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NILS 5
May 1, 2000
(Industry, Trade and Technology)


Full Tilt Design Inc., parent company of OnlineConservatory.com, was recognized today as the second graduate from the GENESIS Centre at Memorial University. OnlineConservatory.com created a unique software product that facilitates the teaching of live piano lessons on the Internet.

Present to celebrate the event were Sandra C. Kelly, Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology, representing the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador; Paul Mills, Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Newfoundland, representing the Government of Canada; Dr. Kevin Keough, Vice-President, Research and International Relations, Memorial University of Newfoundland; and representatives from Full Tilt Design Inc. and the private sector.

The GENESIS Centre, opened in 1997, helps enterprises gain access to the marketing, finance and management expertise of world-class mentors and consultants. It also connects entrepreneurs to the multi-disciplinary expertise resident at Memorial University.

Andrew Mercer, company founder and vice-president of music education at Full Tilt, said the resources they received from the GENESIS Centre were critical in their early development. "The GENESIS Centre provided human resources, physical and technological infrastructure, access to the research and development base at Memorial as well as access to capital. Their guidance and the expertise and talent of our mentor, Bob Percival, helped bring Full Tilt to its current position and will undoubtedly be part of our formula for success well into the future."

Full Tilt was formed in 1996 and has been a GENESIS client since 1997. The company has now relocated to a high profile 5,000 sq. ft. office in downtown St. John�s and has assembled a superb 12-person management team with Derrick Rowe, former president of Stratos Global, as the CEO.

"It is very exciting to recognize Full Tilt Design Inc. as the second graduate of our province�s GENESIS Centre," said Minister Kelly. "The GENESIS Centre epitomizes the partnership concept by fostering growth and diversity, and providing an environment that allows young technology-based companies to compete successfully on national and international levels."

Mr. Mills said: "Full Tilt highlights the future of Atlantic Canada: energetic and innovative entrepreneurs selling the expertise and creativity which exists in abundance in this region to global markets. Innovative and technologically advanced companies like Full Tilt propel our economy."

Dr. Keough added: "The GENESIS Centre is one way Memorial University partners with the business community to foster an entrepreneurial climate at the institution and in the province. Full Tilt exemplifies the strength and potential of partnerships between academic and private institutions."

As a client of the GENESIS Centre, Full Tilt was teamed up with mentor Bob Percival, a graduate of Memorial University and founder of several highly-successful technology companies in Canada and the United States. Mr. Percival was connected to today�s event via videoconference from Seattle, Washington. "Working with Andrew and the team of Full Tilt has been a very rewarding experience for me," he said. "I enjoy the enthusiasm and drive of early stage companies like Full Tilt, and I am pleased to contribute in a small way to the development of a new breed of entrepreneur within Newfoundland and Labrador."

Mr. Percival was presented with a mentoring award by Roger Simmons, Canada�s Consul General in Seattle, Washington.

The GENESIS Centre is managed by Seabright Corporation Limited, a not-for-profit company established by Memorial University in 1987. Its goal is to increase the economic benefits to the province from research and development conducted at Memorial by identifying and commercializing promising technologies emerging at the university. Full Tilt is the second graduate of the GENESIS Centre; INNOVA Multimedia graduated in December 1999. The center currently has 14 clients.

The GENESIS Centre is supported through a public/private partnership that includes investments from the Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal, Memorial University and the private sector. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Department of Industry, Trade and Technology administer the advanced technology component of the Agreement on Economic Renewal.

For more information on Full Tilt Design Inc., visit their websites at fulltiltmusic.com and OnlineConservatory.com.

Media contacts:

Keelin O�Leary
GENESIS Centre
(709) 737-2365
www.genesis.mun.ca

Aaron Cohen
Strategic Communications Group
(301) 891-2834

Jacqueline Simon
Department of Industry, Trade and Technology
(709) 729-0050
www.success.nfld.net

Doug Burgess
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(709) 772-2941
www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca

2000 05 01                             4:00 p.m.


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