Dal Innovates and Lab2Market Announce 20 Teams in Launch Summer Accelerator

Meet the next generation of students and recent graduates turning their ideas into viable businesses.

HALIFAX, NS (June 6, 2023) Dalhousie University and Lab2Market proudly welcome 20 ambitious entrepreneurial teams to the 2023 Launch summer accelerator. The teams, comprising of 43 students and recent graduates from 14 post-secondary institutions across Canada, will form, build, and grow their ventures over the next 12-weeks.

New this year, Dalhousie University is offering the Launch program to three cohorts: an Atlantic Research Cohort for research-based ventures and a National Health Cohort for health-based ventures in partnership with Lab2Market; and a general Atlantic Cohort through Dal Innovates to support those with diverse areas of study.

“Lab2Market Launch has fast become a go-to destination for Canadian researchers and innovators, and it’s evident in seeing the caliber of ideas in our 2023 cohorts,” said Dr. Alice Aiken, vice president, research and innovation. “Dalhousie University is proud to empower motivated and courageous students in launching their ventures.”

“We are beyond excited to be in Lab2Market Launch. We believe that the training, connections, and experience that we will gain in this program will help HerBiome Skincare Inc. grow and be a successful sustainable venture,” says Julie Anne Dayrit, a 2023 Lab2Market Launch Atlantic cohort member, who previously participated in the Lab2Market Validate program where she established the market for her product.  

Meet the Teams:

Lab2Market Launch Research Atlantic Cohort

Company NameParticipantsPost-SecondaryDescription
HerBiome Skincare Inc.Julie Anne Dayrit  

Manishkumar Shinde
Saint Mary’s UniversityHerBiome Skincare Inc. incorporates a blend of nourishing traditional medicinal plant extracts in skincare products for people suffering from skin irritations and skin inflammation who are looking for holistic treatment of skin-dryness, eczema, psoriasis, and acne; and are frustrated with expensive and greenwashed skincare products in the market.
Integrative Nanotech Ltd.Hunter King  

Michael Freund
Dalhousie University  Integrative Nanotech Ltd. is leveraging specialized nanomaterials to develop the next generation of hydrogen sensors for early leak detection applications.
MetaCrust Services Ltd.Sidra Anwar  

Qurat ul Ain
Memorial University of NewfoundlandMetaCrust Services Ltd. facilitates the secure transmission of health data from medical wearables to telehealth companies.
nditive3D Inc.Amir-Reza Kolahdouz-Moghaddam

Salar Salahi  

Seyed Nabavi
Memorial University of Newfoundland 

École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) Montréal  
nditive3D Inc. is a technology company that specializes in the development of digital twin-driven gas monitoring systems.
PhyCo Technologies Inc.Stacey Goldberg  

Ranah Chavoshi
University of Prince Edward Island 

Simon Fraser University
PhyCo is developing a bio-based plastic alternative from seaweed in partnership with Indigenous Nations that is earth-digestible and non-toxic.

Dal Innovates Launch Atlantic Cohort

Company NameParticipantsPost-SecondaryDescription
Adrigo InsightsAshwin Razdan  

Katerina Msafari
Saint Mary’s UniversityAdrigo Insights is building a B2B SaaS platform that unifies measurement and benchmarking on social media.
CitapayNaser Barati  

Fariba Seyedjafarrangraz

Jafar Pashami
University Canada West

Saint Mary’s University 

Dalhousie University
Citapay is a cross-border remittance with blockchain technology. Experience secure, transparent, and cost-effective money transfers with CitaPay.
Food Web Asset Mapping Inc.Justin Andrews  

Keegan Francis
Dalhousie UniversityFood Web Asset Mapping Inc. is helping to connect the dots of Atlantic Canada’s food system, building digital infrastructure to support and connect, food entrepreneurs, kitchens, farmers, markets, and consumers.
No Days Off Apparel Inc.Chaz Samuel  

Shayna Cort
Dalhousie University 

Saint Mary’s University
No Days Off Apparel Inc. is an external representation of an internal mindset built to inspire and motivate using clothing as avenue.
RivaliftAlma Ziaabadimiyanji  

Solmaz Ziaabadimiyanji
Saint Mary’s UniversityRivalift harnesses the power of social media data analytics and OpenAI to offer small business owners highly effective and creative content marketing strategies, all at an affordable price point.

