Kamloops Innovation has revealed the winner of the Built in Kamloops contest that offered up a business package worth more than $50,000.
Jonathan Natavio is the owner of the Vancouver-based startup, Porter, that will receive a six-month intensive package including $10,000 cash, accommodations, office space, business coaching and mentorship and more.
Porter is a tech-enabled concierge platform helping companies and working professionals take care of their day-to-day tasks, handling chores such as dog walking grocery shopping and Ikea purchase and assembly.
The Built in Kamloops contest was launched by Kamloops Innovation in partnership with the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, the City of Kamloops, Venture Kamloops and Tourism Kamloops to attract a new startup and put the city’s growing tech industry on the map.
They received more than 40 applications from eight different countries over the last three months. Kamloops Innovation executive director Lincoln Smith said in a media release that Porter has seen traction in Vancouver and is looking to test in different markets. Nativio said this will be a great opportunity for his company to do just that as well as receive mentorship through the Venture Acceleration Program.
Natavio came up with the idea for Porter in 2015 out of a pain point he experienced in the office after working in the Canadian eCommerce industry for 10 years. He found managers and assistants were always swamped with menial and mundane tasks that distracted from the more important ones. Looking for a solution, he searched for an app or service that could help but realized the entire industry is fragmented and frustrating.
He launched Porter in 2016, starting out as a personal concierge platform helping working people with errands and growing into a tech-enabled full-service concierge platform providing services for businesses and individuals.
Natavio will start his six-month residency in Kamloops this July and will be matched with an entrepreneur-in-residence at Kamloops Innovation to work on accelerating his business.
KamloopsBCNow will be following Natavio’s work in Kamloops as he discovers everything the local startup community has to offer. Stay tuned for monthly updates!
