Canadian Technology Accelerator Announces Second Digital Health Cohort

The newly expanded, 4-city program has selected 8 early-stage Canadian startups seeking to transform the future of healthcare

BOSTON, MA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA and NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 8 2021 – Today, the Canadian Technology Accelerators (CTA), a global initiative led by the Government of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, announced its second annual cohort of high potential, high growth digital health startups that are are ready to tackle the U.S. market. The eight innovators are solving complex challenges in behavioral health, chronic disease, elder care, healthcare navigation, neuroscience, radiology and additional healthcare applications.

The CTA Digital Health will enable founders raising their Seed to Series A financing to catalyze their growth across the United States by providing a unique blend of tailored introductions, workshops, mentorship, networking, and a capstone demo day. After a successful inaugural cohort led by the Consulates General of Canada in New York and San Francisco, the 5-month program will now offer opportunities to engage with the flourishing healthcare and innovation ecosystems in Boston and Philadelphia. The expansion of this program comes at a pivotal moment as the healthcare community continues to navigate the logistical, financial and psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The post-pandemic era will face its own host of challenges that will require innovative digital health solutions to better manage and improve quality of care.

“We are thrilled to extend the CTA Digital Health program to include the thriving healthcare innovation and life science ecosystem that Boston can offer Canadian entrepreneurs,” said Rodger Cuzner, Consul General of Canada in Boston. “More than ever before, digital health is opening new possibilities to better healthcare delivery in the long-term, for all of us, wherever we may be.”

After a highly competitive, nationwide recruitment campaign, an evaluation committee comprised of active venture capitalists and digital health thought leaders selected 8 start-ups to participate in the program, including:

1. ANANDA Devices: Customized neurons-on-a-chip assays for high throughput screening to accelerate R&D in pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetic industries
2. Clinia: Health search engine built for healthcare organizations to build and customize search experiences within their own digital ecosystems facilitating access to resources for both their teams and users
3. LUCID: Personalized and validated music-based digital modalities to improve outcomes and experiences in digital and behavioral health
4. Luxsonic Technologies: VR enabled virtual twin of a radiology reading room that gives radiologists the freedom to work anywhere, anytime, at a fraction of the cost
5. MedMe Health: Software platform for pharmacies to deliver clinical services at scale, transforming them from dispensaries to healthcare hubs
6. Mindful Garden: A digital therapeutic alternative to drugs for the management of anxious and aggressive behaviours in the hospitalized frail elderly
7. Qualisure Diagnostics: Genomics-based precision diagnostic tests that address both the overtreatment and optimal treatment of early-stage cancer
8. ThyForLife Health: An award-winning mobile platform designed to help the more than 200 million thyroid patients worldwide efficiently manage and optimize their health

“Canada’s digital health founders are making tremendous contributions to address current health challenges on a global scale,” said Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley. “I’m deeply impressed by the depth and breadth of talent joining our CTA program and supporting the future of health.”

The final cohort reflects a national reach with representation from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. The cohort also reflects a breadth of diverse backgrounds, with a majority of the companies’ leaders identifying as women, or Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour (BIPOC). Equity, diversity, and inclusion are key priorities for the CTA Digital Health program, and will be prioritized when selecting mentors and speakers who participate. “We are excited to welcome a diverse group of founders that are at the leading edge of digital health innovation to the New York and Philadelphia regions,” said Khawar Nasim, Acting Consul General of Canada in New York. “With $2.4B raised this quarter in New York City alone, we look forward to seeing Canadian founders shine and benefit from this explosive growth.”

The program will continue to partner with pioneers of the digital health community from coast to coast. Junto Health, a digital health innovation studio and technology consortium, will build upon the success of the 2020 mentorship program by creating mentor clusters around each cohort company, while also providing support on topics such as fundraising, sales and strategy. HealthTech Capital, a leading group of angel investors and corporate strategists investing in digital health and other healthcare technologies, and Metis Lighthouse, a healthcare consulting firm who works with early-stage companies on strategic initiatives, will leverage their fundraising and market creation expertise to mentor the cohort companies by bringing additional thought leaders in market access and providers procurement. The cohort will also gain access to additional services including the B2B Sales 4 Startups from experts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), pitch coaching from Plano & Simple, pitch deck design services from Manhattan Strategies, and marketing expertise from Antenna Group. 

 

About the Canadian Technology Accelerator Program (CTA)

The CTA program is a global business development program by Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service. Established in 2013, the CTA program supports the international scale-up of high-growth, high-potential Canadian firms in the sectors of life sciences, cleantech, and information communication technologies. The CTA program reports over 574 participants collectively garnering $646 million in capital, $238 million in revenue and the creation of 1,128 strategic partnerships and 2,529 new jobs. For more information, click here.

 

CTA Contact 

Molly Rafelson

 

Media Contact

Kathrin Gallo

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