At the Spring 2012 BCIC New Ventures Regional Competition award ceremony held in Kelowna Pixton Comics Inc. of Parksville BC was awarded first place and the grand prize of $30,000. Pixton have recently reached the finals of the BCIC New Ventures Province-wide competition and are gearing up for the finale of that event.
The BCIC-New Ventures Competition started with 146 companies. The field has been narrowed down to ten finalist startup technology companies, who last week presented their final pitches to compete for $235,000 in cash and prizes. The winners will be announced at the 12th annual BCIC-New Ventures Competition Awards Ceremony on September 26th.
Pixton have created a website where users can make their own comics without having to draw. Kids use Pixton to tell jokes and to collaborate on stories. Students use Pixton to explain a scientific concept or to summarize a book chapter, instead of writing an essay. Adults make comics about political issues, and businesses create training materials and marketing messages. The comics can be shared at the click of a button via email, embed code, Facebook, Twitter and all of the usual social media routes.
Clive and Daina Goodison
Pixton Founder, Clive Goodinson, said “At Pixton, we are democratizing the creation of comics. Our core values include always innovating and improving the product we offer. We incorporate user feedback to make the tool more powerful and fun.” The comic creation tool is ever evolving.
Founded in 2008 by husband and wife team, Daina and Clive, Pixton started with a simple format using stick figures. The company is now profitable and they have seen rapid growth.
Tripling their userbase in the past year, Pixton has over 1 million registered users. They have gone global. The company has paying customers in over 80 countries worldwide, and their educational product is used in schools in every state and province in the U.S. and Canada.
Venture Acceleration Program (VAP)
Pixton are currently based in Parksville, although they are planning a move to Victoria where they hope to join the newly launched Venture Acceleration Program at Accelerate Tectoria.
Originating at Accelerate Okanagan in 2011, the VAP will now be made available province wide through the BCIC Acceleration Network, an alliance of regional partners that are collaborating to deliver a structured venture growth program to technology entrepreneurs in all corners of BC.
Clive said, “We hope to get into the VAP in Tectoria. To keep growing, to keep improving the product, and to empower even more of the world to communicate with comics!”
