Julie Angus and her husband, Colin, learned a lot about the ocean during the five months it took them to row from Portugal to Costa Rica.
Quite apart from determining there鈥檚 a reason most people don鈥檛 tackle the Atlantic Ocean and hurricanes with only humans to power the vessel, the couple realized just how little is known about the world鈥檚 oceans.
The trip sparked an idea that has become their start-up tech firm, Open Ocean Robotics.
The two year-old company produces solar-powered, autonomous boats equipped with sensors and cameras that can collect information and relay data in real time.
鈥淭here are huge applications for this, 80% of the ocean is unknown, unmapped,鈥� said Julie Angus, who was showing off one of their boats and showcasing the company at the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council鈥檚 Discover Tectoria event at Crystal Garden on Thursday.
鈥淲hen you spend a lot of time on the ocean, you realize people don鈥檛 know how hard it is to see what goes on out there,鈥� she said, adding when she and Colin faced two hurricanes during the crossing they realized there had to be a better way to go out and explore.
鈥淭he automaton solves those issues. It can go out in conditions no crewed vessel can go out in and can stay out for months at a time,鈥� she said, adding it鈥檚 also a more cost-effective way of doing research.
The company, which has eight employees, is doing a pilot project mapping the sea floor for the Canadian Coast Guard and another for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans relaying real-time data on ocean currents, temperature and salinity.
The need, said Julie Angus, is immense.
鈥淚f we want to protect our oceans and have industry operate in them, we have to embrace technology,鈥� she said.
Angus said it was important for the young company to be at Tectoria, a showcase of what makes Victoria鈥檚 tech industry tick, to both promote itself and the plight of the ocean.
鈥淭his is about being part of the tech community, and it鈥檚 cool to showcase all the incredible innovation we have here in Victoria,鈥� she said.
At the day-long event, thousands of people checked out the latest in research from the University of Victoria, heard speakers talk about the growth of Victoria鈥檚 tech industry and how to get careers in the industry, and saw which young companies are聽preparing to test the marketplace.
That included new firms along 鈥淪tart-up Alley鈥� with innovative twists on office furniture, robotics and marine services such as Wisertech Marine Services, which has 10 employees despite being active for only a few months. Wisertech founder Edward Wisernig said the firm has developed marine products from mooring solutions to augmented reality navigation systems.
On Thursday, he was showing off the company鈥檚 solar-energy capture system for boats, which, he believes, is the only sun-tracking device available. He said its 150-watt solar panel will provide the same energy as five 100-watt flat solar panels.
The system captures energy through photovoltaic solar panels and by using a stainless mirror and a solar collector.
Unlike flat panels that only get a percentage of the sun during the day, the system can track and capture energy from full sun through the day, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 designed to reduce the number of solar panels while getting the same amount of energy,鈥� he said, noting 150 watts would power a fridge, electronics and charge a boat鈥檚 batteries.
Jerome Etwaroo, associate director of the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Centre at UVic, which helps student entrepreneurs takes ideas and concepts to market, said Tectoria is circled on their calendar every year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great, it brings the community together and showcases some of the great things that are happening,鈥� he said.
For start-up firms, it鈥檚 a chance to build connections and get feedback before going to market. 鈥淲hat better place to get candid feedback than this?鈥� Etwaroo said.
Industry veterans also see the value in the event.
鈥淚t makes you aware of everything going on in the city,鈥� said Scott Dewis, chief vision officer at Race Rocks 3-D. 鈥淢ost tech companies don鈥檛 sell to Victoria, they sell to the world, so to get them together and see what they are actually doing is pretty neat.鈥�
Dewis said his company was on the trade show floor because it is always looking for talent.
Race聽Rocks hired 18 people last year and expects to grow this year.
鈥淭he trouble is finding people who are available,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 now so many tech firms and every one is growing.鈥�
The Victoria tech sector, which generates about $4 billion in annual revenue from 904 companies, employs about 20,000 people.
