Sanitizer firm wins $20,000 in recovery challenge

A London-based company offering a disinfecting spray has been selected as the winner of the first of two Recovery and Rebuilding the Region Design Challenges.

Go Fog It co-founders Diana House and Melissa Mcinerney will receive $20,000 and business, community and technical support to develop their plans from Design Challenge sponsor’s Libro Credit Union, Pillar Nonprofit Network and Techalliance.

“Winning the Design Challenge has meant the world to us,” said president Diana House. “Over the past few months, we have poured blood, sweat and tears into Go Fog It. But we didn’t do it alone. It takes a team of brilliant people with different skill sets, mentors, advisers and early believers.”

The company was chosen from over 100 applicants.

Go Fog It was cited for having two main components to help Southwestern Ontario recover from COVID-19. The product aided in health and safety by helping stop the spread of the virus and also made it easier for businesses to open up by addressing their sanitizing challenges.

The environmentally friendly startup will use the seed funding to hire operations staff, purchase equipment and continue to scale.

“We strongly believe the perspective of ‘cleaning’ is forever changed — focused now more than ever on essential health requirements,” said Go Fog It CEO Melissa Mcinerney.

The second stage of the Design Challenges will focus on recovery and rebuilding and revitalizing the community after the pandemic subsides.

The timeline for Challenge 2 will be announced this month.