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Rocket Briefing 2019

2019 Press Release

2019 Ready to Rocket lists Announced to Profile Growth Companies in B.C.’s Technology Sectors

Rocket Builders Names Top Technology Companies To the “Ready to Rocket” lists for 17th Consecutive Year to Highlight Companies with Highest Growth Potential 


VANCOUVER, BC – March 11, 2019


Rocket Builders today released its seventeenth (17th) annual “Ready to Rocket” lists.  These lists profile British Columbia technology companies that are best positioned to capitalize on the technology sector trends that will lead them to faster growth than their peers. Rocket Builders also released results from its 2018 lists, with strong revenue growth across all sectors. As is typical with this list, companies profiled tend to attract investment, partnerships and even get acquired. This year, the two notable acquisitions were the exits by Mazza Innovations and S2G Biochemicals.

The annual 2019 “Ready to Rocket” lists provide accurate predictions of private companies that will likely experience significant growth, venture capital investment or acquisition by a major player in the coming year. This year the lists feature 203 companies across 5 different technology sectors:


  • Information and Communications Technology (ICT)  - 85 companies
  • Cleantech (CT) - 39 companies
  • Life Science (LS) - 20 companies
  • Digital Health (DH) - 39 companies
  • Agri-Food (AF) - 20 companies

The “Ready to Rocket” lists are the only predictive lists of its kind in North America, requiring many months of sector and company analysis. The 2019 Lists feature 85 “Ready to Rocket” technology growth companies and 118 “Emerging Rocket” early stage startups.

“Over the 17 years of the program, the B.C. technology sector has steadily grown each year, and presents a growing challenge to select and identify the most likely to succeed for our Ready to Rocket lists.” said Geoffrey Hansen, Managing Partner at Rocket Builders. “In recent years, a startup economy has blossomed yielding a rich field of companies for our consideration, with over 450 companies reviewed to make our selections of 203 winners. Our Emerging Rocket lists enables us to profile those earlier stage companies that are well positioned for investment.”

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

The 2018 Ready to Rocket list for ICT performed extremely well. The average growth rate on that list was over 40% growth, with 32 companies with double digit growth and 6 exceeding 100% growth. The list as a whole represented the creation of over 400 jobs. 39% of companies on the list received new investment in 2018. The 2018 Ready to Rocket list for ICT features 38 companies and the 2018 Emerging Rocket list for ICT features 47 companies.

"2018 was a great year for ICT in British Columbia as there was significant job creation and many breakthrough companies." said Reg Nordman, Managing Partner at Rocket Builders. "We have great ambitions for the 2019 list as many of the featured companies are maturing to the stage where they are likely to be acquired."

CLEANTECH (CT)
The 2018 Ready to Rocket list for Cleantech performed extremely well.
The majority of companies on the list had in excess of 75% growth,
and the lists together created over 200 jobs in 2018.
The 2019 Ready to Rocket list for Cleantech features 19 companies,
while the Emerging Rocket list features 20 companies.

According to Dave Thomas, Senior Partner at Rocket Builders, “The Cleantech sector in B.C. continues to see growth and diversity with noteworthy examples in waste management and in alternative energy.”

LIFE SCIENCE (LS)

The 2018 Ready to Rocket list for Life Science featured many new i nvestments (70% received new investment) and key milestones. There were over 65 jobs created among companies on the list. The 2019 Ready to Rocket list for Life Science features 10 companies, and the Emerging Rocket list features 10 companies.

DIGITAL HEALTH (DH)

2018 was the second year for the Digital Health sector list, and it continues to show growth. With over 100 jobs created, it was a great year for a developing sector. The earlier stage “Emerging Rockets” are really accelerating, with over 75% of them raising investment last year.
In 2019, a  total of 38 companies are being showcased.

AGRI-FOOD (AF)

2019 is the first year for the Agri-Food sector list -- it is a sector comprised of technology companies in the agriculture and food value chains. This inaugural lists features 20 companies in Agricultural Technology (AgTech), Food Technology (FoodTech) and Cannabis Technology (CannabisTech).

For details on the “Ready to Rocket” lists, please visit http://www.readytorocket.com

Saturday, March 9, 2019

2019 Launch Event on March 11th 2019

After reviewing over 450 nominations, we've built our lists and checked them twice.

The unveiling of the 17th annual "Ready to Rocket" recognition list will occur on March 11th 2019 at 5pm. The event presents the latest industry trends, unveils the lists and offers a quality networking opportunity. We expect the event to sell out, so please reserve your spot.

