Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners

AmacaThera Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, established in 2016. The company focuses on developing and commercializing an injectable hydrogel technology designed to enhance drug delivery for various medical applications. This innovative platform aims to improve patient outcomes in areas such as post-surgical pain management, cancer treatment, and other challenging therapeutic targets. AmacaThera's technology features a fast-gelling material that transitions from a liquid to a gel under force, combining hyaluronan and methylcellulose. This unique formulation allows for localized and sustained drug delivery, ultimately assisting healthcare providers in effectively managing patients' pain following surgery.

Spero Analytics specializes in designing and deploying wireless mesh networks for continuous environmental monitoring in remote and off-grid locations. Their scalable sensor arrays, capable of covering vast areas and adapting to various sensor types, require no telecommunications infrastructure. Key features include self-healing network capabilities and cold climate adaptability, reducing maintenance burden. The company focuses on automated greenhouse gas monitoring in landfills, with installations in Ontario, and is expanding to petroleum facilities and potash mines through collaborations with Environment Canada and proof-of-concept projects. Spero Analytics has raised $210,000, secured design partners, and made sales to government and international clients. Their mission is to become the industry standard for remote environmental monitoring.

PhenoTips is a computer software company based in Ontario, Canada, founded in 2014. It specializes in providing solutions for clinical genetics, phenotyping, and human phenotype ontology. The company offers software designed for clinical use that integrates seamlessly with existing electronic health records. PhenoTips' technology aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy and standardize phenotype recording, facilitating the application of genomic medicine in clinical decision-making and diagnosis.

PhenoTips is a computer software company based in Ontario, Canada, founded in 2014. It specializes in providing solutions for clinical genetics, phenotyping, and human phenotype ontology. The company offers software designed for clinical use that integrates seamlessly with existing electronic health records. PhenoTips' technology aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy and standardize phenotype recording, facilitating the application of genomic medicine in clinical decision-making and diagnosis.

Phenomic AI Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2017. The company specializes in developing artificial intelligence solutions to enhance drug discovery and the creation of therapies for cancer. Its innovative platform utilizes AI, computer vision, and high-content screening to analyze phenotypes in complex disease models, such as high-content co-culture and three-dimensional assays. By focusing on the tumor stroma, Phenomic AI aims to optimize the discovery and development of new medicines, streamlining the process for pharmaceutical companies to identify potential drug candidates more effectively.

Phycus Biotechnologies Inc. is a Toronto-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in producing ingredients for the cosmetics and personal care industries, including bioglycolic acid and AHA ferment products. Additionally, the company operates a bio-conversion platform that focuses on capturing and converting carbon dioxide from large-scale emitters into valuable chemical building blocks. By employing microbial technology and metabolic engineering techniques, Phycus aims to provide sustainable alternatives for recycling carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals. This innovative approach not only supports various industrial applications but also contributes to reducing the overall greenhouse gas footprint, aligning with environmental sustainability goals.

Notch Therapeutics Inc. is an immune cell therapy company focused on developing gene-edited allogenic T cell therapies for cancer treatment. Based in Toronto, Canada, the company utilizes a proprietary platform for induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology that allows for precision control of Notch signaling, which is essential for T cell development. This innovative approach addresses critical limitations in cell therapy development, enabling the design and manufacture of a consistent and limitless supply of therapeutic T cells. Notch Therapeutics aims to provide targeted treatments for conditions such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, facilitating advancements in the treatment of complex disease systems. Established in 2018, the company is positioned at the forefront of next-generation cancer therapies.

Appulse Power Inc. is a semiconductor design company based in Toronto, Canada, specializing in application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) for power management. Founded in 2015 and later acquired by The Silanna Group Pty. Ltd. in 2018, Appulse Power focuses on innovative AC/DC power conversion technologies tailored for the Internet of Things and smart energy markets. The company's products aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize the physical size of power supplies compared to existing solutions. By addressing the challenges associated with traditional AC/DC converters, Appulse Power enables the consolidation of electronic device chargers into a single, compact unit, significantly lowering size and power loss.

