News
October 28, 2019
TechPlace LaunchPad Company Kidictive Receives 2019 Women Founders Fund
Burlington, ON October 28, 2019– TechPlace LaunchPad Company Kidictive Receives 2019 Women Founders Fund
On Wednesday October 23, 2019, TechPlace LaunchPad Company Kidictive was in Toronto for the 2019 Startup Canada Awards hosted at the MaRS Discovery District. During this award ceremony, Kidictive co-founders Michelle Gorman and Laura McLaughlin were one of five recipients of the Women Founders Fund. The fund provides micro-grants to women-led companies in Canada to help them start and grow their businesses while accelerating gender parity. Kidictive took occupancy in the LaunchPad program in August 2019 and are in early stages of the launch of their first product KIDICTED™, the app that helps kids put down their devices and get ‘addicted’ to the real world.
“We were so humbled and inspired to receive this award in the company of so many exceptional Canadian Entrepreneurs and Supporters at the Startup Canada Awards,” said co-founder and CEO Michelle Gorman. “As part of the TechPlace LaunchPad Program we have been able to accelerate our progress and strengthen our application for this grant. We truly appreciate the support from the Burlington Economic Development team.”
Co-founder and COO Laura McLaughlin echo’s this sentiment saying, “TechPlace has given us access to so many amazing resources to help advance our business.” She continued, “We are excited to use the proceeds from the grant to ensure KIDICTED™ is helping kids develop positive, self-directed behaviours around their engagement with devices.”
Since they moved in, Kidictive has been leveraging a number of TechPlace resources including Haltech’s programming and mentorship. “Kidictive’s growth in the LaunchPad program is already very apparent,” said Burlington Economic Development Acting Executive Director Anita Cassidy. “Receiving this grant will help propel their growth further as they get closer to taking KIDICTED™ to market.”
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward was thrilled to hear about the news, saying, “the Women Founders Fund is an incredible resource for female-led STEM businesses positioned for growth. Having one of only five national recipients being located in Burlington demonstrates our community’s value to young companies looking to scale, to getting gender parity in the workplace and promoting the business successes of women.”
Although women in Canada now represent 47 percent of Canadian business owners and contribute $148 billion in economic activity, they continuously face barriers to accessing capital to start and scale their businesses. This gap is particularly evident when looking at women entrepreneurs in STEM fields.
Through the Women Founders Fund, Startup Canada and OnDeck Canada aim to alleviate some of the financial barriers women in the STEM industry face when starting and accessing opportunities for business and professional growth. The recipients are funded with grants of up to $5,000 to support business operations or business growth opportunities.
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is Canada’s entrepreneurship organization. Startup Canada promotes and supports the success and growth of Canada’s 3.5 million entrepreneurs, with a mandate to foster economic growth, competitiveness, and prosperity through entrepreneurship. Since launching, Startup Canada’s programming has directly supported more than 200,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots Startup Community organizations. Working with over 750 ecosystem partners, including accelerators, incubators, research parks, educational institutions, economic development agencies, associations, and government programs, Startup Canada serves entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, industries, and stages of development, with a network reflective of Canada’s diverse population. Learn more at startupcan.ca.
About Kidictive Inc
Kidictive Inc. was founded in September 2017 to help parents create a tech balanced life for their families. Kidictive Inc.’s first product KIDICTED™ launched earlier in the month on the Apple App Store. KIDICTED™ helps kids put down their devices and get ‘addicted’ to the real world by inspiring them to PLAY, CREATE, IMAGINE, DISCOVER and CONNECT.
Kidictive Inc., a Tech Place LaunchPad client, is a proud member of the Haltech Regional Innovation Centre and are recent recipients of Ontario Creates and OCE SmartStart grants which have helped fund their concept development.
About TechPlace
TechPlace is a one-stop destination for new and growing technology companies. With the support of partners from across the public and private sectors, it is dedicated to connecting, developing, and advancing entrepreneurs at all stages. This means providing access to space, programming, mentorship, networking, and resources that are fundamental to growing a business in today’s technology-driven marketplace.
Led by Burlington Economic Development, TechPlace exists to help technology, talent and ideas come together under one roof to create and promote opportunities for economic growth.
About Burlington Economic Development
Burlington Economic Development has a mandate to enhance the growth prospects of existing companies and bring new high-value firms to the community. Burlington Economic Development ’s focus is on growing the economic base to sustain Burlington’s competitive and prosperous community. Burlington Economic Development is the first point of contact for companies looking to expand, start-up or locate in Burlington. 
Left to right: Kidictive Co-founder and COO Laura McLaughlin; David Souaid, Chief Revenue Officer at OnDeck; Kidictive Co-founder and CEO Michelle Gorman.