Alberta Jumpstarts Technology Innovation

Shopster e-Commerce Inc. awarded Alberta Innovation Voucher to support further growth

Calgary, Canada (PRWEB) June 3, 2009 -- The Alberta Innovation Voucher Pilot program has awarded Calgary based Shopster e-Commerce funding to support the launch of the new Shopster merchant network.

"Alberta is a very supportive environment for innovation in technology and it's exciting for us to grow our global business out of this province. Shopster's next product release, launching in late June, revolutionizes our current eCommerce offering and creates a new more efficient world of commerce. The Shopster merchant network will make eCommerce accessible to every online seller, allowing them to create and nurture their business at a fraction of the cost of traditional commerce", says Sarath Samarasekera, founder and CEO of Shopster.

Shopster has selected Calgary Technologies Inc. (CTI) to connect them to the services they require to develop the go-to-market strategy for their latest innovation. Calgary Technologies Inc. is an approved service provider for the Alberta Innovation Voucher program.

"CTI is looking forward to assisting Shopster find the resources they need to develop a strong go-to-market plan", said Laura Sullivan, Program Manager with CTI.

The Alberta Innovation Voucher Pilot Program is an initiative of the department of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology within the Government of Alberta. Vouchers are awarded to help Alberta companies develop their technology-based ideas into marketable products or services.    

"We designed this program to boost innovation in Alberta, and to help companies like Shopster prepare their products or services for world markets" says Doug Horner, Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. "Vouchers are one of the ways we are creating the right conditions for success, even in today's economic climate."

The first round of innovation vouchers totaling more than $5 million have been awarded to 179 companies from 24 communities across the province. The vouchers will help Alberta companies in various industries including research labs, fabrication centers, business development services, and other organizations supporting innovation.

About Shopster
Founded in 2004, Shopster Inc. provides solutions that enable small businesses to start and grow a successful online retail business. By connecting retailers to Shopster's Merchant Network warehouse of over 1 million plus dropship products, Shopster removes one of the main crutches of retail, which is storing and managing inventory. New and small e-Commerce businesses can now compete by focusing on growth and not on costs. Shopster is one of only 30 official eBay Certified Solution Providers.

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