Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners

AmacaThera Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2016. The company is focused on developing an innovative injectable hydrogel platform technology designed to enhance drug delivery and improve patient outcomes in various medical applications, particularly in post-surgical pain management, cancer treatment, and other challenging therapeutic areas. AmacaThera's technology features a unique fast-gelling material that liquefies under mechanical force, consisting of a reversible blend of hyaluronan and methylcellulose. This approach allows for localized and sustained drug delivery, potentially reducing postoperative pain and addressing other medical needs effectively.

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.

Founded in 2014, PhenoTips is a Canadian software company specializing in clinical genetics. It offers user-friendly solutions that integrate with existing electronic health records to streamline phenotyping and human phenotype ontology.

Founded in 2014, PhenoTips is a Canadian software company specializing in clinical genetics. It offers user-friendly solutions that integrate with existing electronic health records to streamline phenotyping and human phenotype ontology.

Founded in 2017, Phenomic AI is a Toronto-based company that develops artificial intelligence-driven drug discovery platforms. Its technology analyzes phenotypes in complex disease models like high-content co-culture and 3D assays, enabling pharmaceutical companies to discover drugs more efficiently.

Phycus Biotechnologies specializes in biotechnology solutions. It develops products from biological sources, primarily algae and aquatic organisms, to create bioactive compounds used in cosmetics, dietary supplements, functional foods, and natural pesticides.

Notch Therapeutics is a Toronto-based company developing immune cell therapies using induced pluripotent stem cell technology to create gene-edited allogeneic T cells. Its platform enables precise control of Notch signaling during T-cell development, enabling scalable manufacture of a uniform supply of therapeutic T cells for cancer indications such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. The approach aims to overcome bottlenecks in cell therapy development by integrating advanced product design with commercially compatible processes, supporting a next-generation pipeline of cell therapies.

Flybits Inc. is a Toronto-based company that specializes in a context-aware experience development platform tailored for the financial services sector. The platform enables banks to create personalized digital interactions by delivering relevant content, products, and offers to customers based on their specific needs during critical moments. By leveraging the vast amounts of available data and incorporating advanced sensing capabilities, Flybits allows financial institutions to enhance customer engagement while maintaining privacy. It empowers these institutions to design, launch, and evaluate data-driven consumer experiences, thereby fostering stronger relationships between individuals and their banks. The company is recognized for its innovative approach to contextual experiences, making it a leader in customer experience solutions for financial services.

Appulse Power Inc. is a Toronto-based company that specializes in the design and manufacture of application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) focused on semiconductor technology. Founded in 2015, the company has developed innovative power management solutions aimed at enhancing AC/DC power conversion efficiency. Appulse Power's products are designed to be lightweight and compact, addressing the growing demand for smaller and more integrated electronic devices while reducing power losses. Their technology consolidates multiple electronic device chargers into a single unit, making it particularly relevant for the Internet of Things and smart energy markets. By pushing the boundaries of traditional power conversion technology, Appulse Power aims to deliver higher efficiency and lower costs compared to existing solutions.

Dalriada Therapeutics Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company, incorporated in 2016 and headquartered in Mississauga. The company specializes in the development of novel small molecule inhibitors that target various medical conditions, including oncology, pain modulation, and neurodegenerative or neuroinflammatory disorders. Dalriada employs a TURN-KEY model that aligns research and development efforts with business and intellectual property strategies, thereby supporting global innovators in the pharmaceutical sector.

Zucara Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics to prevent hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in patients with diabetes. Established in 2014 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with an additional office in Vancouver, Zucara is pioneering a once-daily treatment that aims to regulate the hormone somatostatin in the pancreas. This treatment specifically targets somatostatin type 2 receptors, which are not effectively controlled in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Zucara's approach presents a significant advancement in diabetes care by functioning as a preventative measure against hypoglycemia, contrasting with existing therapies that only provide rescue during acute episodes. Through its pre-clinical technology, Zucara Therapeutics aims to restore natural glucose levels in the blood, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with diabetes.

Appulse Power Inc. is a Toronto-based company that specializes in the design and manufacture of application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) focused on semiconductor technology. Founded in 2015, the company has developed innovative power management solutions aimed at enhancing AC/DC power conversion efficiency. Appulse Power's products are designed to be lightweight and compact, addressing the growing demand for smaller and more integrated electronic devices while reducing power losses. Their technology consolidates multiple electronic device chargers into a single unit, making it particularly relevant for the Internet of Things and smart energy markets. By pushing the boundaries of traditional power conversion technology, Appulse Power aims to deliver higher efficiency and lower costs compared to existing solutions.

QD Solar Inc., founded in 2014 and based in Toronto, Canada, is a company that develops advanced photovoltaic cells using colloidal quantum dot technology. The company's innovative approach combines efficient silicon solar cells with infrared solar cells in a hybrid architecture to capture more of the solar spectrum than traditional silicon cells alone. This technology aims to enhance the performance of solar cells, making them more cost-effective and efficient. QD Solar was spun off from the University of Toronto and focuses on creating new nanomaterial semiconductors to promote sustainable development and increase the use of renewable energy sources.

Fibrocor Therapeutics L.P. is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, established in 2017. The company specializes in developing tissue-specific therapeutics aimed at treating the underlying causes of fibrotic diseases affecting the kidneys and other organs. Fibrocor focuses on disease-modifying therapeutics for fibrosis and has identified a lead program for which it collaborates with Evotec to develop novel molecules. Utilizing patient-derived tissue samples, Fibrocor's innovative platform uncovers critical pathways in the fibrogenic process, facilitating the identification of new disease targets and the development of a comprehensive pipeline of therapeutics.

