MedicLINK Systems Ltd. sets its sights on growth

Jonathan Brett wins BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award
for Newfoundland and Labrador

(St. John's, Newfoundland – October 16, 2007) – Jonathan Brett has transformed a software solution into a growing enterprise that is helping optometrists across North America to better manage their businesses. For this success, Jonathan, 28, owner of MedicLINK Systems Ltd., has earned BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award for Newfoundland and Labrador and will be honoured tonight at a ceremony in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

MedicLINK Systems Ltd., established in 2005, provides software solutions for the eyecare profession. Called Eyesistant, it enables eyecare clinics to manage their practices with an automated system that tracks everything from appointment scheduling to billing to marketing. Building on the success of that product, MedicLINK is now branching out into the field of dermatology.

Jonathan who describes himself as a "techie by trade", began developing custom software applications for local companies after being laid off from a St. John's-based IT company in 2002.  A software application he developed for a friend's optometry practice attracted the interest of others in the profession and within eight months, he had delivered the solution to 26 optometrists. At that point, Jonathan realized the potential market for the software outside of Atlantic Canada. His profile rose considerably when he was invited to address more than 2,000 opticians at the Vision Canada 2004 tradeshow. "It just snowballed from there," he says.  
 
From vision to reality
Today, Eyesistant is being used in optical stores and optometrists' practices from coast to coast in North America, and is targeting medium-sized chains in the United States. MedicLINK, which numbers 10 employees, is also expanding into the dermatology field and has signed a partnership agreement with a dermatologist in California, which Jonathan discovered through the TV reality show, Big Brother.

MedicLINK is a company that likes to think outside the box. "What distinguishes us from our competitors is the ease of use of our solution," says Jonathan. "To get there, we haven't taken the traditional route of relying on the expertise of one optometrist or one optician. We don't pretend to know everything about the eyecare business. We leverage the knowledge of everyone who uses the software, and that has worked really well for us."

Jonathan is firmly committed to youth employment and has made MedicLINK a place where new graduates can start their careers. He actively participates in local graduate recruitment programs and speaks to entrepreneur classes at Memorial University's Faculty of Business.  He also volunteers his time as a member of the Capital Campaign Committee, a group of community leaders dedicated to raising $2 million to renovate the LSPU Hall, a resource centre for the arts in downtown St. John's.  "I congratulate Jonathan for his success. He has capitalized on the market potential of the software program he created and built a thriving business that is expanding beyond our borders," says BDC President and CEO
Jean-René Halde. 

"I'm proud that I've been able to create a sustainable business and contribute to the Newfoundland economy," says Jonathan.  "And it's also a terrific feeling to know that what we do is helping the medical profession and improving people's health."

Young entrepreneurs in the spotlight
BDC's Young Entrepreneur Awards are a highlight of Small Business Week, providing the opportunity to honour the entrepreneurial spirit and business success of Canadians between the ages of 19 and 35.  Winners from each province and territory are selected by a panel based on the originality of their business concept, its success, growth potential and their community involvement.  The panel also considers the entrepreneur's age when the business was started and any special challenges that had to be faced.

Small Business Week partners
Contributing to the success of this year's Small Business Week and Young Entrepreneur Awards are the following national sponsors:  Western Economic Diversification Canada, Export Development Canada and Rogers. Privileged partners are the Pan Canadian Community Futures Group and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which has been a privileged partner of the event since 1981.

About BDC
BDC is a financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC actively supports the development and growth of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses through its complementary financial, investment and consulting solutions. BDC is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2008.

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