National Lab2Market Launch Health Cohort

Company NameParticipantsPost-SecondaryDescription
Aruna Revolution Health IncGurleen Bajwa

Rashmi Prakash
University of British Columbia  

University of Western Ontario
Aruna is changing the way we manage our menstrual health with compostable menstrual pads that are better for our bodies and the planet.
Creative Medical SolutionsAlexander Koven  

Brian Carrillo  

Monica Farcas
University of TorontoCreative Medical Solutions is changing the diagnosis and treatment of bothersome urination by turning any toilet into a urine flow monitoring system.
Epictrode Inc.Gerd Grau  

Yoland El-hajj
York UniversityEpictrode Inc. is developing medical temporary tattoo electrodes used for the comfortable and customizable acquisition of biomedical signals (i.e., ECG) over longer time periods.
Epiloid BiotechnologyMark Aquilino  

Rohit Singla  

Clara Robson
University of Toronto  

University of British Columbia
Epiloid Biotechnology is a contract research organization, specializing in pre-clinical 3D human cerebral organoid assays for novel neurological pharmaceuticals.
FertileadHafsa B Zahid  

Narjes Allahrabbi
Toronto Metropolitan University  

University of Toronto
Fertilead is developing a medical device for semen preparation targeting couples with male-infertility challenges to boost the success rate of less/non-aggressive fertility treatments for them.
Miha BiotechMilad Hadaeghnia  

Minh Hai Tran  

Wendy Tran
Concordia UniversityMiha Biotech is developing a scar-free bandage for burns by leveraging seaweed extractions with natural products.
NeuropeuticsMarc Shenouda  

Namita Multani  

Janice Robertson
University of TorontoNeuropeutics’ mission is to discover and develop innovative treatments to alleviate neurodegenerative diseases slowing disease progression and extending patient survival.
PureSpire Biomonitoring TechnologiesCrystal Sweeney

Tanya Bellefontaine

David Perez
Dalhousie UniversityPureSpire Biomonitoring Technologies is advancing solutions for monitoring and mitigating exposures to occupational carcinogens in firefighters to help reduce the risk of cancer in the fire service.
U CorpBrian Cameron Webb

Laurent Bozec  

Vishar Yaghoubian
University of TorontoU Corp is a dental care startup, aiming to improve oral hygiene globally through a smart-functional gum that helps keep the mouth clean and healthy, remineralizes the enamel, and has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory components.
Tomfohr & Roos eHealth Services Inc.Emily Cameron  

Leslie E Roos

Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
University of ManitobaTomfohr & Roos eHealth Services Inc. is developing stepped-care interventions, which empower families to access on-demand services to address family mental health needs and improve parent-child relationships.

The Launch program is based off MIT’s delta v accelerator, and will see teams conduct primary market research, define their beachhead market, learn about customers and user’s needs, validate, and quantify the product value proposition for customers, build their founding team, develop their business model, and make progress on starting their venture. Teams receive tailored instruction, mentorship, and coaching from successful entrepreneurs and industry experts, a Founder Council comprised of business leaders, and $15,000.00 in funding.

As part of the national Lab2Market suite of programming, participants benefit from Dalhousie’s innovation ecosystem while also receiving access to the broader network and curriculum offered by the national Lab2Market program.

Launch is offered by Dalhousie through Dal Innovates, the entrepreneurial hub for at the university supporting students and faculty across Atlantic Canada and the country to learn innovation and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes. Teams can go on to participate in Creative Destruction Lab and other accelerators around the world. Program alumni include 3D BioFibR, HOLLO Medical, PragmaClin Research Inc., and Zen Electric just to name a few.

Dalhousie’s Lab2Market Launch cohorts are made possible with support from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Mitacs, Springboard Atlantic, Build Ventures, Morrision Park Advisors, and I-INC through the Future Skills Centre. 

Interested future applicants and mentors can find more information at lab2market.ca.

About Lab2Market:

Lab2Market is a national suite of programs that gives academic research teams the practical skills to spark their passion for entrepreneurship, validate their ideas, and successfully launch innovative new businesses. Funded by the Government of Canada, Mitacs, NSERC, and the Ocean Startup Project, the program is based on the immersive, entrepreneurial I-Corps training program in the United States, and the leading ICURe accelerator program in the United Kingdom.

Learn more at www.lab2market.ca.

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About Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University combines high-impact research, meaningful teaching and a deep sense of social responsibility that inspires our diverse community to make a difference here in Nova Scotia, across Canada and on the global stage. Located on Canada’s welcoming East Coast, with campuses in the vibrant oceanside city of Halifax and an Agricultural Campus in the town of Truro, Dalhousie welcomes 21,000 students from across the country and more than 115 countries around the world. Dalhousie is Nova Scotia’s leading research-intensive university, with 13 faculties that expand understanding through teaching excellence and a drive for discovery resulting in more than $210 million in external research funding each year. Dalhousie’s blend of groundbreaking research with outstanding teaching and makes for a unique and collaborative environment that empowers all our students, professors, researchers and staff to achieve excellence and make a positive impact for our province, our country and our world.  Learn more www.dal.ca