LegUp Computing Inc., founded in 2015 by Dr. Andrew Canis, Dr. Jongsok Choi, Ruolong Lian, and Professor Jason Anderson, develops a cloud platform that facilitates programming, deployment, scaling, and management of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) devices for accelerating high-performance applications such as low-latency database processing and machine learning workloads. Originally developed at the University of Toronto, LegUp's platform offers a novel programming model enabling threaded C/C++ software to target FPGAs connected to high-bandwidth networks efficiently. As of October 9, 2020, LegUp operates as a subsidiary of Microchip Technology Incorporated, headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Zucara Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics to prevent hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in patients with diabetes. Established in 2014 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with an additional office in Vancouver, Zucara is pioneering a once-daily treatment that aims to regulate the hormone somatostatin in the pancreas. This treatment specifically targets somatostatin type 2 receptors, which are not effectively controlled in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Zucara's approach presents a significant advancement in diabetes care by functioning as a preventative measure against hypoglycemia, contrasting with existing therapies that only provide rescue during acute episodes. Through its pre-clinical technology, Zucara Therapeutics aims to restore natural glucose levels in the blood, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with diabetes.

Xor Labs Toronto is a pioneering company in the field of personalized medicine focused on organ transplantation, specifically targeting lung transplants. The company develops innovative medical devices that enhance the availability of donated lungs for transplantation, addressing the critical needs of patients suffering from severe respiratory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By advancing the technology associated with lung transplantation, Xor Labs aims to significantly reduce mortality rates among individuals awaiting this life-saving procedure, ultimately transforming the landscape of organ donation and transplantation worldwide.

Knitt Labs is a Toronto-based technology start-up focused on addressing energy waste through innovative management solutions. The company develops technology that leverages big data to enhance electricity consumption management. By utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Knitt Labs aims to provide clients with tools to optimize their energy usage, ultimately reducing waste and resulting in cost savings. Their approach seeks to redefine how individuals and organizations use and manage power, contributing to more sustainable energy practices.

Founded in 2014, PhenoTips is a Canadian software company specializing in clinical genetics. It offers user-friendly solutions that integrate with existing electronic health records to streamline phenotyping and human phenotype ontology.

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, founded in 2016. The company is focused on developing an innovative injectable hydrogel platform technology designed to enhance drug delivery and improve patient outcomes in various medical applications, particularly in post-surgical pain management, cancer treatment, and other challenging therapeutic areas. AmacaThera's technology features a unique fast-gelling material that liquefies under mechanical force, consisting of a reversible blend of hyaluronan and methylcellulose. This approach allows for localized and sustained drug delivery, potentially reducing postoperative pain and addressing other medical needs effectively.

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, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, that focuses on developing innovative drug candidates using its proprietary platform technology for the rapid synthesis of drug-like macrocycles and membrane-permeable nacellins. These nacellins are designed to target challenging intracellular protein-protein interactions, offering a potential alternative to traditional small molecules and biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies. The company has established collaborations with various pharmaceutical firms to build a screening library of nacellins, many of which demonstrate cell-permeable and drug-like characteristics. Encycle is actively pursuing the independent development of nacellins aimed at specific targets, including integrin alpha-4-beta-7 for inflammatory bowel disease and SMURF2 for fibrosis. Its lead program seeks to create orally bioavailable inhibitors of integrin alpha-4-beta-7 that promise improved safety and reduced immunogenicity compared to existing biologics targeting this protein.

Vasomune Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing therapies targeting diseases associated with blood vessel dysfunction. Its lead compound, Vasculotide, is a Tie2 receptor agonist showing promise in treating acute kidney injury and other vascular-related conditions.

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 is a global health intelligence company that empowers organizations to anticipate and respond effectively to infectious disease threats. Using AI-driven analytics and human expertise, it monitors over 190 diseases worldwide, providing critical insights on outbreaks.

Founded in Toronto, Canada in 2012, Crowdmark is an education technology company that offers a Web-based application for streamlined document assessment. It uses AI to administer and grade online assessments, serving students, teachers, and educational institutions worldwide.

Treata Smart Solutions specializes in caregiving technology aimed at assisting memory-impaired adults. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the company offers three main products: The Smart Lost Item Finder, The Smart Wandering Assistant, and The Smart Reminder. These devices leverage existing smartphone technology, incorporating patent-pending hardware and software to enhance their functionality. The company's emergency response system is particularly valuable for caregivers, as it provides real-time location updates and alerts via a connected smartphone app, ensuring that caregivers are informed about the whereabouts and safety of their loved ones.

Founded in Toronto, Canada in 2012, Crowdmark is an education technology company that offers a Web-based application for streamlined document assessment. It uses AI to administer and grade online assessments, serving students, teachers, and educational institutions worldwide.

Kapplex Inc. is a Toronto-based company that designs and manufactures advanced point-of-care diagnostic platforms. Established in 2012, the company focuses on enabling the rapid and accurate diagnosis of common infectious diseases in various healthcare settings, including retail clinics, doctor's offices, urgent care units, and emergency rooms. Kapplex leverages a proprietary Digital Microfluidic (DMF) technology, originally developed in a University of Toronto lab, which simplifies and automates traditional sample preparation and analysis processes on an economical, single-chip device. This innovative approach aims to enhance clinical decision-making at the point of care, ultimately improving treatment outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.

Xagenic Inc., based in Toronto, Canada, specializes in developing molecular diagnostics technology for rapid, decentralized testing. Their aim is to empower clinicians with on-demand, near-patient molecular testing capabilities, enabling timely treatment decisions and improving patient care while reducing healthcare costs. Xagenic's platform detects nucleic acids from clinical samples without the need for enzymes, delivering results in just 20 minutes. This allows for widespread diagnostic testing outside of traditional clinical laboratories, initially focusing on infectious disease tests.