When Weever Apps first hit the LiONS LAIR stage their company looked very different from what it is today. “We applied for LiONS LAIR when our company was only two months old,” explains co-founder and CEO Steve McBride. After the team at Innovation Factory encouraged them to apply, they took a chance. “They were calling out the second and third place winners and we had no idea. When they announced that we won first place, we were really surprised.”
From winning LiONS LAIR in 2011 to securing $2.4 million in equity investment in the last year alone, the journey has been long and full of innovation.
Weever Apps’ initial technology, a program that converted websites into mobile responsive ‘apps’ was innovative at the time, but as technology changed and improved, so did Weever Apps, causing their product focus to shift.
Today, Weever Apps provides technology to digitize and simplify processes on manufacturing floors, helping companies to collect key data and measure productivity. This software has opened doors to work with big clients such as Unilever, GE, Xerox, Kellogg’s and Georgia Pacific. Working with some of the largest companies in the world, Weever recently secured the $1.5 million investment from FedDev Ontario, GreenSky Capital and MaRS IAF to continue their expansion and take their Process Manager software global. Process Manager is an FDA/CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) compliant program that provides a comprehensive solution for batch records management, and that is certified for use in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Staying on top of innovation plays an important role for the company. Consulting with their customers on their technology and working with software companies to integrate products together helps Weever Apps to target specific customer needs. And with 70% of their business coming from referrals, it’s clear they’re doing something right.
“Collaborating with the rest of the team to come up with the best solution for our clients is very important to everyone,” says McBride.
Innovation Factory has been an important partner for Weever Apps over the years, offering advice, giving referrals and helping them find investments as they continue to grow. “IF is always there for questions, and has been a great networking connector. We’ve been to a few of their training sessions which have provided some great advice on important topics such as HR.”
With news of their $1.5 million equity investment, Weever Apps is poised to see continued growth in Hamilton, the city they call home. Now with two locations, Weever Apps has hired 3 developers directly from Mohawk College and McMaster University, and interns from Mohawk and local high schools. Some of those high school interns were so talented that they went on to land jobs at Facebook and Google, but with such great support, resources and local talent in Hamilton, McBride says Weever Apps is here to stay.
To learn more about Weever Apps, visit their website at weeverapps.com
