Over the next four months, twenty student-led companies from across Ontario will take on the challenge of turning bold ideas into venture-ready businesses. Participants will advance through the program—supported by The Forge and The Clinic via hands-on workshops, mentorship, and IP training—to strengthen their ideas and prepare for real-world commercialization.
By the end of August, only the strongest teams will advance. The top five will earn their place in the Startup Survivor Pitch Competition where they will take the stage, present to expert judges and compete for cash prizes in front of a live audience during McMaster Entrepreneurship Week (November 16-20, 2026).
Who will rise to the top this year? Stay connected through our socials to meet the teams, track their progress and see who will be crowned the title of Startup Survivor Champion 2026.
AeroVasQ
Founders: Mahip Raj KC (McMaster University), Angela Yan (McMaster University), Turki Alturaifi (McMaster University)
AeroVasQ is a medical technology company developing a cost‑effective, non‑invasive solution to eliminate hidden air trapped in endovascular devices—a leading cause of covert (silent) strokes during procedures such as TEVAR. Designed to integrate seamlessly into existing clinical workflows, AeroVasQ’s technology captures and removes air at the source, reducing neurological risk without adding procedural complexity. By protecting long‑term cognitive health, the company aims to elevate the standard of vascular care and ensure patients recover with their independence and quality of life intact.
AlloBiotech
Founder: Norma Garza Flores (McMaster University)
AlloBiotech is a medical device company developing next‑generation silicone breast implants engineered for enhanced biocompatibility, durability, and long‑term safety. By addressing the root causes of implant failure—such as capsular contracture and mechanical degradation—AlloBiotech aims to reduce complications, minimize reoperations, and lower the lifetime burden of care, bringing much‑needed innovation back to women’s health and improving outcomes for patients and surgeons alike.
ArthroRoot
Founder: Maanvi Mallik (McMaster University)
ArthroRoot is an early-stage Canadian biotech company developing a self-activating skin patch for arthritis flare relief. Arthritis flares strike without warning, stripping over 350 million patients of mobility, independence, and control while waiting for relief that often does not reach. Every existing solution fails to provide meaningful relief during acute flares and requires patients to act at precisely the moment they are least able to. ArthroRoot is changing that. Our self-activating patch detects the body’s own flare signals and automatically delivers localized anti-inflammatory relief, without buttons, electronics, apps, or caregiver assistance. By targeting inflammation directly at the source, ArthroRoot restores function faster and gives patients back something no existing product can offer: their independence, dignity, and relief that arrives before they have to ask for it.
Axon Health Inc.
Founder: Konain Qurban (University of Ottawa), Xiaohong Xu
Axon Health is an AI‑powered case management platform purpose‑built for community care organizations, including addiction treatment centers, youth services, foster care agencies, and social service nonprofits. The platform replaces fragmented tools such as spreadsheets, paper forms, and legacy software with a single unified system that manages the entire client journey—from intake to aftercare—while transforming disconnected data into real‑time insights and funder‑ready reports. By reducing administrative burden and enabling faster, data‑driven decisions, Axon Health helps under‑resourced organizations improve outcomes and secure sustainable funding.
Capital Compass
Founder: Hillary Hettwer (McMaster University)
Capital Compass is a personal finance platform that helps individuals decide exactly what to do with their next dollar. By analyzing a user’s income, debt, savings, and goals, the platform provides clear recommendations on whether money should go toward debt repayment, registered accounts such as RRSPs, TFSAs, and FHSAs, or non-registered investments to maximize long-term financial value. As life circumstances and market conditions change, Capital Compass continuously updates its guidance, giving users ongoing clarity and confidence in their financial decisions.
CapRefill
Founders: Anushka Patel (McMaster University), Sophie Wax (McMaster University), Anoojen Vakeesan (McMaster University)
CapRefill is a non‑invasive medical device that enables objective, standardized measurement of capillary refill time by integrating directly with existing pulse oximeters. By transforming a traditionally subjective bedside assessment into a reliable clinical metric, CapRefill allows clinicians to detect early microcirculatory deterioration—often an early sign of sepsis—before vital signs change. Designed for seamless workflow integration, the solution supports earlier intervention, improved patient outcomes, and reduced ICU utilization and hospital costs.
CELLECT Laboratories Inc.
Founder: Ibukun Elebute (University of Waterloo)
CELLECT Laboratories is a Canadian health technology company developing a non‑invasive diagnostic platform for women’s health using menstrual fluid as a biological sample. Its proprietary nanomaterial captures and stabilizes high‑quality DNA and cells, enabling standard lab tests for cervical cancer, STIs, and other gynecological conditions without invasive procedures or clinic visits. By integrating seamlessly with existing laboratory workflows, CELLECT aims to increase screening participation, enable earlier detection, and expand access to patient‑centered diagnostics globally.
Convene Technologies Inc.
Founders: Janahan Siva (McMaster University), Prithvi Prabu (McMaster University), Wilo Thomas (McMaster University)
Convene Technologies is a workforce analytics platform that gives engineering leaders clear visibility into how their teams are working. By integrating with codebases and project management systems, Convene provides actionable insights on productivity, capacity, and skill utilization, helping leaders identify risks such as burnout or bottlenecks before they impact delivery. The platform enables data‑driven staffing and project decisions using real operational signals, not intuition.
Crewd Inc.
Founders: Fodie Saloum Johny Camara, Hashir Imam (McMaster University), Marco Tan (McMaster University)
Crewd is a construction technology company building a horizontal labor‑sharing marketplace to address labor shortages and inefficiencies in the construction industry. The platform connects contractors with a vetted, on‑demand workforce while enabling firms to monetize idle labor during project lulls. By optimizing workforce utilization and reducing downtime, Crewd helps keep projects on schedule and supports increased housing and infrastructure delivery.
