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

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