A startup company created by two StFX students, Richard Grant and Donald Jewkes, has won $45,000 in the annual Spark Nova Scotia startup competition.
The two fourth year students from Antigonish, NS, have teamed together in Liven Beverages, creating Canada's first craft Protein Kefir, a single serve beverage that combines 30 grams of high-quality whey protein with powerful probiotics to heal the body and mind. They describe Liven as a post-workout probiotic that holistically supports muscle recovery and helps consumers achieve and maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
“We feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to work with Spark to improve Liven. We are thankful that initiatives like Spark exist to support rural Nova Scotian businesses like ours,” say Mr. Grant, a business student, and Mr. Jewkes, who is studying computer science.
The Spark program aims to nurture startups based outside of metro Halifax. Before the final pitch competition, entrants received several weeks training on topics such as finance, risk management and pitching skills. The Nova Scotia Association of Community Business Development Corporations is responsible for the program, which is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
The two students say the StFX entrepreneurship community has also been integral to the early success of Liven.
“We are deeply grateful for the mentorship received from Paula Brophy of the Enterprise Development Centre and Schwartz School of Business professor Dr. Neil Maltby. We are as well appreciative of the support received from StFX startup founders Adam Starr from Recircle Plastics and Greg Linton from Tightline Anchor.”
Last January, Liven converted a piece of the Antigonish Farmers’ Market kitchen into a specialty fermentation facility. Since then, they have been successfully selling in the market on Saturdays. “The Antigonish Farmers' Market has been an essential foundation on which Liven has been able to grow,” they say.
“With the funding from Spark, Liven will be able to work with microbiologists to be able to perfect our fermentation process. This will allow us to deliver to our consumers the consistent, quality product that they know and love.
“We are proud to be able to improve people's health while giving back to the local Nova Scotian economy. Someday soon we hope to be on local grocery store shelves so everyone can liven up!”
