Parisa Agahi had just earned her masters degree from McMaster’s Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization Program when she was prescribed compression stockings for her leg pain. Her mom had needed compression stockings for many years due to varicose veins. While they provided essential support, she found them uncomfortable and clinical looking.
Agahi decided to create a better solution and Tression was born. Tression’s pants and leggings offer the functional health benefits of compression with modern designs and comfort. Upon launching this month, the company sold out 80 per cent of its inventory in 24 hours.
Agahi says “Tression would not exist without The Forge.”
When she had her initial idea, Agahi applied to The Forge’s Startup Survivor Program. The four-month innovation program and pitch competition is open to Ontario university and college students, as well as recent alumni. Agahi placed third, winning $7,000 for her idea.
She is now part of The Forge’s Business Incubator, a limited-enrollment program for startups with tailored support for founders who have developed a functional prototype (MVP), achieved key validation milestones, or demonstrated early sales traction.
Agahi says the mentorship from The Forge has been invaluable, especially after the company experienced a setback with its manufacturing partnership and had to look for a new option.
“They were really helpful and supported me through that,” she says. “And when we were ready to launch, it was hard to believe and prepare for things to finally work out. Talking to people who were not as close to it and who could help me prepare as a founder has been really amazing.”
Adam Hepburn, founder of ELO and a graduate of the Business Incubator, feels the support has had similar impact.
The ELO Vagabond, a mobile gaming controller that transforms any phone into a full-fledged gaming console, launched last year with $2 million in sales.
The company also recently raised $800,000 on Kickstarter for its extended reality (XR) glasses, which will launch soon. The glasses create a virtual 180-inch HD monitor in front of your face—an idea Hepburn says came while travelling. He would use the mobile controller on the plane, but wanted to create something that was even more ergonomic.
ELO has also been approached by the Canadian military to develop its XR for military use. Hepburn says the company is also looking to expand from e-commerce into retail stores and other markets, such as Europe.
“The Forge connected us with important grants and support, which was so helpful, especially in the beginning. And our mentor guided me through many decisions. Without all of this, we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere,” Hepburn says.
Agata Kieliszek agrees the mentorship is a critical piece of the puzzle. She co-founded Block Biosciences, which is developing a targeted therapy for patients after a diagnosis of lung, breast or skin cancer. The small molecule drug targets a specific enzyme that is essential to the cancer cells that spread in secondary metastatic brain cancer, which happens when cancer cells spread from another part of the body to the brain. By inhibiting this enzyme, the company anticipates that it can reduce the risk of secondary brain metastases, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.
The company was born out of Kieliszek’s PhD thesis while in Dr. Sheila Singh’s lab at McMaster. It received an investment last year from the McMaster Seed Fund, which aims to foster research-intensive and innovative start-ups.
Block Biosciences is now part of the Business Incubator while developing its commercialization strategy and moving toward clinical development. The company is striving to begin clinical trials within the next few years.
“Applying to the Business Incubator program was one of the first things I did once we formally incorporated the company,” Kieliszek says. “They work with us through milestones as we refine our business development strategy; preparing to meet with investors; and building connections with experienced advisors, industry experts and other founders who are going through very similar challenges.
Recognition from programs like The Forge is also great validation that the approach you’re taking resonates with the innovation community, says Kieliszek. “I definitely encourage other startups to apply to the Business Incubator if they want hands-on support and access to the strong innovation ecosystem that The Forge has been building.”
Applications are open now for the next cohort of the Business Incubator program, which begins in May. Startups from all sectors are welcome, including software, hardware, healthcare, cleantech, consumer goods, medical devices and more. Applications are due by March 29 at 11:59 pm.