Going concern

Bryan McLeod, CA
CEO, Intrigue Technologies Inc.

Company profile: Mississagua, Ont.-based Intrigue Technologies is best known for its hot-selling Harmony Remote, a universal remote control that promises to work with every electronic component you could possibly own — and with easy setup, to boot. Within 11 months of the product's debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in 2002, Intrigue had secured financing, found a manufacturer in China, established a sales channel and launched its first product.

Hot factor: Harmony went on to win CES's prestigious Innovations Award the following year, taking the universal remote where it has never gone before — the Internet. The remote plugs into a PC via a USB connection, which opens a browser to the Harmony website. Users enter information about their various electronic components — TV, DVD player, stereo receiver, etc. — and, presto, it's ready for use. Chances are good that your electronic product is in Intrigue's database, as it holds a listing of more than 300,000 components.

Cool projects: In February, Harmony hit the shelves in US Best Buy stores, and other big box stores in the US are to follow. Plans may also include licensing Intrigue's technology to other universal remote brands, depending on how successful Harmony is at branding itself as the industry leader. "If the brand is growing that fast, we might just remain in the hardware business," says Intrigue's CEO Bryan McLeod.

In his own words: "I think about how far it's come in 12 months, since the first commercial product took the market. Where will it be 12 months from now? It'll be out of control."

John Shoesmith