Under New Leadership, GrowLab Reveals First Four Startups of Spring 2014 Cohort

GrowLab today announced the first four startups so far selected to be part of its Spring 2014 cohort.

The search for top talent has been rigorous, the accelerator says. It received more than 350 applications and interviewed more than 70 startups before selecting the first four companies.

“I am very excited about the new cohort,” GrowLab Executive Director Jonathan Bixby said. “All of the companies that we selected have real traction and are in growing and valuable markets.”

The Spring 2014 cohort will be the first cohort under Bixby’s full leadership since he took the helm of GrowLab in October 2013.

Here they are:

BitLit: a platform that allows publishers to distribute free or highly discounted eBooks to readers who own physical editions. Readers use the BitLit app to prove they own a paper copy of a book to get the bundled eBook edition which can be read on any device.

EthicalDeal: ethicalDeal will soon let brands to test products for free in return for sharing your experience via reviews with Facebook friends.

PrintToPeer: a cloud print solution for desktop 3D printers, allowing you to print to your 3D printer from anywhere. And with a RESTful API, PrintToPeer also enables developers to add 3D printing to their applications.

Spark CRM: an online platform specifically designed to power the entire process of selling and marketing real estate. Using technology to help turn leads into buyers, inventory into contracts, and information into usable metrics.

In the coming weeks, the teams will go through mentorship sessions in Vancouver and Silicon Valley to accelerate their growth. The Spring 2014 cohort will officially start in San Francisco to leverage GrowLab’s strong links with leaders in the industry. The teams will benefit from opportunities to learn from minds in technology, develop strategic partnerships, meet with potential investors, and expand their network, according to the Accelerator.

To date, GrowLab has accelerated 25 startups, which have collectively raised over $11 million in funding and created over 85 jobs in Canada.

Applications for GrowLab Fall 2014 cohort are open.