Innovation Factory

03/24/2026

📣The 13th Annual Synapse Life Science Pitch Competition Showcase is TOMORROW! Join us from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT to celebrate the up-and-coming innovators of our life sciences ecosystem.

🧬Here's a look at the five finalists pitching to compete for up to $50,000 cash and in-kind prizes:
🔹 Digits Health: Digits Health uses AI and standard smartphone cameras to provide precise, real-time data on hand and wrist health, setting a new global standard for digital orthopedic assessment.
🔹NeuroMod: Neuro-Mod’s ARISE platform uses augmented reality and AI-driven feedback to transform traditional neck rehabilitation into an engaging, personalized, and gamified recovery experience.
🔹Better Bionics: Better Bionics utilizes AI-guided generative design and multi-material 3D printing to create high-performance, prosthetics that improve patient comfort and function while drastically reducing manual fabrication time.
🔹Epiloid: Epiloid de-risks neurological drug development by combining human brain organoids with machine learning to predict clinical success.
🔹Novasonix Healthcare Inc.: NovaSonix Healthcare’s MSKNovaVue™ uses AI and a compact hardware attachment to convert standard ultrasound probes into real-time 3D scanners, bringing MRI-like diagnostic insights directly to the point of care.

Show your support for all the innovators and their game-changing solutions, and meet leaders from globally-acclaimed businesses & institutions.

💡Don’t miss out on hearing from the finalists live at the event and save your spot today! https://loom.ly/2KW-gDE

03/24/2026

Calling all ! Starting a business can be overwhelming, especially when you're doing it on your own.

The program is a 8-week training cohort that provides scaling business with access to industry expertise, networking opportunities, and resources to help your business succeed.

Pitch your solutions to potential investors, refine your business strategy and take your startup to the next level

🚀 Ready to accelerate your business? Apply by April 5, 2026 : https://loom.ly/k86x2tc

03/19/2026

🚀Ready to accelerate your business growth? 🚀

is a 6-week intensive program designed to help early-stage companies access industry expertise, networking opportunities, and prepare for investment capital.

Additionally, companies who complete may be eligible to participate in Innovation Factory’s premier pitch competition, for a grand cash prize, and exclusive networking opportunities with the region’s broader innovation community.

👉Apply by April 5, 2026: https://loom.ly/k86x2tc

03/18/2026

👉Our latest 'Improve Your Pitch' session with Expert Advisor Gail Martin was all about growth and community.

✍️Gail shared practical insights on how innovators can maintain the attention of their audience and potential investors by focusing on authentic storytelling and clear value.

Innovators had the chance to connect with peers and receive live feedback in a supportive environment.

🙌We love seeing the innovation ecosystem come together to support one another.

Here are a few moments from the day.👇

💡Looking to join us at more sessions and events like this? View our events calendar for more: https://loom.ly/SD-iexI

03/13/2026

🙌The Reverse Pitch and Innovator Showcase was amazing! Hosted in partnership with Inclusifai and Startup Ecosystems Canada, the Reverse Pitch was a great event that flipped the script.

Instead of founders pitching to a panel, we had a space where investors and funders presented their theses and shared their expert opinion on how to navigate the investment landscape. The standout takeaway? Be obsessed with your product.

💡Beyond that, it is very important for us as an ecosystem to create intentional spaces for womxn founders rooted in inclusivity and equity. With over 100 people in attendance, the energy in the room proved just how powerful a supportive network can be in accelerating growth for entrepreneurs.

Big congratulations to the innovators who showcased their solutions and to the investors who stepped up to the mic! 👏

Here are some highlights from the event👇

03/12/2026

🙌It was an honor to be recognized as a 'Community Partner' by YWCA Toronto for their Microsoft Azure cloud & Mobile Application Developer Program.

💡This recognition, which was for connecting talented participants with forward-thinking companies, has been a rewarding experience for our team.

Seeing these collaborations turn into real-world projects is a powerful reminder that our ecosystem is at its best when we work together to create more inclusive pathways in tech.

📣A huge shoutout to the YWCA Toronto team for the incredible work they do, and a massive thank you for the award!

Check out the highlights below. 👇

03/11/2026

In the tightly regulated pharmaceutical and industries, ensuring product safety and quality is paramount. How confident are you in your manufacturing practices?

Without consistent processes and proper documentation, even the most innovative products can face delays, costly recalls, and a loss of trust. Join Sabrina Ullah and Arthur Kesisyan of SNC-Lavalin as they demystify the rules, processes, and documentation needed from supplier to distribution.

