Top finalists at virtual Synapse Life Science Competition

Hamilton, ON – On March 25, Hamilton’s thriving life science ecosystem gathered for the first time, virtually, for Innovation Factory’s seventh annual Synapse Competition, Ontario’s premier life science pitch competition.

The years’ top three finalists, Bisep Inc., Hylvy Health and PROVA Innovations, each delivered a pitch to the judging panel, competing for a share of $75,000 in cash and in-kind prizes, while the remaining finalists competed for best poster. 12 Ontario life science innovators were selected finalists and formed teams with post-secondary students, the industry’s future professionals. Together, these teams participated in three months of intensive training, where they produced commercialization plans for their ventures and prepared for the showcase.

Bisep Inc. was named the grand prize winner, taking home a prize of $35,000 in cash, $5,000 in-kind from Gowling WLG, $2,000 in-kind from BDO and a 1-year membership with Life Sciences Ontario and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

Bisep, founded by Daniel Bordenave in 2015, creates new technologies and devices to enhance human performance in sport, exercise & rehabilitation. Dan’s experience working in a long-term care facility inspired him to invent a device that can assist immobility and ambulation training without the need for extra staff and equipment. Called ARMM (Ambulation, Retraining and Mobility Mechanism), it attaches a patient’s wheelchair directly to their walker in a safe and adaptable manner.

PROVA Innovations Ltd. (PROVA) took second place receiving $17,000 in cash, $5,000 in-kind from ShiftHealth and $2,000 in-kind from Bereskin & Parr, as well as a 1-year membership with Life Sciences Ontario and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

PROVA Innovations develops new technologies that aid children and adults suffering from brain injuries that have caused mobility restrictions. They are focused on creating a suite of at-home therapeutic products that improve mobility and enhance quality of life. The lead product is a wearable that measures the foot’s position and applies biofeedback encouraging the development and reinforcement of new neuromotor pathways and connections in the brain. Similar to how a rumble strip alerts a driver that they are veering off the road, these products provide sensory cueing in the form of small vibrations, lights and sounds to guide a patient’s foot throughout the entire gait cycle. This technology allows patients to engage in therapy in an intuitive way outside of clinic during normal everyday activities. For more information, visit provainnovations.com.

Hylvy Health (Hylvy) came in third place, receiving $5,000 in cash, $3,500 in-kind for an IP Package with Ridout & Maybee LLP, and a 1-year membership with Life Sciences Ontario and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

HyIvy Health creates high tech, modular sexual rehabilitation devices for women with pelvic diseases and cancers. After receiving a pelvic health diagnosis, women often struggle with comfortable, safe sexual experiences. HyIvy Health’s first device, a modular, connected vaginal wand, allows women to improve sexual recovery after treatment with information from 8 different sensors and 5 different mechanical functions to rehabilitate themselves from the comfort of their own home, allowing for women to see their rehabilitation in real time and track their progress while following a treatment plan preprogrammed by their doctors and therapists. Once rehabilitation goals have been achieved, the device can then be switched over to pleasure based modular components. For more information, visit hyivy.com.