GreenVeil Packaging Inc.
Founder: Ali Maleki (University of Ottawa)
GreenVeil Packaging develops sustainable packaging solutions and non‑destructive food inspection technologies to reduce food waste and improve supply‑chain decision‑making. Combining ultra‑biodegradable packaging materials with a portable spectroscopy‑based inspection system, GreenVeil enables real‑time assessment of food quality without opening or damaging products. The company serves food producers, distributors, retailers, and storage facilities seeking scalable, in‑field freshness monitoring and waste reduction.
INTUVA Health
Founders: Amaresh Ambika (McMaster University), Vanessa Sharma (McMaster University)
Intuva Health (INTUVA) is a gynecological medical device company developing a reusable attachment for standard speculums that improves cervical visualization during gynecological procedures. The device addresses vaginal wall collapse—a major barrier to effective care, particularly in patients with obesity—by restoring clear access to the cervix without requiring new equipment or workflow changes. INTUVA’s mission is to ensure equitable, high‑quality gynecological care for patients historically underserved by existing tools.
IOMAI Corp.
Founders: Alan Cruz (Western University), Rogelio Cruz Gonzalez (McMaster University)
IOMAI Corp. is a Canadian AI company building TekBrain, an AI-driven coordination software platform designed to address one of Canada’s most visible healthcare crises: hallway medicine. Today, hospital administrators lack the real-time operational visibility needed to move patients efficiently—from intake through support staff coordination to discharge—and the system backs up as a result. TekBrain addresses this by layering intelligent coordination software over existing hospital infrastructure, augmented by RTLS and IoT sensor data, to provide administrators with a live operational picture and actionable coordination tools that keep patients moving through the right care pathway at the right time. The goal is simple: to unblock patient flow, reduce hallway overcrowding, and give Canada’s healthcare workforce the operational support they need to do the job they were trained to do.
LawEz
Founders: Sam Zhai, Yuchen Sun (McMaster University)
LawEz is a Canadian legal technology platform providing AI‑powered, plain‑language legal information tailored to a user’s specific situation and jurisdiction. The platform helps consumers understand their rights, assess case severity, and prepare structured documentation, while delivering lawyers pre‑qualified, well‑documented leads that significantly reduce intake time. Launching in Ontario, LawEz bridges the access‑to‑justice gap while improving efficiency for legal professionals.
Metias Medical
Founder: Justin Lee (McMaster University), Maged Metias (McMaster University), Ishita Agrawal (McMaster University)
Metias Medical is a medical device company developing a next‑generation vascular system for clot removal that preserves the patient’s blood volume. Using a closed‑loop approach that continuously filters and returns blood to circulation, the technology reduces blood loss, complications, and recovery time compared to traditional thrombectomy methods. Metias aims to improve outcomes and safety in arterial and venous clot treatment across healthcare systems.
Octopodi Technologies Inc.
Founders: Andy Chow, Christianna Chow, Flemming Chow
Octopodi Technologies is an edtech company transforming how coding‑based assignments are assessed in higher education. By analyzing patterns across student code submissions, the platform helps instructors understand how problems are solved—not just whether solutions work—enabling faster, more consistent, and more meaningful feedback at scale. Octopodi allows educators to reduce grading time while increasing the quality of learning and mentorship.
Sanaré Technologies
Founders: Jialiang (Kevin) Hu (McMaster University), Manupa (Manu) Dissanayake (McMaster University), Sarim Shiraz
Sanaré Technologies is a health technology company redefining musculoskeletal rehabilitation through continuous, data‑driven care. Its wearable Sanaré Sleeve combines range‑of‑motion tracking and muscle activation data to give clinicians real‑time insight into patient recovery between visits. By improving remote monitoring and patient engagement, Sanaré enables more personalized rehab, safer return‑to‑activity decisions, and better outcomes.
Sensera Health
Founders: Elsa Sheikh (McMaster University), Finnoula O’Neill-King (McMaster University), Kristen Kwok (McMaster University), Megan Di Muzio (McMaster University)
Sensera Health is a health technology startup developing a continuous hydration monitoring solution for residents in long‑term care homes. By providing early visibility into dehydration risk, the company enables staff to intervene sooner, preventing avoidable hospitalizations and complications. Built through close collaboration with clinicians and care staff, Sensera Health aims to shift hydration management from reactive treatment to proactive, preventative care.
Sunbeam Health
Founder: David George (McMaster University)
Sunbeam Health is an AI‑native intake platform designed for ADHD assessment clinics. Using adaptive, clinically validated tools, Sunbeam conducts pre‑appointment assessments, fills in missing details, and generates comprehensive clinician briefings, eliminating 15–20 minutes of intake work per session. The platform allows clinics to increase assessment capacity and revenue without adding staff or clinic hours.
SurgiSight Medical Education Inc.
Founders: Amro Elrafie (McMaster University), Marcus Wong (McMaster University)
SurgiSight is a medical education technology company using computer vision to improve procedural skills training in early clinical education. The platform analyzes short videos of trainees performing tasks such as suturing and delivers structured feedback based on validated surgical assessment frameworks. By enabling scalable, objective, and feedback‑driven practice outside the operating room, SurgiSight helps institutions improve training quality, reduce faculty burden, and enhance patient safety.
Tranquilo Wearables Inc.
Founders: Kauel Brahmbhatt (University of Toronto), Kian Godhwani (McGill University), Maryjo Antonio (McMaster University)
Tranquilo Wearables is a mental health technology company building continuous, preventative care for mood disorders. Its platform combines a wearable ECG device with AI‑powered software to monitor physiological and behavioral signals and detect early warning signs of relapse. By giving clinicians visibility between sessions and empowering patients with timely insights, Tranquilo enables more personalized, proactive mental health care.