21/11/2024
Ottawa, Ontario — Thursday November 21, 2024
Four Ottawa-based start-ups pitched their groundbreaking health care solution to invest-ready judges at the 2024 edition of the CHEO Research Institute’s Bears’ Den on Nov. 20, 2024. Hosted by Core Innovation, the pitch event highlights cutting-edge med-tech solutions for today and tomorrow’s health care system.
The start-up founders pitched to a local panel of investors and advisors composed of Suzanne Grant (Capital Angel Network), Blake Farquharson (RBCx) and Marie-Ange Janvier (CHEO), who brought industry knowledge, advice, and experience, as well as some tough follow-up questions.
2024 CHEO Bears’ Den Winner
At the end of the day, the judges selected Leynek Medical’s ReneCare Platform as the winner of the 2024 CHEO Bears’ Den. ReneCare supports cancer patients, caregivers, and health care providers by integrating into clinical workflows and offering between-appointment care. Through a user-friendly app, patients can track symptoms, mood, and journal entries, with access to symptom-specific medical guidance. Hospitals benefit from enhanced patient monitoring, allowing for proactive care and improved patient engagement, ultimately fostering better outcomes in the cancer journey.
As the winning pitch, Leynek Medical was awarded a $25,000 investment to support the next phase of their product adoption to help get their solution into hospitals and clinics.
“Being part of the CHEO Bears’ Den event has been phenomenal,” said William Jones, Leynek Medical, CEO. “From being coached by industry leaders, connecting with investors, to winning $25,000 towards the acceleration of my company, I can now get the technology in front of those who need it the most.”
As voted by you: CHEO Bears’ Den Fan Favourite
Everyone attending the CHEO Bears’ Den, both in-person at the uOttawa Desmarais Hall and online, showed tremendous support for all four companies pitching, but only one was named the Fan Favourite.
AIHearu won over the crowd with their voice recognition software tailored for individuals with speech impairments. Initially created by two technologists for their sibling with cerebral palsy, the software learns the users’ unique speech patterns, enabling clearer communication by reproducing their intended words. AIHearu is now being expanded for broader accessibility.
The other two companies pitching in the CHEO Bears’ Den were miRoncol and Dicerra. miRoncol offers a blood-based test that detects over 12 cancer types using PCR and miRNA technology, and Dicerra’s safety reporting platform emphasizes anonymity, non-punitive measures, and de-siloed data, drawing from aviation’s safe reporting culture.
Unlocking innovation’s potential to change health and health care
Core Innovation, powered by the CHEO Research Institute, helps innovators tackle the daunting task of commercializing technologies in the health-care sector. By bridging the gaps between research, health care and business, they help med-tech innovators from invention to adoption, and everywhere in between.
“Health care is often seen as a risk-averse industry, which can make it challenging to bring innovative technologies to market. At the CHEO Research Institute, we are committed to changing that mindset and believe that by bringing the right people together, we can play a vital role in sparking health innovation that makes a real impact,” said Dr. Jason Berman, CEO and Scientific Director, CHEO Research Institute, Vice-President Research, CHEO.
Led by Dr. Matthew Bromwich, an ENT surgeon at CHEO, thought-leader and successful entrepreneur, the Core Innovation team is a mix of start-up entrepreneurs, health-care operations experts, and clinical navigators that bring private-sector dynamism to health-care innovation.
“Core Innovation brings together, health care, research and business to enable us to collaboratively build the future of Canadian health-tech and support high paying jobs and keep entrepreneurs in Canada,” said Dr. Matthew Bromwich, Director, Core Innovation
About the CHEO Research Institute
The CHEO Research Institute is a global centre of excellence in pediatric research that connects talent and technology in pursuit of life-changing research for every child, youth and family in the CHEO community and beyond. The CHEO Research Institute coordinates the research activities of CHEO and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa. At the CHEO Research Institute, discoveries inspire the best life for every child and youth. For more information, visit cheoresearch.ca.
Media contact:
Jennifer Ruff
Director of Communications
CHEO Research Institute
(613) 261-3979
[email protected]