Dalriada Therapeutics Inc. is a Canadian company based in Mississauga, established in 2016. It specializes in the development of novel small molecule inhibitors targeting various medical conditions, including oncology, pain modulation, and neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders. The company employs a TURN-KEY model that integrates research and development with business strategy and intellectual property management, thereby supporting global innovators in the pharmaceutical industry.

Zucara Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, with an additional office in Vancouver. Founded in 2014, the company focuses on developing innovative therapeutics aimed at preventing hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in patients with diabetes. Its lead pre-clinical technology targets somatostatin type 2 receptors in the pancreas, which are inadequately regulated in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. By blocking these receptors, Zucara's treatment aims to prevent hypoglycemia and restore natural glucose levels in the bloodstream. This approach represents a significant advancement over existing therapies, which typically only address hypoglycemia after it has occurred, rather than preventing it from happening in the first place.

Appulse Power Inc. is a semiconductor design company based in Toronto, Canada, specializing in application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) for power management. Founded in 2015 and later acquired by The Silanna Group Pty. Ltd. in 2018, Appulse Power focuses on innovative AC/DC power conversion technologies tailored for the Internet of Things and smart energy markets. The company's products aim to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize the physical size of power supplies compared to existing solutions. By addressing the challenges associated with traditional AC/DC converters, Appulse Power enables the consolidation of electronic device chargers into a single, compact unit, significantly lowering size and power loss.

QD Solar Inc. is a Canadian company based in Toronto that specializes in the development of advanced photovoltaic cells utilizing colloidal quantum dot technology. Founded in 2014 as a spinoff from the University of Toronto, QD Solar combines silicon solar cells with infrared solar cells in a hybrid architecture. This innovative approach allows the company to capture a broader range of the solar spectrum compared to traditional silicon cells alone. By enhancing the efficiency of solar energy harvesting, QD Solar aims to address the competitive pressures in the solar photovoltaic market, where differentiation through improved performance at competitive costs is essential. The company's technology promotes sustainable development and aims to increase the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Fibrocor Therapeutics L.P. is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, established in 2017. The company specializes in the development of tissue-specific therapeutics aimed at addressing the underlying causes of fibrotic diseases affecting the kidneys and other organs. Fibrocor focuses on identifying and targeting critical pathways involved in the fibrogenic process, utilizing patient-derived tissue samples to uncover novel disease targets. The company has advanced a lead program and has partnered with Evotec to facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic molecules.

LegUp Computing Inc. is a Toronto-based company that develops a cloud platform enabling software developers to program, deploy, scale, and manage field-programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. Founded in 2015 by a team including Dr. Andrew Canis and Professor Jason Anderson, the platform originated from research at the University of Toronto and focuses on providing a novel programming model for threaded C/C++ software. This model allows for efficient processing of low-latency database, real-time analytics, and machine learning workloads by leveraging FPGA devices connected to high-bandwidth networks. LegUp Computing aims to facilitate the acceleration of high-performance applications, thereby enhancing the capabilities of developers working with cloud-based and embedded compute systems. The company operates as a subsidiary of Microchip Technology Incorporated.

Zucara Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, with an additional office in Vancouver. Founded in 2014, the company focuses on developing innovative therapeutics aimed at preventing hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in patients with diabetes. Its lead pre-clinical technology targets somatostatin type 2 receptors in the pancreas, which are inadequately regulated in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. By blocking these receptors, Zucara's treatment aims to prevent hypoglycemia and restore natural glucose levels in the bloodstream. This approach represents a significant advancement over existing therapies, which typically only address hypoglycemia after it has occurred, rather than preventing it from happening in the first place.

Xor Labs Toronto is a pioneering company in the field of personalized medicine for organ transplantation, focusing specifically on lungs. The company develops advanced medical devices aimed at supporting lung transplantation, particularly for patients suffering from critical conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By enhancing the availability of donated lungs for transplantation, Xor Labs aims to significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality rates associated with these diseases. Through its innovative approach, the company is transforming the landscape of organ transplantation on a global scale.