Click below to get full event details and to get your tickets.

 Launch Event Details and Tickets


Saturday, February 16, 2019

2019 Nominations deadlines extended

The nominations deadlines have been extended from February 15th to the following dates:


  1. General Call for Nominations Deadline: February 21st 2019
  2. NRC, Investor and Sponsor Referral Deadline: February 26th 2019
Here is the link for nominations:

Monday, January 7, 2019

2019 Call for Nominations

Have a "hot" growth company in the technology sector you want the world to hear about? Nominate them to BC's 17th Annual "Ready to Rocket" list.


Rocket Builders is Seeking Nominations for the 2019 "Ready to Rocket" and "Emerging Rockets" Lists. This recognition program will showcase companies in ICT, Digital Health, Life Science and CleanTech sectors and will be presented March 11th 2019. Rocket Builders is joined by CBRE, Garibaldi Capital, Go Recruitment, McMillan LLP, the City of New Westminster and PwC in welcoming new nominations.


BC is home to many of Canada's most exciting technology companies. Rocket Builders has built a unique methodology for analyzing market trends and using this knowledge to predict revenue growth in the coming year. Each year Rocket Builders publishes lists which profile the BC companies that have the greatest potential in the coming year.


The "Ready to Rocket" Lists feature top technology companies that are best positioned to capitalize on the largest growth trends in the technology industry. This upcoming list will be the 17th year of this recognition list. We expect that companies selected to the "Ready to Rocket" list will outperform the economy and represent important trends that are creating rapid revenue growth.


We are seeking nominations for the 2019 "Ready to Rocket" lists that we will present on March 11th 2019. Nomination deadline is February 15th 2019, but submission as soon as possible will allow the selection committee more time to consider your nomination. At the same time we are accepting “Emerging Rockets” nominations for startup companies just entering the market at an early stage.




What are we looking for in "Ready to Rocket" companies?


CleanTech Ready to Rocket List for 2018


To qualify for nomination, a company must be beyond the proof of concept stage - customer validation, scalable demonstration project, and established industry relationships.


The selection committee is looking for companies that have the potential for 50% to 100% growth in the coming year, and are in good position to leverage industry trends or key industry partnerships.


CleanTech includes Renewable Energy (wind power, solar power, biomass, hydropower, biofuels), Green Transportation, Electric Motors, Green Chemistry, Lighting, Environmental Protection (air, water, soil) and any innovation that improves energy efficiency.


Life Sciences Ready to Rocket List for 2019


To qualify, a company must be entering a breakthrough stage in their maturity - customer validation, regulatory approval, and established industry relationships.


The selection committee is looking for early indicators of long-term potential and increasing shareholder value, such as passing key regulatory hurdles and achieving related validation steps.


Life Sciences Technology includes Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Healthcare Information Technology and other innovations improving health.


Digital Health Ready to Rocket List for 2019


To qualify for nomination, a company must have more than $500K in revenue and a growing base of customers.


The selection committee is looking for companies that have the potential for 50% to 100% growth in the coming year, and are in good position to leverage industry trends or key industry partnerships.


Digital health technology is disrupting everything from how patients access and receive healthcare services to how healthcare providers store and share electronic health records to how individuals monitor their health and wellness. Digital Health includes medical health record management, corporate wellness, personal health and wellness applications and wearables.


ICT Ready to Rocket List for 2019


To qualify for nomination, a company must have more than $500K in revenue and a growing base of customers.


The selection committee is looking for companies that have the potential for 50% to 100% growth in the coming year, and are in good position to leverage industry trends or key industry partnerships.


ICT includes Information, Communications, Wireless, New Media and Internet technologies.


Agri-Food Tech Ready to Rocket List for 2019

For 2019 we are pleased to introduce a new list that will profile Agricultural, Food and Cannabis Technologies. To qualify for nomination, a company must have more than $500K in technology product revenue and a growing base of customers.


The selection committee is looking for companies that have the potential for 50% to 100% growth in the coming year, and are in good position to leverage industry trends or key industry partnerships.

Nominations


Nominations can be submitted online at: http://www.readytorocket.com/p/nominations.html


Please nominate a company even if the company is "too early" to qualify as Rocket Builders also recognizes emerging companies. Many promising companies are too early in commercialization, too early in first revenues, or in transition to new markets or business models. Based on the potential of their technology alone, Rocket Builders recognizes their potential in an "Emerging Rockets" list. These companies represent companies to watch over the next few years and are likely to mature into "Ready to Rocket" companies.