User:Kim Macdonald/sandbox

ePACT Network Ltd. is an award-winning software company founded in 2012 and based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The ePACT Network provides cloud based technologies and processes to support users in crisis preparation and response. Specifically, ePACT connects individuals, families, organizations and communities via web, mobile and App, allowing users to share medical information and communicate before, during or after an emergency.

History
ePACT Network was founded by Kirsten Koppang-Telford and Christine Sommers in January 2012 after speaking with survivors of the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Research into this catastrophe, and other large scale disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the 2010 earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, demonstrated gaps in general emergency preparedness and response. Reports after these events demonstrated that specific gaps, if addressed, could save lives, reduce injuries, speed support and minimize costs and losses impacting communities. The ePACT Founders looked at other networks, like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and determined that the user behaviors of social networks could be leveraged in emergency preparedness and response. ePACT was built to improve or replace preparedness and response tools and processes that were antiquated, not working or missing with web, mobile and App based technologies.

The ePACT Network was first beta tested with the North Vancouver School District in 2012, then launched to the public in 2013. The system currently has individual and family users in over 70 countries worldwide, but as of 2014, is only serving organizational clients in the United States and Canada.

Programs & Recognition
The company is a graduate of the Vancouver tech accelerator, GrowLab, a participant in the Canadian Technology Accelerator, San Francisco TechWomen and C100 48Hrs in the Valley  programs. ePACT has been recognized as a 2014 Ready to Rocket company, won the 2013 BCTIA ConnectFX award, and was a finalist in the 2013 Canadian Startup Awards and 2014 Manning Innovation Awards. As a female-lead organization, the company has also been recognized in the startup and entrepreneur world, and technology industry, while working closely with a range of partners focused on building emergency and safety preparedness and response standards and practices.

Business Model
An ePACT account is free for individual or family users, while organizations pay an annual software licensing fee to access the system and connect with their members. Discounted license pricing is available to organizations that are not-for-profit or public, such as school districts or municipalities, however, a free Starter Account, is also available to organizations with 25 or fewer members, or for purposes of trialing the system. The current ePACT iPhone, Android and Blackberry Apps are free for all user types.

Funding
In 2012, the company secured funding from angel investors and venture capital, including the Business Development Bank of Canada, to support added product development across multiple markets. In 2013, ePACT received additional funding to expand business in Canada and the US.