With 100+ Ventures in 5 countries, we are rounding up the news every 2 weeks to share what’s happening. Engage, share + follow using the hashtag #RadicalGenerosity to amplify.
Jump to the country Venture news you want to read:
Australia
- GoGo Events has been recognized as “Best for the World” within the global B Corp community for the second year in a row. The company is among the top 5% of the 5,000 certified B Corporations worldwide.
- Indigiearth was included by Women’s Health on a list of Black-owned brands you need to know.
- Indigital, along with Bunurong Land Council and Earthwatch Australia, has launched a new ClimateWatch Cultural Trail experience to help visitors understand the importance of country in a new light.
- Pleasant State and founders Ami Bateman and Sian Murray were named the winners of a Trans-Tasman Innovation and Growth Award for 2022 at the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. “The award was presented by Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Ardern and it’s safe to say it was one of the biggest moments of our lives.” The company will receive a $25,000 cash prize.
- Super Fierce has launched the “Fierce Performance Index” which it says is the first in Australia to capture 99.8% of the entire market, based on 2,069 investment options across 359 superannuation funds. “We created the Fierce Performance Index to provide all Australians with an affordable way to find and select a super fund that will suit their individual needs, leaving them substantially better off in retirement,” said founder Trenna Probert.
- World’s Biggest Garage Sale‘s deal with Officeworks was featured by Financial Review. “The partnership has allowed WBGS founder Yasmin Grigaliunas to set up a recovery and repair hub in Morningside, Brisbane, creating more than 50 jobs.”
Canada
- Ananda Devices has been selected to participate in the 2022 cohort of BioTools Innovator, an accelerator focused on life science research tools.
- Ay Lelum provided clothing and designs for a new show on APTN called Bears’ Lair.
- Cooks Who Feed founder Seema Sanghavi spoke with Global News about “how the purchase of one ethically manufactured apron can translate into dozens of meals for vulnerable people who would otherwise go hungry.”
- DreamRider Productions has received $47,000 in provincial funding to offer its Planet Protector Academy: Keep Cool! material in French.
- Fan/Joy founder Pam Fanjoy has officially launched Fanjoy Cooking Up Change, a new nonprofit dedicated to using food, food education, and cooking and culinary therapy programs to build life skills.
- Growing Greener Innovations founder Connie Stacey contributed to a new report titled “A Resilient Recovery: Alberta’s Digital-Led Post-COVID Future” which was released in June by the Ottawa-based Digital Think Tank by ICTC.
- Reader’s Digest Canada profiled Brianne Miller, founder of Nada. “Miller envisioned a shop that went further than banning plastic bags—a place that eschewed both wasteful packaging and the bad habit of wasting food itself.”
- REES Community has partnered with Football Manitoba to offer online reporting for bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination.
- Save da Sea Foods products are now available at Choices Markets throughout British Columbia. “It can’t be overstated how significant the Fraser River salmon runs are to the economy in British Columbia, to ecosystems.”
- Sea Smart is a signatory to an open letter calling on the federal government to put the protection of nature at the centre of its forthcoming climate adaptation strategy.
- Skipper Otto co-founder Sonia Strobel wrote an op-ed about ensuring that policies are developed that “allow ecosystems, coastal economies, and food systems to thrive — and that no communities are left behind.”
- SomaDetect has received $707,873 in federal funding to combine its sensors with artificial intelligence to deliver real-time milk quality information at the farm level.
- STEM Minds has been selected to join the 2022 cohort of the Google for Startups accelerator. Founder Anu Bidani will join 11 other startups for the three-month virtual program.
New Zealand
- AWWA founder Michele Wilson and BDÉT founder Billie-Jo Ropiha were named regional finalists in the Māori Business Women’s Awards.
- Chia Sisters has been recognized as “Best for the World” within the global B Corp community for the second year in a row. The company is among the top 5% of the 5,000 certified B Corporations worldwide.
- Kiri Nathan will be a judge for the Māori Business Women’s Awards, after winning last year’s premiere award.
- The New Zealand Herald wrote about Supie‘s efforts to fill a gap in the country’s $22 billion grocery sector by gearing up to take on wholesale orders.
United Kingdom
- BelleVie was featured in a progress update on the UK Research and Innovation’s Health Ageing Challenge.
- City to Sea‘s policy manager, Steve Hynd, said that while it is essential that people stay hydrated during the heatwave, plastic bottles are still a problem. “The Refill app offers Londoners over 4,000 free to use places to refill your water bottles around London to stay hydrated and reduce our plastic footprint.”
- Clothes Doctor founder Lulu O’Connor spoke about the reformulation of the fashion industry in the latest “Lulu’s Story” entry.
United States
- Brown Toy Box, which has attracted investment from 1863 Ventures, recently launched its products in-store and online at Target.
- Courtroom5 co-founders Sonja Ebron and Debra Slone have been named Fastcase 50 winners for 2022. The award recognizes “50 of the smartest, most courageous, innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in the law.”
- Solstice Initiative, the nonprofit arm of Solstice, has named Yesenia Rivera as its new executive director.