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VANCOUVER--Mark Ruddock made his first pitch at a venture financing contest last month and slugged a home run. His company, INEA Corp. of Toronto, was named one of the most promising showcase companies--those seeking more than $10 million--at the at the annual two-day IT Financing Forum West.
"It was a big surprise," he said.
The other category winner was eTunnels Inc., a Vancouver virtual private network provider.
GKO Advanced Technologies of Edmonton, which makes industrial process control software, was named best first look company among those seeking less than $2 million.
Codagen Technologies Corp. of Montreal, which makes an automated software tool, and Galian Photonics Inc. of Vancouver, which is developing an optical chip for the telecommunications industry, were named best growth company seeking up to $10 million in funding.
The event showed some of the strains the venture industry has been undergoing. While it was easy to...