicey
Innovation Award: The Growcer Co-founders: Corey Ellis, Alida Burke
SaaS Award: PartnerPortal.io CEO: Josh Garellek
Marketing Award: Desk Nibbles Co-founders: Cassy Aite and Emil Aite
Bootstrap Capital Award: Purecolo CEO: Rainer Paduch
Disruptor Award: Brokrete CEO: Jordan Latourelle
Community Impact Award: Thawrih CEO: Sarah Abood
Founder of the Year: Open Door Education Services Founder: Heather Desjardins
2018 Winners
Green Award: Riverwood Acoustics Founder/CEO: Ben Seaman
Innovation Engineering & Technology Award: SanEcoTec Founder/CEO: Els Vanbeckevoort
Best Mobile Application: GoFor Co-Founder/CEO: Brad Rollo
Best Guerilla/Social Marketing Campaign: Digitera Founder/CEO: Jordan St. Jacques
Bootstrap Capital Award: Spatial DNA Informatics Inc. Founder/CEO: Todd Lewis
Community Impact Award: KindVillage Founder/CEO: Tanya Woods
Founder of the Year: Welbi Technologies Co-Founder/CEO: Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau
2017 Winners
Green Award: Spectrafy
Innovation Engineering & Technology Award: iBionics
Best Mobile Application: award shared by Bluink & Punchtime
Best Guerilla/Social Matrketing Campaign: Grype
Bootstrap Capital Award: Ottawa Media Group
Community Impact Award: NuGrocery
Fastest Growing Startup Award: CanadaWheels
2012 Winners
Best Business Model – CanaFlora
Innovation in Engineering and Technology – Crack Semiconductor
Lead to Win for Women- Amanda R A Lunan | Auntie Loo’s Treats
Bootstrap Capital – Apption Corporation
Best Guerilla Marketing – Toletta
Community Impact – Shepherds of Good Hope
Green Award – Rumidifier Home Comforts Inc.
Best Mobile App/Website – Spoonity Inc.
Best Customer Service – Blue Rabbit Machines
Best Sales/Value Proposition – LavaBlast
People’s Choice – Dermis Advanced Skin Care
Fastest Growing Startup – Stoneshare
2011 Winners
Best Micro Business – FaveQuest
Best 20 and Under Startup – Jennifer Lee Promotions
Best website – Manpacks
Best Technique for Sales/Pre-Sales/Launch – Vertigrow
Best Value Proposition/Value Differentiator/Pixie Dust – Patientway
Most Innovative Source, Bootstrap Capital – IdeaVibes
Best Guerrilla Marketing Idea/Social Marketing – Zeebu Mobile
Most Innovative Social Enterprise Fundraiser – Ottawa Humane Society
Most Innovative Business Model -SokJok
Fastest Growing Startup – Inovatech Engineering
2010 Winners
New Micro Business of the Year – Network Hippo Inc.
20 and under Startup – Stewart Supreme Vending
New Web Site of the Year – Wedding Republic
Best Sales/Pre-Sales/Launch Clients – CrowdWave Games
Value Differentiation Technique – UCreate Media
Best Pixie Dust Technique of the Year – BSETC
Most Innovative Source of Bootstrap Capital of the Year – MartSmart Shopping Network
Best Guerrilla Marketing Idea or Campaign of the Year – Social Mention
Most Innovative New Bootstrap Business Model of the Year – Shopify
Fastest Growing Bootstrap Startup – Telepin Software
See all our winners and presenters since 2010 at the Facebook home of the Bootstrap Awards!





































































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