Meet the remarkable student entrepreneurs turning their ideas into viable businesses from the Collide and Lab2Market programs.
Today, Dal Innovates proudly welcomes 20 innovative entrepreneurial teams to Dal Innovates’ Lab2Market Launch and Collide Launch summer accelerator program. The 2025 teams, comprised of 33 students and recent graduates from 10 post-secondary institutions, will form, build, and grow their ventures over the next 12 weeks.
The Lab2Market Launch and Collide Launch programs have a track record for driving innovation and giving rise to successful companies such as Aruna Revolution, Integrative Nanotech, Food Web, and Pucktive. This year’s cohort includes teams that incorporate advanced AI, develop new software, and use emerging satellite technologies to enhance industries, protect the environment, and offer solutions for the aging population.
Lab2Market Launch and Collide Launch are educational accelerators where student-led teams receive top-tier entrepreneurial training, coaching, and access to $10,000 in funding. Lab2Market Launch is primarily for graduate-level researchers committed to building a scalable business. Collide Launch is primarily for undergraduate and non-research-based graduate students eager to launch a business.
“Dalhousie is dedicated to pursuing research that has a positive impact in the world and providing our community with the skills, tools and opportunities to make it happen,” said Dr. Graham Gagnon, acting vice president, research and innovation at Dalhousie University. ”As the national headquarters of Lab2Market, and founding partner of Collide, we are pleased to support these 20 teams as they hone their entrepreneurial skills, launch startups, and deliver real-world solutions that Nova Scotia, and Canada need to stay competitive.”
“We know college and university campuses are incubators for incredible ideas,” said Jeff Larsen, assistant vice president, innovation and entrepreneurship at Dalhousie University. “I’m excited to see this exceptional group of student founders harness the mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities of the Launch program offered through Dal Innovates, to turn their ideas into thriving ventures.”
“I’m passionate about sustainability, and Lab2Market Launch is equipping me with the skills to commercialize my research in biomass waste conversion and tap into the billion-dollar global demand for eco-friendly, high-value products, like biochar, activated carbon, and carbon electrodes,” said UPEI MSc student Japhet Machipisa, who is a member of the 2025 Lab2Market Launch cohort and founder of Beta Carbon: Wastepaper Biomass Technology.
“I’m excited to be part of Collide Launch, as this opportunity gives us access to expert training and mentorship that will help bring our aquaculture monitoring solution to life and optimize production for shellfish hatcheries, not only here in Canada but around the world,” said Dalhousie BSc student Shawn Ray, a 2025 Collide Launch participant, and co-founder of Shell Tech.
Since 2020, more than 1,200 post-secondary students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers from over 50 Canadian academic institutions have participated in the Lab2Market and Collide programs. In Atlantic Canada, over 65 founders have graduated from the flagship programs, and 63 have incorporated their startups.
Meet the 2025 teams
2025 Lab2Market Launch Cohort – 7 teams
| Venture Descriptions | Founders | Academic Institutions |
| Beta Carbon – Transforming wastepaper biomass into high-value carbon-based products to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, reduce deforestation, and alleviate pressure on landfills, contributing to a sustainable circular economy and net zero targets. | Japhet Machipisa Stephanie Shaw, Ph.D. | University of Prince Edward Island |
| Equlantic Inc. – Developing a modular, autonomous sensor system that delivers real-time, high-precision carbonate system data to support accurate, cost-effective measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and other ocean-based industries. | Isaac Bahler Caliyena Brown | Dalhousie University |
| Malus Ecolife Inc. – Developing a sustainable waste-to-energy solution that converts poultry manure into biofuels and biochar, addressing environmental and disposal challenges while promoting carbon sequestration. | Ben Kiehbadroudinezhad, Ph.D. Ghazaleh Afrahi | Dalhousie University |
| Outport – Boosting customer acquisition with Outport, a new technology that makes your business #1 on Google—automating 5-star reviews, creating lead magnets, and signaling nonstop activity to drive a flood of customers. | Bennett Newhook | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| Qalam Health Solutions Inc. – Empowering surgeons to detect bone cancer tissue on bone margins during surgery to prevent bone cancer relapse. | Dr. Haitham Shoman, Ph.D., MD Maryam Ejaz | McGill University |
| SMART-HAB – Detecting harmful algal blooms through a new reporting tool that incorporates satellite monitoring analysis. | Catherine Evans Christopher Whidden, Ph.D. | Dalhousie University |
| Tangify Farming Solutions – Developing an automated, non-invasive, and reliable cattle weight-monitoring system to provide real-time weight tracking for free-range beef cattle, enabling farmers to optimize feeding, improve herd management, and reduce inefficiencies in traditional weight monitoring methods. | Mariana Toro Ramirez Manuel Sandoval | Concordia University |
2025 Collide Launch Cohort – 13 teams
| Venture Descriptions | Founders | Academic Institutions |
| Alaagi Inc. – Tackling global plastic pollution by creating innovative and sustainable seaweed-based bioplastics with the potential to revolutionize packaging. | Sheher Yar Khan Zain Ali Khan | Saint Mary’s University Mount Saint Vincent University |
| Being there – Redefining how seniors age at home by developing holistic, evidence-based programming that prioritizes prevention and ensures they receive the support needed to maintain their well-being and independence. | Stuti Sandhu Kris Ram | Saint Mary’s University |
