There’s a green advantage in Manitoba that could change the way the world looks at emissions — but only if local innovators can protect what makes them different.
For Standard Carbon, a Winnipeg-based startup co-founded by Alex Stuart (President and CEO) and Justin Phillips (Vice-President and COO), that difference lies in their proprietary carbon accounting software, SCOP3™. Designed to help businesses measure their emissions and prove their environmental impact, the tool could be a game-changer for local manufacturers, exporters, and climate-conscious buyers.
But innovation alone isn’t enough.
“It’s such a new industry, with what we're doing, so there are competitors out there that are getting on board, attempting to do what we're doing, and vice versa,” says Phillips. “Protecting ourselves right from the beginning is certainly important to make sure we have the edge.”
That’s where the ElevateIP program came in.
Funded by the Government of Canada and delivered in Manitoba by North Forge, ElevateIP helps early-stage companies develop and execute on intellectual property strategies — from trademarks to patents and trade secrets. For Standard Carbon, the funding and support arrived at a crucial time.
“It wasn’t built into our budget to do all this kind of stuff,” Phillips explains. “So having the opportunity to take advantage of a program like ElevateIP has helped us secure our trademarks and brand a little better.”
“Typically, we wouldn't spend money in some of the areas that we did,” says Phillips. “Funding helped us do that, and we've been utilizing it for trademarking certain elements within our brand as well.”
For tech companies, especially those in emerging markets like carbon accounting, protecting intellectual property can be the difference between market leadership and lost opportunity.
“First of all, any business, especially in the tech sector, should have an IP strategy and an understanding of what they should be looking at when it comes to trademarking or patenting,” says Phillips. “Once you have a strategy and can put a plan in place, this additional funding that's available just helps you secure your business better — I’d say our time within the program has been a success so far.”
Founded in Manitoba and a graduate of the North Forge Founders Program, Standard Carbon is now scaling up. With its SCOP3™ platform set to launch in late summer to early fall, and a $3 million seed round underway, the company is positioning itself as a leader in climate tech — and an example of what’s possible when innovation is paired with protection.
For others considering whether to invest in IP, Phillips offers a clear message: “Take advantage of it, it’s so important — things can come out of the blue.” He points to a cautionary tale from his own family: a cousin who opened a deli in Vancouver under a new name, only to get a letter shortly after from a company claiming trademark infringement. “Now he’s spending more money challenging that, as opposed to it going into his business.”
In a world where climate concerns — and competition — are growing fast, protecting your ideas early isn’t just smart business. It’s essential.
To learn more about Standard Carbon, and try its free carbon footprint tool, visit climateaccounting.com. To see if your startup or small business qualifies for ElevateIP programming, visit https://elevate-ip.ca/.
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