Ontario Centres of Excellence

Ontario Centres of Excellence, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization based in Toronto, Canada, dedicated to enhancing the Ontario economy through the commercialization of innovative research. Established in 1987, it focuses on accelerating industry research and development by investing in collaborative projects between academia and industry. The organization provides early-stage seed financing to startups, supports the commercialization of academic research through licensing and spin-off companies, and promotes skills development for a skilled workforce. Its investment arm specializes in seed, startup, and early-stage investments primarily in sectors such as energy and environment, advanced manufacturing, advanced health technologies, and information and communications technologies. Ontario Centres of Excellence aims to drive economic growth by fostering innovation and supporting the success of emerging companies in Ontario.

Trish Barrow

Program Director

Sunny Kumar

Investment Manager

Sharon Sukhdeo

Investment Professional

Past deals in Canada

Venture For Canada

Grant in 2018
Venture For Canada's mission is to provide opportunities for the best and brightest to create dynamic companies for themselves and others, to restore entrepreneurship as a career path for elite young grads and to assist great companies through providing sharp young minds to help them grow.

My wine canada

Seed Round in 2016
MY WINE CANADA INC owns and operates an online wine shopping portal. The company retails products such as white wine, red wine, rose wine, sparkling wine, icewine, dessert wine, and fruit wine. MY WINE CANADA INC was founded in 2012 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Akira

Seed Round in 2015
Akira Medical Ltd. is a Toronto-based company that develops a virtual healthcare application aimed at transforming how Canadians access medical services. Founded in 2015, the application enables users to connect with doctors through secure text and video consultations, allowing for features such as prescription writing, lab test ordering, and specialist referrals. Patients also have access to their clinical notes and lab results, enhancing transparency and control over their health data. The mobile application is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users. As of July 2019, Akira operates as a subsidiary of TELUS Health Solutions GP, reflecting its integration into a larger healthcare ecosystem.

HELM App

Pre Seed Round in 2015
HELM App provides grant-funded childcare support to ontario-based women entrepreneurs.