A new incubator for turning ideas into objects seeks support

Heddoko

The brainchild of Mazen Elbawab, a computer engineer with years of experience in the gaming industry, Heddoko is a product that could give amateur and professional athletes the winning edge.

The idea is to make a wearable body-monitoring device that tracks users’ movements, show what they’re doing right and wrong and give pointers on possible improvements. Elbawab described it as a “virtual coach” when used by athletes privately. It would allow people to practice on their own.

It’s also potentially an aide to professional coaches, allowing them to record proper sporting technique in a way that is superior to the traditional DVD or video.

“If you want to be able to swing a golf club like Tiger Woods, this is the product for you,” says Elbawab.

Heddoko finished in the Top 3 for the $100,000 Investment Prize and Top 3 Quebec Videotron Business Solutions Startup prize at Montreal’s International Startup Festival, July 9-12, 2014.
 

MakerBloks

François Poirier comes to District 3 by way of the Founder Institute, which bills itself as the “world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program.” There he developed the business idea of creating small, reactive, colour-coded building blocks to introduce children to the world of electronics. Think Lego for the 21st century.

Poirier is an industrial designer, with over 15 years of experience in product design. He explains that MakerBloks will enable children to create their own toys — something as sophisticated as a Simon Says-type game, for example.

“With District 3 we can do everything better — analyses and prototypes,” he says. “It’s so much better than what I can do on my own.”

All of these entrepreneurs plan to have their products on the market within a year and are excited to keep working with District 3 toward their goals.

Find out more about the Makerspace campaign at FundOne.