$325,000 to be Won by BC Tech Ventures

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 9, 2012) - For the 12^th year, the New Ventures BC Society's BCIC-New Ventures Competition will award cash prizes to early-stage technology startups viewed to have the most potential for success by the competitions' panel of judges. In total, the competition will award $325,000 in cash and prizes to startups.

Over the years, more than 1,200 BC companies have participated in the six-month, five-round competition offering unparalleled networking, learning and mentoring sessions. Past winners include AirG (2001 first prize winner), Augurex Life Sciences (2007 first prize winner), Saltworks Technologies (2008 first prize winner), Pulse Energy (2008 second prize winner) and Hiretheworld.com (2010 first prize winner), to name only a few.

BC tech entrepreneurs are invited to enter their startup into the BCIC-New Ventures Competition by April 17^th, 2012. Prizes include:

• $100,000 BCIC First Prize
• $55,000 BCIC Second Prize
• $35,000 BCIC Third Prize
• $40,000 BC Hydro Sustainability Prize
• $30,000 Shildroth Agritech Innovation First Prize
• $20,000 Shildroth Agritech Innovation Second Prize
• $20,000 BC Bioenergy Network Prize
• $15,000 Vancity Social Venture Prize
• Plug and Play Prize (value $10,000)

Who should enter?

The BCIC-New Ventures Competition is one of North America's largest technology business idea competitions and is open to companies from a wide range of industries including cleantech, digital media, Internet, information technology, life science, social enterprise and agritech.

The competition is open to any BC person, resident or business with a technology-focused idea that has not yet secured significant financing from external investors (i.e. investors other than friends, family and company founders). Application deadline is Tuesday, April 17^th, 2012 at midnight.

The BCIC-New Ventures Competition seminars will take place in Vancouver at the SFU Beedie School of Business beginning April 4, 2012. To register in the Competition or for more information regarding rules and eligibility requirements, visit www.newventuresbc.com.

About the BCIC-New Ventures Competition

The BCIC-New Ventures Competition supports BC's emerging and dynamic technology industry. Established in 2001, the BCIC-New Ventures Competition is operated by the non-profit New Ventures BC Society and made possible through the generous support of BCIC, private and public sponsors, and volunteer mentors, speakers and judges.

www.newventuresbc.com

www.twitter.com/nvbc (@nvbc)

About BCIC

BCIC develops entrepreneurial talent and commercializes technology through startup companies and partnerships between industry and academia. BCIC focuses on competitively positioning British Columbia in today's global knowledge economy in order to provide significant employment opportunities and a high standard of living for British Columbians.

www.bcic.ca

www.twitter.com/bcic (@bcic)