Knitt Labs is a Toronto-based technology start-up that aims to address energy waste by transforming how power is utilized and managed. The company has developed innovative technology that leverages big data to optimize electricity consumption, helping clients reduce energy waste and save on costs. By integrating Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Knitt Labs enables users to gain better insights into their energy usage, ultimately redefining individual power management practices.

PhenoTips is a computer software company based in Ontario, Canada, founded in 2014. It specializes in providing solutions for clinical genetics, phenotyping, and human phenotype ontology. The company offers software designed for clinical use that integrates seamlessly with existing electronic health records. PhenoTips' technology aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy and standardize phenotype recording, facilitating the application of genomic medicine in clinical decision-making and diagnosis.

WaveCheck — a painless, non-surgical clinical technique developed by a Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre oncologist and a Ryerson University physicist and supported by MaRS Innovation — is poised to transform chemotherapy response monitoring for women with breast cancer. WaveCheck combines traditional ultrasound with new software to detect responses to chemotherapy in breast cancer tissues. By making better, more accurate information available about a woman's response to her chemotherapy treatment in weeks, rather than months, WaveCheck creates greater transparency through dialogue between a women and her doctors, empowering her to participate in discussions about whether a given chemotherapy treatment is effective.

AmacaThera Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, established in 2016. The company focuses on developing and commercializing an injectable hydrogel technology designed to enhance drug delivery for various medical applications. This innovative platform aims to improve patient outcomes in areas such as post-surgical pain management, cancer treatment, and other challenging therapeutic targets. AmacaThera's technology features a fast-gelling material that transitions from a liquid to a gel under force, combining hyaluronan and methylcellulose. This unique formulation allows for localized and sustained drug delivery, ultimately assisting healthcare providers in effectively managing patients' pain following surgery.

Ardra Inc. is a renewable chemicals company based in Toronto, Canada, specializing in the production of petroleum-free specialty chemicals for the personal care and cosmetics industry. Utilizing technology developed at the University of Toronto, Ardra employs model-guided metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to create biocatalysts that convert renewable resources into essential chemicals. The company's flagship product is 1,3-butanediol, a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based counterparts, which is utilized in various applications including cosmetics, food, polymers, and pharmaceuticals. With the cosmetics sector relying heavily on petroleum chemicals, valued at approximately $2.6 billion, Ardra aims to provide environmentally friendly solutions that stabilize and sustain the supply chain while reducing ecological impact.

Encycle Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, focused on developing drug-like macrocycles and membrane-permeable nacellins through its innovative platform technology. This approach allows for the rapid synthesis of nacellins, which have the potential to effectively target intracellular protein-protein interactions that are difficult to address with traditional small molecules and biologics. Encycle's nacellins can serve as cost-effective, oral alternatives to existing biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies. The company collaborates with various pharmaceutical firms to create a screening library of nacellins, many of which exhibit desirable drug-like properties. Encycle is actively developing nacellins aimed at treating integrin alpha-4-beta-7 related inflammatory bowel disease and SMURF2 associated fibrosis, with a focus on producing orally bioavailable inhibitors that promise improved safety and reduced immunogenicity compared to current biologic therapies targeting the same protein.

Vasomune Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for diseases linked to blood vessel dysfunction and destabilization. The company's lead compound, Vasculotide, is a Tie2 receptor agonist that aims to address various conditions exacerbated by vascular dysfunction, including cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary, and oncology-related diseases. Established in 2012 as a spin-out from MaRS Innovation and the University of Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital, Vasomune is translating robust academic research into clinical applications. The company's primary initiatives concentrate on treating acute and chronic kidney diseases, with a particular emphasis on Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), a significant unmet medical need. The decision to target AKI is supported by validated preclinical data indicating that vascular dysfunction is central to the condition. Vasomune’s approach seeks to modify the cellular response to disease, thereby enhancing patient outcomes in the face of vascular-related illnesses.

