A local high-tech business got a financial boost last week in its quest to perfect data compression technology that would allow for fast Internet transfer of full-length movies.
St. Albert’s Deep Compression Inc. got a $10,000 grant from the provincial government through its innovation voucher program.
“Any time you get money to help move things forward, that’s a positive,” said president Kathy Janzen.
The province handed out $6 million worth of vouchers to 204 companies last week. Last year it awarded 179 vouchers totaling more than $5 million. Aimed at helping businesses access specialized expertise they need to move their ideas to the marketplace, the vouchers are available in amounts of $10,000 and $50,000. Companies can receive a maximum of one of each over the life of their businesses.
Located at the NABI building on Mission Avenue, Deep Compression was incorporated in 2007 but its partners have been working on its technology for much longer, Janzen said. The company will use the grant to position itself to attract venture capital, which they need to move the project forward more quickly.
“It’s sort of a chicken and egg [situation]. Once you can compress a movie, everybody wants to give you money, but then you don’t need it,” Janzen said.
“With the economy the way it is, people are very shy about putting money into anything that is high-risk.”
Her company is definitely in the high-risk category she said, but it also ranks very high on the scale of potential rewards.
“If we can make this real, the returns will be huge,” she said.
St. Albert hairdresser Danielle Barbey has been named Alberta’s finest at the annual Mirror Awards presented by Canadian Hairdresser Magazine.
A stylist with Ricci Hair Co., Barbey earned the title Alberta Salon Stylist of the Year at a ceremony in Toronto Feb. 27.
“I’m really happy. I’m really excited,” said Barbey, 25. “I really wanted to make finalist but winning was even better.”
This annual contest requires that hair stylists submit three photos of styles they’ve created. It was Barbey’s second year entering the contest.
The Edmonton resident has been in the industry for nine years and has worked at Ricci’s St. Albert location since it opened in 2007.
Ricci Hair Co. has a strong track record with the Mirror Awards, with salon owner Tony Ricci named Canadian stylist of the year in 2008 and 2009. Last year he and Barbey also shared the award for best Alberta salon.
“He’s been an amazing mentor,” Barbey said. “He’s been so successful and he’s so creative that I’ve learned a lot from him.”
