Judge
Director, Technology and Innovation Banking, Desjardins
Desjardins Startup Prize 2024 Pitch Competition
Join us on March 7th to cheer on the 11 shortlisted startups competing in the 2024 Desjardins Startup Prize Pitch Competition!
This year’s competition will take place as part of True Blue Impact Day on March 7th, in the culmination of U of T Entrepreneurship Week.
Prizes
The Desjardins Startup Prize is U of T Entrepreneurship’s annual business pitch competition, awarding $100K in prizes to recognize, reward, and accelerate the University of Toronto’s most innovative startups.
Early-Stage Prize
Early Stage = Startups that have received less than $50,000 in cumulative funding or investment and less than $25,000 in cumulative revenue as of November 30, 2023.
- 1st place: $15,000
- 2nd place: $10,000
- 3rd place: $5,000
- People’s Choice: $4,000
Later-Stage Prize
Late Stage = Startups that have received between $50,000 and $250,000 cumulative funding or investment, and less than $100,000 in cumulative revenue as of November 30, 2023.
- 1st place: $40,000
- 2nd place: $20,000
- 3rd place: $10,000
- People’s Choice: $4,000
Presented by
Finalists
Early-Stage
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Epiloid Biotechnology
Epiloid Biotechnology specializes in preclinical 3D human cerebral organoid assays for novel neurological pharmaceuticals. Our analysis platform focuses on predicting preclinical human drug efficacy through machine learning analysis of biochemical and electrophysiological features.
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Neuropeutics Inc.
A pharmaceutical company developing disease modifying treatments to extend neurodegenerative disease patients’ survival and improve their quality of life.
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Opal Technologies
Opal Technologies is sustainably producing specialty chemicals by upcycling low-value biomaterials.
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ToothPod
Toothpods are a dental smart-gum to supplement your oral hygiene when there is no access to a toothbrush or toothpaste through anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and remineralizing properties.
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Xatoms
Xatoms utilizes AI and quantum chemistry to accurately predict 3D models of photocatalytic structures, aiding in cleaning polluted waters across the globe. 2 billion people lack access to drinking water; Xatoms is on a mission to solve this problem by introducing more affordable and efficient water technology.
Late-Stage Prize
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Bonfire
When you enter a retail store, a salesperson typically welcomes you, asks about your preferences, and offers you products. At Bonfire, we are building concierge chatbots to offer the same personalized experience to e-commerce businesses, powered by AI & interoperability.
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Cove Neurosciences Inc.
In the clinical trial setting, only 8.2% of drugs tested for neurological diseases reach the clinical setting, relative to 15% of all drugs overall. This is largely due to the lack of biomarkers to characterize the heterogeneity of patients, as well as variable response to therapeutics. Accordingly, there is a critical unmet need for biomarkers…
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Creative Medical Solutions
Creative Medical Solutions is transforming uroflowmetry testing and addressing the rising patient load with a medical device designed to elevate patient care and streamline provider efficiency. Our device offers greater comfort, facilitates faster testing, and permits higher throughput in clinics.
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SilicoLabs
How can we understand how people interact with each other and the world? Surveys are inexpensive, yet abstract, while real-world testing is costly and slow. SilicoLabs’ no-code behavioural analytics platform makes it easy, fast, and inexpensive to create real-world simulations.
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Spero Analytics
Spero Analytics builds automated IoT solutions for large-scale greenhouse gas monitoring, enabling landfills and oil refineries to track and mitigate methane emissions in compliance with environmental regulations.
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Synakis
Synakis developed a patented-protected transparent, biodegradable, biomimetic and biocompatible hydrogel platform technology for overcoming ocular diseases including retinal detachment, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
Judges
Judge
Co-founder & CEO, HighFi
President and CEO of OBIO
Emcee
Emcee
Programs Lead, ICUBE, U of T Mississauga