Innovation Anthology #613:

The shop local movement got a huge boost at the 2014 TEC VenturePrize .

Winner of the $100,000 Fast Growth award is Edmonton start-up Localize Services Inc.   

As founder Meghan Dear explains, Localize is a service that helps grocery stores identify local and regional products right on their store shelves.

MEGHAN DEAR: The idea came because I was frustrated.  As a customer I felt like I should know where my food comes from.  And the grocery store seemed like an obvious place for me to be able to find that out when I was making a purchasing decision.  So Localize really arose from that.  I just really wanted to know where products were coming from.  And local producers were the best suited to tell me that. 

With just over a year in the marketplace and fifty clients, Localize Services Inc really  impressed the VenturePrize judges with its plans to expand and make money. 

MEGHAN DEAR: So we’re going to grow.  We’ve already proven we have a very sustainable business.  In western Canada, our growth is proof of that.  We’d like to be across North America in the next three to five years.  It’s really the plan that got us up on that stage. 

Meghan Dear says entering the TEC VenturePrize helped her improve her business plan and her pitch to investors.

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I’M CHERYL CROUCHER