Ottawa Business Success Highlights, February 2025

As of February 2025, Ottawa’s business landscape continues to thrive, with companies like Plantaform, Cyphercor, and Code for a Cause making significant strides in their respective fields. This edition of the Ottawa Business Success Snapshots blog highlights the innovations and achievements of these businesses.

Plantaform’s Rapid Growth
Plantaform is experiencing remarkable growth in 2025, following a successful showcase of its indoor gardening technology at Costco Roadshows. The company secured a pivotal investment deal with Michele Romanow, an investor from CBC's Dragons’ Den, which is expected to provide substantial funding and strategic guidance to help Plantaform scale operations. CEO Alberto Aguilar expressed excitement over the partnership, indicating it would strengthen the company's market presence across North America.

In January 2025, Plantaform also gained considerable media attention during its launch at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where it won six Best of Show awards, confirming its innovation in the indoor gardening sector. Their technology, particularly the Rejuvenate indoor garden system that uses NASA-inspired Fogponics, is marketed as an eco-friendly solution requiring significantly less water. Throughout February, the company engaged customers across various Ottawa Costco locations, allowing them to experience Plantaform’s products firsthand.

Backed by Invest Ottawa’s IO Accelerator Program, Plantaform benefits from a network of resources and mentors, enhancing its growth trajectory as it prepares for a transformative year ahead with plans to scale production and expand retail partnerships.

Cyphercor: Cybersecurity Innovations
Cyphercor, an Ottawa-based cybersecurity firm, is carving a niche for itself by providing user-friendly multi-factor authentication solutions. Established in 2011, Cyphercor is ISO-27001 certified and holds multiple patents in authentication technology, with its flagship product, LoginTC, trusted by numerous organizations globally. Recently, the company successfully completed a contract with Shared Services Canada to test their innovative "Anywhere MFA" solution, which is set to launch imminently. Cyphercor’s advancements continue to affirm Ottawa’s reputation as a global leader in cybersecurity.

Code for a Cause: Merging Gaming and Philanthropy
At just 16, Dean Parsons is making waves in the game development community with his initiative, Code for a Cause. Merging his passion for coding with charitable efforts, Dean organized a game jam where half of the prize pool is donated to a charity of the winner's choice. His project gained substantial traction quickly, raising over $1,200 for charity and attracting more than 300 participants in just a week.

Dean credits much of his success to the mentorship and training he received through Invest Ottawa’s Summer Company program, designed to support youth entrepreneurs. He intends to expand his initiative by exploring new avenues for combining coding with charity, aspiring to become a centralized hub for coders interested in contributing to causes.

As these companies demonstrate, Ottawa's business community is vibrant and diverse, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility. With ongoing support from organizations like Invest Ottawa, these firms are poised to continue making a significant impact in their respective fields as they scale and grow.