| Clarify Student Resources – Bridging the gap between how students learn and how teachers teach through an AI-powered education platform that offers personalized learning and automates admin work for educators. We’re building the future of education—designed for everyone. | Jeremiah Philips Kavin Kadam | Dalhousie University British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) |
| CM Marine Safety Equipment – Developing an innovative lifejacket designed to offer commercial fishermen comfort, safety, and protection as they handle heavy traps and nets in a physically demanding job. | Ben Collings Mackay Jayden Barker | St. Francis Xavier University |
| EnergyIntelligence – Making sustainable energy transition more accessible, affordable, and impactful with an AI-driven platform that provides remote energy assessments by analyzing energy bills, smart meter data, and satellite imagery to deliver energy efficiency recommendations and automatic rebate matching. | Dipak Timalsina Anusheel Chapagain | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| Ez Breathe Heat Pump Cleaning – Developing advanced cleaning technology to enhance HVAC maintenance, improve energy efficiency, and set new industry standards for system cleanliness and air quality. | Ben McQuaid Brett McQuaid | University of Prince Edward Island |
| LimbRise Recovery Solutions – engineering a patent-pending, spring-loaded mobility device designed to provide a safer, hands-free recovery from leg injuries—offering an alternative to crutches and other mobility aids. | Richard Hetherington Noor Abdelhamid | University of Prince Edward Island |
| Mector – Enhancing independence for individuals with early-stage dementia with an innovative memory-supportive communication system. | Shima Soltani Zahra Karimi | NSCAD University |
| Nimbus – Providing customizable hearing protection by developing an earplug system that balances comfort, safety, and situational awareness with adjustable noise attenuation and frequency filtering technology. | Melina Markotjohn Steven Aiken, Ph.D. | Dalhousie University |
| NovaBrew Solutions Inc. – Developing production management software to automate time-consuming administrative tasks for craft breweries, such as forecasting, production scheduling, and inventory management. | Andrew Swift Rob Marot | Dalhousie University |
| SEEYA – Addressing the global epidemic of childhood myopia with engaging and educational toy sets that promote balanced screen time, outdoor activities, and eye health awareness to foster healthier vision for kids. | Jewell Tan Adrian Feng | NSCAD University |
| Shell Tech – Increasing production for shellfish hatcheries with an innovative aquaculture monitoring system that uses AI-powered image recognition to assess larvae health and detect potential diseases. | Shawn Ray Jake Young | Dalhousie University |
| Storelx Inc. – Developing an online marketplace that connects people who need storage space to people who have storage space available – AirBNB for storage. | Selim Fahmy NourElDeen Fahmy | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
Quick Facts:
- Collide Launch and Lab2Market Launch are based on MIT’s delta v accelerator program.
- These are full-time programs that will see teams conduct primary market research, define their beachhead market, learn about customers’ needs, validate and quantify their value proposition, build their founding team, develop their business model, and grow their venture into a viable business.
- Each team will receive up to $10,000 in funding, in addition to tailored instruction from industry experts, and individual coaching and mentorship from a Dal Innovates’ Founder Council of successful entrepreneurs.
- Launch participants also benefit from Dalhousie’s innovation ecosystem, with many successful Launch teams moving on to participate in the Emera ideaHUB, Creative Destruction Lab, and other accelerators worldwide.
- Since 2020, over 1,200 students and faculty from 50 colleges and universities across Canada have participated in Dal Innovates’ programs.
- Alumni of Dal Innovates’ programs have gone on to raise $20 million in private and public funding.
Dal Innovates’ Lab2Market and Collide Launch cohorts are made possible with support from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Mitacs, NSERC, the Province of Nova Scotia, Springboard Atlantic, Build Ventures, and Morrison Park Advisors.
About Lab2Market™
Lab2Market envisions Canada as a global leader in transforming academic research into innovative solutions that drive social impact and economic growth. As a national beacon for innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship, L2M empowers students, researchers, and highly qualified personnel through specialized training that bridges the gap between research and real-world applications. Funded by the Government of Canada, Mitacs, and the Ocean Startup Project, Lab2Market draws inspiration from leading programs such as I-Corps and MIT Delta V (U.S.), ICURe (U.K.), and the Quebec Scientific Entrepreneurship Program.
Learn more at www.lab2market.ca
About Collide
The Collide suite of entrepreneurship education programs are open to students across all academic disciplines. The program curriculum mirrors the successful Lab2Market entrepreneurship program designed for graduate students and faculty looking to commercialize their research. The program unfolds in three essential stages: Discover, Validate, and Launch. It is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and by the Province of Nova Scotia’s Department of Advanced Education.
About Dal Innovates
Dal Innovates provides opportunities for students and faculty to explore entrepreneurship and develop the skills to translate ideas into innovations. Since 2020, over 900 students and faculty from 25 colleges and universities across Canada have participated in Dal Innovates programs. Dal Innovates alumni have gone on to raise $19 million in private and public funding. Empowering participants to build and contribute to successful ventures, its programs support every step of the venture journey—from identifying market needs and building prototypes to sourcing investment and securing patents.