You'll learn:
💡How having strict controls, documentation, and quality checks in place can help your company can catch potential problems early, preventing costly and reputation-damaging product recalls or enforcement actions.
💡 How your GMP strategy can help ensure rigorous standards for every stage of production, from raw materials and facilities to final packaging and distribution. This minimizes the risk of contamination and errors in your products.
💡How having a robust GMP strategy showcases that your company is serious about quality, safety, and ethical manufacturing, lending credibility that can attract partnerships, funding, and customer loyalty.

Watch on-demand for FREE on Academy at Innovation Factory: https://loom.ly/iZK-yxA

Learn how to describe Good Manufacturing Practices and the basic rules that apply in the pharmaceutical industry.

03/10/2026

🙌What a night YWCA Hamilton ! We were so honored to be at the 50th Women of Distinction Awards hosted by our friends at YWCA Hamilton.

💡The evening was even more significant because our very own Shannon Graszat was a nominee in the ‘Innovation in Business’ category. This category celebrates leaders who are visionary in problem-solving, impactful in their results, empowering to other women, and catalytic in driving industry-wide change.

👉These qualities define Shannon and the incredible work she does every day with the clients and community at Innovation Factory.

She was part of an impressive group of nominees, and the recognition for her leadership is so well deserved.

🎉Congratulations to all the nominees and award winners! This was a true celebration of excellence, and we were so glad to be part of it.

Check out some highlights from the event below! 👇

02/27/2026

🙌We just wrapped up our latest Founders Fast Track demo day, presented by Deloitte , where our high-potential startups took the virtual stage to pitch their ventures to a panel of seasoned angel and seed-stage investors.

These founders spent the last six weeks diving deep into customer development, pitch training, and funding strategies to prepare for their final demo. We are proud to celebrate this cohort 👏

🎉TechInu Inc. , Tummo by Headstart , Percus , NexScale , GridS2 Inc. , AlertRx , AlloWide Health Inc. , Aramill , Tiny Tube Bio , Scispot , AIEmpower Educational Workshops , Twish Cart , EcoSafeSense , NeuraVue Ltd. , Pure Botanica Company , Cotriply , Enabled Talent , TalkToMedi , TOMI Nutrition

🙏We are also grateful for our incredible panel of investors and sponsors for providing the feedback and connections these entrepreneurs need to succeed.

📣Good News Ventures , LaunchIT Ventures , First Line Capital, Graphite Ventures , MaRS IAF, Angel One , FrontFundr, North Spring Capital, Capital Angel Network , Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN) , Amplitude Ventures , RBCx , Deloitte

💡Stay tuned for the next round of Founders Fast Track applications!

02/19/2026

Programming the body to build its own medicine? It’s happening right here in Hamilton.

Meet Esphera SynBio, a Hamilton-based innovator reprogramming the body’s own communication system to manufacture and deliver therapeutics from within.

By leveraging the SOPHIE program and a strategic partnership with McMaster University, Esphera is generating the critical pre-clinical data needed to unlock their $38M Series A and move toward human trials.

Read more about how they are bypassing traditional manufacturing hurdles to transform cancer and infectious disease treatment. 👉 https://loom.ly/gifWbno

Esphera SynBio, a synthetic biology platform is reprogramming the human body’s own communication system to deliver new cancer and infectious disease therapeutics, a solution with the power to impact many lives.

02/13/2026

Celebrating 10 years of impact with The Forum Canada 👏

🙌We were thrilled to be in the room for The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch Semi-Final in Toronto this week. Seeing the vision and grit of these women-led businesses firsthand was so powerful and inspiring!

Building a business is about more than just a great pitch; it’s about the relationships, partnerships, and community support that help that vision move forward.

👏A huge congratulations to the Forum on successfully hosting such an incredible event and to all the Semi-Finalists sharing their disruptive ideas.

👉Of course, a special shoutout to NovaSonix Healthcare Inc., a synapse competition finalist, for also delivering a great pitch at the event! --- Meet them at the 13th Synapse Pitch Competition on March 25th! Tickets now on sale: https://loom.ly/kHYCPss

02/12/2026

Yesterday was a great celebration of innovation, resilience, and Black excellence! 🎤✨

🙌A huge thank you to all the founders who took the stage to pitch their ideas: Barrington Real Estate, GSM Cake Supplies Ltd., Garrison Care, and ClubHive. Your passion and dedication are inspiring!

💡This event wouldn't have been possible without the support of our event partners: Empowerment Squared and TechPlace for lending their expertise and championing these founders.

Finally, thank you to everyone who attended, networked, and showed up to support Black entrepreneurship in our community. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive innovation ecosystem!

Here are some snippets from last night!👇