Led · Equity · Dec 2021

Rockport Networks offers a switchless network architecture that uses software and data-routing techniques to overcome congestion and deliver performance and scalability for HPC, AI and ML workloads. The company recently announced general availability of its Rockport Switchless Network. Its solution is already in use with multiple customers, including Frontera at the University of Texas’ Advanced Computing Center. Leadership is co-led by Co-Founder and Co-CEO Doug Carwardine and newly appointed Co-CEO Marc Sultzbaugh, who will drive growth across product, marketing, sales, manufacturing and customer relationships. Carwardine continues to oversee research and development, people and culture, and finance. The company plans to accelerate its go-to-market activities and expand sales and marketing following the financing. Rockport Networks, founded in 2012 and based in Ottawa, develops a new networking model and software-enabled systems aimed at faster, more secure, and cleaner data‑centre connectivity. Its Networking at the Edge (NATE) project seeks to reduce energy consumption of data centres while improving speed and cybersecurity. The company says its innovation will create intellectual property, support hundreds of knowledge‑based jobs, and drive sustainable network technology. Rockport is commercializing autonomous networking solutions and positioning its products for global marketplaces. Financially, Rockport is receiving government support for these initiatives and has previously obtained cleantech funding and a commercialization loan. No standalone revenue or user metrics are disclosed in the article. Rockport Networks has developed an autonomous networking solution designed to simplify data centre connectivity by enabling direct server interconnection, eliminating physical switches, using photonic switching to route traffic, and applying advanced software/hardware control to manage data flow. The technology aims to improve performance, increase reliability and scalability, and reduce electricity consumption and cooling requirements in data centre networking. The company will use the new funding to adapt its technology specifically for the server market, undertake product refinement, and carry out market development and a product launch. Rockport also plans to generate at least seven new patent applications for its newly developed intellectual property. Founded in 2012 and based in Ottawa, Rockport previously received about $4 million in funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada as part of broader cleantech investments. The company frames the FedDev Ontario support as accelerating market entry and building a highly skilled workforce to deliver economic, environmental, and security benefits.

Led · Equity · Jun 2019

MicroSintesis develops proprietary microbiome therapies by using patented formulations of signal molecules that regulate bacterial populations in the gut. The company has identified a set of signal molecules that are part of the microbiome’s communication system and leverages those to shift bacterial populations. It launched commercial products in 2018 for companion animal and livestock markets in Canada under the Ygia (cats and dogs) and Nuvio (pigs and chickens) brands. MicroSintesis reports its products have been used in over 2 million animals. The company says the recent funding will be used to scale up production and build out research capabilities and a delivery platform for next-generation microbiome products. Hannah McIver serves as CEO.