March 2015
ICT Case Studies from the MaRS Innovation portfolio
Flybits and Whirlscape
Inventor: Dr. Hossein Rahnama, Ryerson University Technology status at disclosure: • Standalone app running in
the Paris Metro• Paper concept to become a
context-aware platform for next-generation mobile development and applications
• No business expertise (academic research project)
MI’s Actions: • Incorporated the company • Placed Joel Liederman as interim COO; worked
with founder to hire other management • Secured seed investment • Developed multi-prong go-to-market strategy,
emphasizing iterative development with customer feedback
• Fostered partnerships with GO transit; TELUS as first customer
• Provided pitch coaching and fundraising support through $4.75M Series A with international investors (Bosch, Vodafone and Trellis Capital)
• Provided marketing and publicity support
Now: Flybits transforms its customers’ mobile apps to deliver personalized experiences, employs 30+ people
and has an office in Palo Alto.
CASE STUDY CONTEXT-BASED MOBILECOMPUTING PLATFORM
Inventor: Will Walmsley, University of Toronto Technology status at disclosure: • Text-entry, rotation-based
mobile product prototype for the blind called RoText
• Academic research project with keen, entrepreneurial grad students
MI’s Actions: • Suggested pivot to wider text entry
market (mobile keyboards: Android phones) • Incorporated company through UTEST
program • $30,000 investment, space and
mentorship • Supporter for Whirlscape’s Indiegogo
campaign (which raised $87,000+ on $10,000 ask, securing 10,000 beta users)
Whirlscape’s Momentum: • Springboard to YCombinator, Creative
Destruction and other later-stage start-up accelerators ($500,000 seed round)
• Traction and monthly revenue in both Android and iPhone phone markets
• Keyboard for Will.i.am’s Puls cuffNow: Company employs 10+ people who are developing applications to the growing wearables
market.
CASE STUDY TYPING TECHNOLOGY WITH BROAD APPLICATIONS FOR WEARABLE COMPUTING
For more information:Web: marsinnovation.com Twitter: @marsinnovation
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/Lk7JoJ
Top Related