Sep 30, 2024
As the leaves start to fall around the Ottawa region and the city prepares for the fall weather ahead, we’re proud to share a few amazing success stories from businesses in the Invest Ottawa ecosystem.
Read below to learn more about ReCast Fishing, TryCycle Data Systems, and Telesat in the September edition of our Ottawa Business Success Snapshots.
An avid outdoorsman and the founder of ReCast Fishing, Gavin Maludzinski enjoyed a youth filled with fishing trips in the deep woods.
However, as he was getting reconnected with fishing a few years later in his 20’s, Gavin explained that he found himself frustrated by the plastic pollution left behind in Canada’s beautiful landscapes.
“It was always frustrating to be immersed in the beauty of the Canadian Shield, yet having to see plastic litter left behind by others,” he said. “Eventually, this combined with an entrepreneurial curiosity to launch ReCast Fishing – combining a hobby I love with an environmental mission I can stand behind.”
With a deep love for fishing and a commitment to environmental sustainability, Gavin’s company introduces the first-ever artificial fishing tackle and lures made from 100% recycled ocean plastic to help counter plastic pollution.
The mission behind the product doesn’t only resonate with Gavin – it also provides environmentally conscious anglers and outdoor enthusiasts a product option they can support that helps make a difference as well.
Since launching in the fall of 2021, ReCast Fishing has been making waves.
Late in August 2024, ReCast Fishing was featured on CTV, which helped promote the new lineup of lures, including jerkbaits, topwater poppers, and deep-diving crankbaits. The appearance also helped spread the news about shore clean-up events that Gavin is planning around the community to help tackle plastic pollution at its source.
According to Gavin, the lures aren’t the only innovative product that’s helping to reduce plastic pollution, as he explained that the company has also introduced new packaging for the company’s growing list of retail partners that uses no plastic.
As a business owner without formal business training, Gavin credits Invest Ottawa with helping him grow his venture through its programs.
“Invest Ottawa has been invaluable in my entrepreneurial crash course,” he reflects.
“I’ve taken advantage of their Advisory Services to learn more about retail, e-commerce strategy, and digital marketing. I also recently participated as a pilot cohort for the E-Commerce program that Invest Ottawa is developing that had great sessions on packaging & labelling, supply chain & logistics, digital marketing, and manufacturing, among other topics.”
“Not only is it helpful to learn from experts,” he added, “it has also helped me develop a network for other entrepreneurs in the Ottawa area.”
With new products, newly released packaging, and the fall fishing season around the corner, Gavin says he’s focused on expanding ReCast Fishing’s retail partnerships and preparing for the busy holiday season ahead.
Gavin added that people can expect to see ReCast Fishing lures at markets around the region in the run-up to the holidays, and says the company is also set to return to the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show in the spring of 2025, to help continue the company’s growth.
A new groundbreaking mental health support initiative powered by Ottawa-based digital health software company TryCycle Data Systems recently started its campaign for Peer Advocates who can help.
The initiative named the Burns Way aims to provide support for veterans across Canada through a peer support chat platform which brings together Indigenous, minority, and non-Indigenous partners to improve access to mental health support for veterans right across Canada.
What makes the Burns Way program stand out is its focus on privacy and connection. Through the platform, veterans seeking help will be anonymously paired with trained peers who understand the complexities of post-service mental health challenges.
This approach gives individuals needing support the ability to access help in a safe, supportive environment.
Along with being a program that provides available human, anonymous support to veterans at any time, one of the program’s key features is to provide an inclusive and safe space, with a focus on Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+ and other equity-deserving veterans.
“At TryCycle we are proud to do our part to remove barriers and ensure all veterans get the support they need,” John MacBeth, founder of TryCycle said in a release posted on the TryCycle website.
As a company at the forefront of digital health innovation, TryCycle Data Systems has focused on supporting the development of addiction recovery and mental health initiatives.
And with this newly launched initiative, the future of veteran mental health support in Canada looks brighter than ever.
Ottawa headquartered satellite communications company Telesat recently announced that it successfully secured $1.9 billion in funding to accelerate its groundbreaking Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network.
This major investment, which includes contributions from both the Canadian federal and Quebec governments, brings the total funding for Lightspeed to $2.54 billion, and helps to ensure Telesat has the necessary funding in place for the Telesat Lightspeed global network.
The Lightspeed project aims to revolutionize global connectivity by delivering high-speed internet to remote and underserved regions worldwide.
With plans to begin launches by mid-2026, Telesat’s vision aligns with Canada’s broader goals of advancing technological innovation and fostering economic growth.
According to a recent article, the company announced that it expected to boost its workforce by nearly 50 percent through 2024 as it ramps up production.
As a key player in the space and satellite communications sector, Telesat’s Lightspeed project represents a significant leap toward bridging the digital divide in Canada and globally, and ensures that Canada is actively involved as stakeholder in the new space economy.
Are you looking to start or grow your business? From idea to start-up to established — discover and explore Invest Ottawa programs and services that can help grow and scale your business here in Ottawa no matter where you are in the business lifecycle. Find the right program for your business.
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