Dal Innovates, Lab2Market and Springboard welcome 35 students and recent grads Launch program

Springboard has eight member institutions represented in this cohort

Meet the next generation of young entrepreneurs turning their ideas into viable businesses.

From Dal Innovates

Dalhousie University , Lab2Market and Springboard Atlantic proudly welcome 17 ambitious entrepreneurial teams to the Atlantic Lab2Market Launch and Collide Launch summer entrepreneurship program. The 2024 teams, comprising 35 students and recent graduates from eight post-secondary institutions, will form, build, and grow their ventures over the summer.

“Lab2Market Launch has established itself as the go-to program for Canadian graduate students, postdocs and researchers and this year, we are pleased to offer Collide Launch to support undergrads and students in broader fields of study. The innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem at Dalhousie is thriving and we are delighted that both Lab2Market Launch and Collide Launch have a full complement of motivated student teams ready to launch their next ventures.”  

Dr. Alice Aiken, vice president, research and innovation.

Entrepreneurial curiosity growing

Since 2020, 47 teams have successfully completed Lab2Market Launch at Dalhousie University and the number of students inquiring about exploring entrepreneurship continues to grow. To meet demand this year, Dalhousie University, through Dal Innovates, is offering Collide Launch. Collide Launch is for undergraduates, graduates, certificate students, and faculty members with diverse academic backgrounds who are eager to launch a business.  

“We are excited to be in the inaugural year of Collide Launch and are looking forward to the advanced training, connections, and mentorship that we will use to launch our company Pucktive,” said Eddie Cobbold, a 2024 Collide Launch cohort member, who previously participated in the Collide Validate program where he validated the commercial potential of developing cut-resistant hockey apparel.  

Meet the 2024 teams: 

Collide Launch Cohort 

Venture Name	Participant Names	Academic Institution	Company Overview
Athlete Aid	Issac Hierlihy Morgan MacKinnon	St. Francis Xaiver University  University of New Brunswick	Athlete Aid is developing a subscription-based injury triage mobile app for minor sports athletes.
Daku Tech	Jake Young  Limysh Kalapala	Dalhousie University	Daku Tech is pioneering advancements in personal locator beacon technology to enhance safety for fishers and facilitate swift search and rescue operations during emergencies.
Head First Network	Lauren Mackay  Fraser MacKay  Sam Peach	Dalhousie University	Head First Network is developing a solution to equip student athletes with the tools and knowledge to manage and prevent concussions to foster safer sports practices across Canada.
Mxpert	Barath Sundar  Malik Rahey	Memorial University	Mxpert is developing an AI-powered platform to help auto repair shops boost operational efficiency and customer relations by automating customer engagement, with enhanced bookings, reminders, and targeted marketing.
Pucktive	Eddie Cobbold  Charlie Cobbold	Dalhousie University  George Brown College	Pucktive is an innovative protective hockey apparel brand focused on making cut-resistant products to protect hockey players from fatal and serious injuries that occur in exposed areas, such as the neck and wrist.
SOASIS	Lihui Qiao  Junwen Hu	NSCAD University	SOASIS plans to offer a physical pod that uses AI technology to deliver a holistic experience to people looking to take a short break or meditate to improve their mental health.
Willow	Aaron Burlacoff   Noah Burlacoff	Dalhousie University  Huron College at Western University	Willow will use innovative technologies to streamline estate planning services that include robust security measures for legally compliant digital wills.

Venture Name	Participant Names	Academic Institution	Company Overview
Atlantic Echo Solutions	Len Zedel Mohammad Reza Mousavi	Memorial University	Atlantic Echo Solutions is developing acoustic methods to remotely measure sound speed in the ocean which is critical for all sonar and acoustic system applications such as high-resolution ocean bathymetry mapping and seismic surveys.
Bliss Bioproducts Inc.	Roksana Saleh Louis Anthony Odo	Dalhousie University  St. Francis Xavier University	Bliss Bioproducts will be creating high quality, cost-effective, organic food and plant-based products.
BoviSense AI	Shubhangi Mahato Hariesh Annadevara Sivakumar	Dalhousie University	BoviSense AI uses facial recognition system and AI to support farmers with tailored insights for enhanced cattle welfare and productivity.
CoaTech Solutions	Pooya Nikbakhsh Shahzad Karim	Dalhousie University	CoaTech Solutions is developing a uniform and durable protective coating for mold surfaces, with the aim of reducing downtime in tire production while also minimizing resource loss.
BravoZulu	Lynette Peters Colin Peters	Dalhousie University	BravoZulu is creating a digital wellness solution that connects veterans and families through art and craft.
GamBit	Hamid Maymand Brynn Harris-Shanks	Dalhousie University	GamBit aims to make video gaming more inclusive and immersive through brain-computer interface technology.
SensoFluidix	Alireza Zabihihesari Ali Doostmohammadi	Dalhousie University York University	SensoFluidix is developing highly sensitive synthetic receptors designed to integrate into ready-to-use kits, cartridges, and microfluidic sensing platforms to capture samples in harsh conditions for environmental, biomedical, and mining industries.
NexaPowder Inc	Elham Afshari Sara Mirzaei Mazraeh	Dalhousie University	NexaPowder Inc. focuses on sustainable advancement in metal 3D printing and crafting top-quality spherical metal powders from recycled materials to reduce energy consumption, costs, and emissions, while meeting industry demand.
OEEE	Hamid Jafarzadeh Mohammadali Hemati	Memorial University	OEEE is using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence for rapid detection of oil spills to mitigate environmental damage and protect marine ecosystems.
OceanAM	Foroozan Forooghi Mohsen Keshavarzan	University of New Brunswick	OceanAM is developing a fish-inspired remotely operated vehicle (ROV), specifically designed for underwater maintenance of offshore structures and ships.

Launch program based on MIT delta v program

These Launch programs are offered through Dal Innovates, an Atlantic hub that teaches innovation and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes to students and faculty. The Launch programs are based on MIT’s delta v program, and will see teams conduct primary market research, define their beachhead market, learn about customers and user’s needs, validate, and quantify the product value proposition for customers, build their founding team, develop their business model, and make progress on starting their venture. Teams receive tailored instruction, mentorship, and coaching from successful entrepreneurs and industry experts and can receive up to $33,000.00 in funding.  

Launch participants benefit from Dalhousie’s innovation ecosystem, receiving access to a Founder Council comprised of business leaders. Many successful Launch teams move on to participate in the Creative Destruction Lab and other accelerators worldwide. Program alumni include 3D BioFibR, Myomar Molecular, PragmaClin Research Inc., and Zen Electric Bikes just to name a few.   

Dalhousie’s Lab2Market Launch cohorts are made possible with support from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Mitacs, Springboard Atlantic, Build Ventures, and Morrison Park Advisors. 

About Lab2Market: 

Lab2Market is a national suite of programs that gives academic research teams the practical skills to spark their passion for entrepreneurship, validate their ideas, and successfully launch innovative new businesses. Funded by the Government of Canada, Mitacs, NSERC, and the Ocean Startup Project. The program is based on the immersive, entrepreneurial I-Corps training program in the United States, and the leading ICURe program in the United Kingdom.  Learn more at www.lab2market.ca. 

About Collide: 

Collide is a suite of programs that aims to equip undergraduate and post-secondary students in Atlantic Canada with the crucial knowledge and skills to drive their innovative and entrepreneurial ideas into catalysts for change. The program unfolds in three essential stages: Discover, Validate, and Launch. It is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Learn more at www.dalinnovates.ca