Turning Potential Into Performance
News Release
Government of Canada invests in the innovation and growth of Halifax firm
August 17, 2016 – Halifax, N.S. – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, today announced a $199,998 Government of Canada investment in Athletigen Technologies Inc. The repayable contribution, which is being provided through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP), will enable the company to improve its core technology by developing automated data collection.
Athletigen is a proactive health solution that leverages genome sequencing technology to provide fitness-related information to high performance athletes, coaches, trainers, fitness enthusiasts and health professionals. The company’s proprietary platform is built on an extensive database of genetic indicators that has been built over nearly two-decades of sports genetics research.
After analyzing an athlete’s DNA through a saliva sample, Athletigen reports on genetic markers relating to athletic traits such as power, endurance, metabolism, injury protection, as well as nutrition and sports psychology. Combining this genetic report with daily environmental data, athletes and coaches are provided with the data necessary to optimize training in an effort to maximize performance.
In January 2016, the company secured $1.55M US from Exponential Partners - a California based Venture Capital firm specializing in early stage start-ups, digital health, and machine learning.
This project builds on the federal and provincial governments’ commitment to drive economic growth in Atlantic Canada, as outlined in the recently released Atlantic Growth Strategy.
Quotes
“Innovation is critical to Atlantic Canada’s economic success. That’s why the Government of Canada is committed to encouraging innovation that will increase the productivity, growth and competitiveness of businesses. We are proud to support local small- and medium-size businesses, such as Athletigen, as they expand, secure larger markets, and in doing so, strengthen the economy both locally and nationally.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
“Through the Atlantic Growth Strategy, we are focusing our efforts and resources to stimulate the region’s economy and address both long standing and emerging regional challenges. By working together and building on Atlantic Canada’s competitive advantages, such as its strong export potential, an established innovation ecosystem, and skilled workforce, we can create a more vibrant economic future for our region.”
- Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax
“We are engineering a holistic technology in the emerging market of precision medicine. At Athletigen, we believe in a "one size fits one" performance training philosophy thus honouring important differences that athletes and fitness enthusiasts must celebrate to accelerate their success. To build such a technology requires a unique group of talented individuals from multiple disciplines, including genomics, physiology, data science, technology and communications. With ACOA's support, we have built a robust team of exceptional young professionals where the majority of members have relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia from across the globe.”
− Dr. Jeremy Koenig, Founder & CEO of Athletigen
“Athletigen is leading the charge of a genomic revolution, as the first company to uniquely identify high impact relationships between an individual's unique genetic profile and that person's performance goals. As a result, Athletigen is actively guiding the performance plans of professional athletes around the globe. We at Exponential Ventures are infinitely committed to providing the support needed to help fuel the adoption of Athletigen by the world’s athletes.”
− Pat Wilkison, Partner at Exponential Partners
Associated Links
Athletigen Website
Athletigen Facebook Page
Athletigen Twitter
Atlantic Growth Strategy
Contacts
Alex Smith
Director of Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Phone: 902-426-9417 / 902-830-3839 (cell)
E-mail: alex.smith@canada.ca
Bryce Crosby
Marketing & Communications Manager
Athletigen Technologies Inc.
Phone: 902-440-2957 (office)
Email: bryce.crosby@athletigen.com
Search for related information by keyword
Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Science and Technology Persons Health and Safety
Portable Document Format
The following document is available for downloading or viewing:
- PDF Version, 284 kb
To access the Portable Document Format (PDF) version you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet: