Bottom row (from left): Manak Bajaj, Aaron Roodhart, Lucas Monter
Meet the Finalists of The Forge’s Startup Survivor Pitch Competition
This November, five startups will step into the spotlight to pitch their ventures, prove their vision, and compete for a share of $30,000 in funding at the Startup Survivor Pitch Competition, powered by The Forge, McMaster University’s startup incubator.
After a summer of intense mentorship, funding, and entrepreneurial challenges, these teams have emerged from a competitive cohort of ten to become the finalists of Startup Survivor — a four-month accelerator and pitch competition designed to launch McMaster students and alumni into the startup stratosphere.
Startup Survivor isn’t just a competition, it’s a proving ground. With $85,000 in total funding, including $55,000 awarded during the accelerator phase, the program equips founders with the resources, guidance, and grit to turn ideas into impact. Now, the top five teams are ready to pitch live for the remaining $30,000 in prizes — and the title of Startup Survivor Champion.
The Details:
Wednesday, November 19
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
L.R. Wilson Hall, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON
Reserve your free ticket: startupsurvivor.eventbrite.ca
Meet The Final Five
DOT
Pitching: Aaron Roodhart (DeGroote School of Business)
DOT is a paper journal that blends the timeless experience of pen and paper with the power of digital memory. Using embedded NFC tags, any page can seamlessly link to photos, videos, songs, or files, letting users capture their full story without giving up the tactile joy of handwriting.
Innovo Surgica
Pitching: Manvir Bhangu (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Co-Founders: Yazdaan Ahmad (Faculty of Engineering), Dr. Aleksa Cenic
Innovo Surgica is developing a patent-pending surgical tool designed to make spinal decompression surgery safer. In roughly 10% of cases, patients experience cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks caused by accidental damage to the dura mater—a protective layer around the spinal cord—during bone removal. These leaks can lead to serious, long-term complications. Innovo Surgica’s modified Kerrison Rongeur addresses this issue by shielding the dura and standardizing the separation of bone, helping prevent these tears and reduce surgical risks. The tool is currently undergoing prototyping, intellectual property development, and validation testing.
NeuroSpritz
Pitching: Lucas Monter (Faculty of Science)
NeuroSpritz is transforming how brain activity is measured. Right now, EEG tests—used to diagnose conditions like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s—can take nearly an hour per patient, leading to long wait times in most Ontario clinics. NeuroSpritz’s new technology uses wireless, spray-on sensors and smart software to cut setup time by up to 80%. This makes brain testing faster, more comfortable, and more accessible for both patients and researchers.
O2Link
Pitching: Sajroop Mann (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Co-Founder: Selay Momand (Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science Alumni)
O2Link is redefining the standard of care for oxygen therapy by replacing outdated flowmeters with a personalized, data-driven system that improves patient safety, streamlines clinical workflows, and reduces hospital costs. Unlike current solutions that blindly automate the system, O2Link strives to ensure correct dosing through the use of multiple integrated respiratory metrics.
Wonder Guard
Pitching: Manak Bajaj (Faculty of Engineering)
Wonder Guard is an AI-powered catheter adaptor system that transforms passive urine collection into proactive infection monitoring. By integrating low-cost electrochemical biosensors directly into the catheter workflow, the device continuously tracks bacterial load, pH, and temperature in real time. Data is wirelessly transmitted to an app, where machine learning algorithms provide predictive insights and early alerts before symptoms appear. This approach enables faster clinical intervention, reduces hospital-acquired infections, and improves both patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
The Final Showdown
These five startups will pitch their hearts out in front of a live audience and a panel of expert judges. After deliberations, three winners will be crowned — taking home $15,000, $10,000, and $5,000 respectively. But for all five teams, the spotlight is a chance to spark partnerships, attract investors, and take their ventures to the next level.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, student, or startup enthusiast, this is your front-row seat to the future. Come cheer on the finalists, network with innovators, and witness the next wave of McMaster-born startups.
Register now: startupsurvivor.eventbrite.ca