WaveCheck — a painless, non-surgical clinical technique developed by a Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre oncologist and a Ryerson University physicist and supported by MaRS Innovation — is poised to transform chemotherapy response monitoring for women with breast cancer. WaveCheck combines traditional ultrasound with new software to detect responses to chemotherapy in breast cancer tissues. By making better, more accurate information available about a woman's response to her chemotherapy treatment in weeks, rather than months, WaveCheck creates greater transparency through dialogue between a women and her doctors, empowering her to participate in discussions about whether a given chemotherapy treatment is effective.

BlueDot Inc. is a data analytics company based in Toronto, Canada, specializing in infectious disease monitoring and response. Founded in 2008 and formerly known as BioDiaspora Inc., BlueDot employs a combination of artificial intelligence and human expertise to analyze over 190 infectious diseases worldwide. The company provides critical insights by integrating various datasets, including disease outbreaks, healthcare facilities, local mobility patterns, animal populations, and climate data. Its early warning system helps public and private organizations identify potential infectious disease threats, allowing them to respond effectively without overreacting or underreacting. By delivering comprehensive data analytics solutions, BlueDot aims to enhance global preparedness against infectious diseases.

Crowdmark, Inc. is an education technology company based in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2012. It provides a web-based application that enhances the grading and assessment process for educators by bridging paper-based and digital formats. The platform is designed to facilitate both online and in-class assessments, allowing teachers to grade assignments more efficiently while offering constructive feedback to students. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Crowdmark aims to improve learning outcomes and redefine assessment as a constructive dialogue between educators and students. The service is utilized by instructors across various educational levels, including primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, both in Canada and internationally. Additionally, Crowdmark's system generates valuable insights into grading and learning performance, contributing to an enhanced educational experience.

Treata Smart Solutions is a company based in Toronto, Ontario, that specializes in caregiving technology for memory-impaired adults. Founded in 2012, it offers three innovative products: The Smart Lost Item Finder, The Smart Wandering Assistant, and The Smart Reminder. These devices leverage existing smartphone technology, enhanced with patent-pending hardware and software, to assist caregivers in monitoring the well-being of elderly individuals. The company's solutions aim to improve safety by providing real-time location information and alerts, ensuring that caregivers are promptly informed if a loved one with memory difficulties becomes lost or encounters any issues.

Crowdmark, Inc. is an education technology company based in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2012. It provides a web-based application that enhances the grading and assessment process for educators by bridging paper-based and digital formats. The platform is designed to facilitate both online and in-class assessments, allowing teachers to grade assignments more efficiently while offering constructive feedback to students. By leveraging artificial intelligence, Crowdmark aims to improve learning outcomes and redefine assessment as a constructive dialogue between educators and students. The service is utilized by instructors across various educational levels, including primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, both in Canada and internationally. Additionally, Crowdmark's system generates valuable insights into grading and learning performance, contributing to an enhanced educational experience.

Kapplex Inc. is a Toronto-based company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets point-of-care diagnostic platforms aimed at diagnosing common infectious diseases and cancer. Established in 2012, Kapplex specializes in providing instruments and consumables for use in retail clinics, doctors' offices, urgent care units, and emergency rooms. The company's innovative technology is built on a proprietary Digital Microfluidic (DMF) platform, which simplifies and automates traditional sample preparations and analyses on a single, cost-effective chip. This advancement allows clinicians to rapidly and accurately diagnose diseases during a patient's first visit, thereby improving treatment outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

Xagenic Inc. is a Toronto-based molecular diagnostics company focused on developing innovative technology for decentralized and rapid diagnostic testing. The company aims to enhance patient care by enabling on-demand, near-patient molecular testing, which allows clinicians to make informed treatment decisions during the initial consultation. Xagenic's technology facilitates rapid, enzyme-free detection of nucleic acids from clinical samples, yielding results in just 20 minutes. By commercializing a simple and fully automated platform, Xagenic is positioned to revolutionize diagnostic testing by enabling it to be conducted outside of traditional clinical laboratories. The company is also working on tests for infectious diseases that provide clinically actionable results in a timely manner, thereby improving overall healthcare efficiency and reducing costs.