TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jun 19, 2014) - TELUS and The Globe and Mail announced the finalists today in the fourth annual installment of "The Challenge" - the contest that helps Canadian small business owners overcome their greatest challenge with a $100,000 award from TELUS. The four finalists - one based in B.C., two in Ontario and one in Nova Scotia - were selected from more than 1,000 entries that came in between March and May from small businesses in cities across the country.

"The Challenge is an opportunity for Canada's brightest entrepreneurs and executives to showcase their unique business ideas and share their biggest challenges," said Suzanne Trusdale, vice-president of TELUS Small Business Solutions. "The four finalists exemplify the ways in which Canadian businesses are innovating today. Whether it's by investing in technology, increasing their manufacturing capabilities or driving demand through marketing, we can't wait to see how $100,000 will help the winner expand their organization to compete on a global scale."

This year's four finalists are:

• 4Deep Inwater Imaging based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 4Deep produces a submersible holographic microscope that monitors water quality in real-time at virtually any depth. 4Deep's disruptive technology has piqued the interest of world-renowned oceanographic research institutes in the United States, Australia and Japan, and current manufacturing operations can't keep up with demand. The company would use the $100,000 award to ramp up its manufacturing capabilities and build demonstration units to showcase its technology globally.

• Imbibitive Technologies based in Welland, Ontario. Imbibitive Technologies produces Imbiber Beads, the only oil-sensitive super-absorbent polymer in the world. Imbiber Beads have the potential to revolutionize the way crude oil, diluted bitumen and hazardous chemical spills are dealt with worldwide and can improve the effectiveness of clean-up operations. The company would use the $100,000 award to build scientific support for its product and launch a comprehensive communications campaign.

• Stathletes based in St. Catharines, Ontario. Stathletes captures, analyzes and interprets data through its proprietary tracking software to help NHL teams drive peak performance and gain a competitive advantage. With a deep understanding of the metrics that drive winning in the game of hockey, Stathletes is looking to incorporate camera technology into its analytics and develop a market-leading solution for the NHL and professional hockey leagues around the world. The company would use the $100,000 award to hire technology experts to develop its own camera-based technology.

• Vancouver Island Salt Co. based in Cobble Hill, British Columbia. Vancouver Island Salt Co. is Canada's leading producer of artisan sea salt. Recognized by chefs as one of the top artisan salt producers in the world, Vancouver Island Salt Co. uses recycled cooking oil to fuel its dehydration process, making it one of the globe's greenest producers. The company would use the $100,000 award to expand its production capabilities and increase marketing to drive global demand for Canadian sea salt.

The four finalists presented their business challenges and pitched their plans for leveraging the $100,000 award to the following panel of experts at TELUS House in Downtown Toronto this morning:

  • Chris Griffiths - director, Fine Tune Consulting, a boutique business consulting practice, and long-time entrepreneur
  • Carolyn Lawrence - president and CEO, Women of Influence
  • Suzanne Trusdale - vice-president, Small Business Solutions, TELUS
  • Katherine Scarrow - editor, Report on Small Business, The Globe and Mail
  • Steve Tustin - editor, Custom Content Group, The Globe and Mail
  • Sean Stanleigh - product manager, Report on Small Business, The Globe and Mail

"Funding is crucial for growth, and growth is what every small business owner strives to achieve every day. I have no doubt the $100,000 prize our four finalists are vying to win will have a measurable impact," said Sean Stanleigh, product manager, Report on Small Business, The Globe and Mail. "The finalists have already cleared a huge hurdle in getting this far, and as judges, we will have a tough decision on our hands."

Each finalist will receive three Samsung smartphones, access to a TELUS Learning Centre specialist who will show them how to use the devices to their full potential for both business and pleasure, a one-year subscription to The Globe and Mail and a mentoring session with one of the judges.

The winner will be announced on September 18, 2014 and 10 regional awards will be given out during Small Business Week in October.

For full details about The Challenge please visit Globeandmail.com/thechallenge.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX:T)(NYSE:TU) is Canada's fastest-growing national telecommunications company, with $11.5 billion of annual revenue and 13.3 million customer connections, including 7.8 million wireless subscribers, 3.2 million wireline network access lines, 1.4 million Internet subscribers and 842,000 TELUS TV customers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video, and is Canada's largest healthcare IT provider.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $350 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 5.4 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail, through its newspaper, magazine, online and mobile platforms, is Canada's foremost news media company. Each day, The Globe leads the national discussion by engaging Canadians in its award-winning coverage and analysis of news, politics, business and lifestyle. The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, founded in 1844, Report on Business, Canada's most influential business magazine, and globeandmail.com, the newspaper's online and mobile media hub, reach a combined 6 million readers every month. The Globe has received numerous journalism awards, including the international 2011 prize for General Excellence in Journalism from the Online News Associations, nine Michener Awards for Public Service Journalism, and more National Newspaper Awards than any other newspaper in Canada. The Globe and Mail is 85% owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family, and Bell Canada (15%).