ACTO, the Omnichannel Education and Engagement platform for life sciences, today announced its acquisition of CoHealth, a mobile application that provides trusted resources for patients and caregivers. The deal is ACTO’s second strategic acquisition since securing $11.5 million this summer, and brings a new division with direct-to-patient education capabilities to ACTO’s SaaS platform.

Eco-friendly textiles. 3D-printed smart soil. Portable, rapid testing for COVID-19. These are just three of the 14 promising, solutions-based social venture projects that received funding from the new Lo Family Social Venture Fund this fall. The fund, established earlier this year, helps U of T students and recent graduates take their social enterprises to the next level, providing support for student-driven ventures that will positively impact the global community.

“I would love to see the world go in a good direction as quickly as possible,” says Judson Asiruwa. “Preferably in my lifetime!”

Judson is definitely doing his part. He and Jamie Lee, a fellow graduate from the Rotman Commerce program at U of T, have created a mobile app to fight climate change.

Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announced it acquired Toronto-based LegUp Computing Inc., expanding its Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based edge compute solution stack with a high-level synthesis (HLS) tool. Commercialized from University of Toronto research, the LegUp HLS tool will make it easier for a larger community of software engineers to harness the algorithm-accelerating power of Microchip’s PolarFire FPGA and PolarFire System on Chip (SoC) platforms.

Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announced it acquired Toronto-based LegUp Computing Inc., expanding its Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based edge compute solution stack with a high-level synthesis (HLS) tool. Commercialized from University of Toronto research, the LegUp HLS tool will make it easier for a larger community of software engineers to harness the algorithm-accelerating power of Microchip’s PolarFire® FPGA and PolarFire System on Chip (SoC) platforms.

AmacaThera Inc. is pleased to announce approval from Health Canada to proceed to a Phase 1 clinical trial with its lead asset, a long-acting anesthetic formulation for the treatment of post-surgical pain.

“This huge milestone was achievable due to all of the hard work and the relentless nature of the AmacaThera team,” co-founder and CEO Dr. Mike Cooke remarked.

The University of Toronto is the top university in Canada for spurring innovation, according to the latest Maclean’s national reputational rankings.

Ryan Doherty, president and founder of Empower Health, a company that helps people access health care services, also sees potential in drive-through clinics, and expects them to pop up across the country in coming weeks.

This marks the University of Toronto’s sixth straight year atop the Maclean’s ranking as Canada’s top school by reputation.

Phenomic AI, a biotech using AI/ML to reveal drug targets that emerge from cell-cell interactions and drive novel antibody drug discovery for challenging diseases, today announced the official launch of the company with US$6 million seed financing. The financing was led by CTI Life Sciences Fund and joined by AV8 Ventures, Luminous Ventures, and Viva BioInnovator.