Nov 8, 2018 | BIOPORT ATLANTIC, Coloursmith Labs Inc., News, THE BIOINNOVATION CHALLENGE
Halifax, NS – November 8, 2018 – Today Picomole from Moncton, New Brunswick was named the winner of BioNova’s eighth annual BioInnovation Challenge (BIC) business pitch competition at BioPort 2018. Picomole is an innovative medical technology company with the goal of developing their patented and patent-pending technologies for breath analytics into the standard of care for non-invasive clinical diagnostics and personalized medicine.
Stephen Graham of Picomole said, “This experience has been invaluable. The mentorship and training we’ve received through this process has helped take Picomole to the next level, and we know the funding and the advisory services will help to elevate us even more.”
Atlantic Canada’s best health and life science innovators participate in the BioInnovation Challenge (BIC) business pitch competition each year. The competition’s goal is to help ease the transition from research laboratory to market. Picomole will receive a prize package that includes $25,000 in seed funding and an advisory services package worth more than $30,000. Picomole was up against Matthew Kay, CEO ofTalem Health Analytics and Gabrielle Masone, CEO of Coloursmith Labs.
“Our panel of judges had a difficult time selecting a winner because all seven finalists have what it takes to make their start up a success,” said Scott Moffitt, Executive Director of BioNova. “Congratulations to Picomole.”
The Judging Panel:
Jennifer Hamilton, Senior Director, New Ventures (Canada), Johnson & Johnson Innovation
Gerry Lacroix, Technology Sector Leader – Nova Scotia, Grant Thornton LLP
John Holyoake, Managing Director, Investment Banking, Bloom Burton & Co.
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Contact:
Shana Cristoferi, Marketing Manager, BioNova
Mobile: (902) 830-9193
[email protected]
About BioNova
BioNova leads, accelerates, and advocates for Nova Scotia’s growing health and life sciences sector. Since 1993, BioNova has been accelerating the growth of its member companies. By hosting networking and educational events, and providing connections to potential funders and business resources, BioNova helps companies succeed. While these companies commercialize life-changing research to improve healthcare, provide healthier food, and develop sustainable solutions, BioNova advocates on behalf of the sector. BioNova champions the sector’s cluster of world-class research facilities, incubator programs, and companies who, together, bring investment and jobs to Nova Scotia. www.bionova.ca
About BioPort 2018
The 17th annual BioPort conference will take place at the Halifax Convention Centre on November 7-8, 2018. BioPort provides a forum to educate, inform and inspire the health and life sciences community to develop their ideas, commercialize their technologies and build links within the region and with guests brought in from the U.S. and from around the world. www.bioportatlantic.ca]]>
Aug 30, 2018 | News, THE BIOINNOVATION CHALLENGE
See original story here
Eight companies have been chosen to compete in this year’s BioInnovation Challenge, a regional health and life sciences business competition hosted by BioNova.
The competition will go down on Nov. 7 at BioPort 2018, BioNova’s annual conference for the life-science industry at the Halifax Convention Centre.
The BIC is one of the longest running business competitions in the Atlantic region. Since 2011, over 50 companies have gone through the program.
Past winners of the BIC include New Brunswick-based Pfera Inc. as well as Spring Loaded Technology, ABK BioMedical and Covina Biomedical from Nova Scotia.
“A strong and vibrant economy in our region requires continuous innovation and BIC has become a key program to support that,” said Scott Moffitt the Managing Director of BioNova in a statement.
“Many of the companies coming out of the program have gone on to raise millions to grow and scale.”
This year’s semi-finalists will receive training and sessions with expert pitching coach Linda Plano, who has over 10 years of experience mentoring entrepreneurs with startups in life sciences.
The winner of the competition will also receive $25,000 in funding to develop their business idea as well as a package of support services and mentoring valued at more than $30,000.
The BioPort 2018 conference is set to be the biggest yet. A Keynote address will be given by Corrina Lathan, CEO of AnthroTronix in Maryland. BioPort 2018 will also be the inaugural year for a new program for Nova Scotia’s youth.
The eight BIC semi-finalists are:
Coloursmith Labs – Direct-to-consumer contact lenses that work as the world’s first practical solution to colour blindness. Read Entrevestor’s coverage of Coloursmith here.
Unified Health – New models designed to ease the strain on the emergency system while reducing healthcare costs and bringing better patient outcomes. The company plans to set up wellness clinics that merge traditional and alternative care practices.
Talem Health Analytics – A Software-as-a-Service company for healthcare professionals to track, analyze and predict treatment regimens for people who have been in motor vehicle accidents. It draws on data from physiotherapy clinics and can help insurers assess how the patient will rehab. Talem was one of the five winners that took home $25,000 at the last Volta Cohort.
Picomole – A painless, accurate, and versatile diagnostic breath test to detect early stage lung cancer. This Moncton-based company is testing its device with the Horizon Health Network in New Brunswick. Read Entrevestor’s story on Picomole here.
BioHuntress – A Saint John company develping a natural treatment for blood cancer that brings a better patient experience.
Neuro Amel Technologies – This Halifax-based company is building a frameless, automated brace that uses electrical stimulation to improve mobility for stroke patients. Neuro Amel recently graduated from Dalhousie University’s LaunchPad program. Read Entrevestor’s story on the early development of the project here.
Macro Movements – A company that is building a software that gives feedback on your movement to prevent injury.
3F Waste Recovery – Turns waste in the fishery, farming and forestry industries into profitable solutions. The company is in the business of “turning garbage into gold,” for the cosmetics industry.]]>
