Noble tops in Ontario
Noblegen founder Adam Noble named Ontario’s best young enterpreneur of the year
A 22-year-old scientist whose startup company is booming has won a prestigious business award.
Adam Noble, the founder of the Peterborough-based company Noblegen, has been selected as Ontario’s best young entrepreneur of the year by Startup Canada.
That’s a national organization that helps small businesses across the country with special programs, events and awards.
Noble will collect his award at a gala in Waterloo on Sept. 27.
Because he’s won the Ontario award, Noble is now in contention for Startup Canada’s national awards, too (which will be announced later this year).
Noblegen is based in the DNA Building on East Bank Drive at Trent University.
The idea for the company started with Noble’s science project, when he was a high school student in Lakefield.
It was no ordinary science project: Noble was developing ways to use algae to purify water.
The science project won national awards, and the company’s initial focus had been on developing ways to use algae to clean dirty water.
Now the company is developing products for markets such as food and beverage, nutritional supplements and cosmetics.
Noble’s no stranger to science awards, but he said on Thursday this is his first business honour.
“I think it’s a really big step for us,” he said. “We’re way beyond science and research now – we’re here to generate revenue. This award is validating that.”
Meanwhile Noble’s company is growing faster than he ever expected. He has 16 employees now and he’s planning to build a new, $20-million facility on campus at Trent University.
The university is planning to build a business park for science and tech startups, in the next couple of years, and Noblegen is expected to be one of the first companies to set up shop there.
The company also expects to soon announce the results of a private capital fundraising campaign to support future expansion.
NOTE: Noblegen’s website is at www.noblegen.com.