The Hub / en The Hub /node/308578 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The Hub</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>laurie.bulchak</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-25T21:31:51-04:00" title="Thursday, July 25, 2024 - 21:31" class="datetime">Thu, 07/25/2024 - 21:31</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-url field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">URL</div> <div class="field__item">https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above clearfix"> <h3 class="field__label">Tags</h3> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/utsc" hreflang="en">UTSC</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Campus</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6956" hreflang="en">Scarborough</a></div> </div> Fri, 26 Jul 2024 01:31:51 +0000 laurie.bulchak 308578 at 91³Ô¹Ï startup weaves in AI to help second-hand clothing stores grow online /news/u-t-startup-weaves-ai-help-second-hand-clothing-stores-grow-online <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">91³Ô¹Ï startup weaves in AI to help second-hand clothing stores grow online</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-03/Used-clothes-web-lead.jpg?h=d38b1c64&amp;itok=NLCkJHY_ 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-03/Used-clothes-web-lead.jpg?h=d38b1c64&amp;itok=9z9unh38 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-03/Used-clothes-web-lead.jpg?h=d38b1c64&amp;itok=qiWkYlIP 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-03/Used-clothes-web-lead.jpg?h=d38b1c64&amp;itok=NLCkJHY_" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-03-08T09:25:51-05:00" title="Friday, March 8, 2024 - 09:25" class="datetime">Fri, 03/08/2024 - 09:25</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>(photo by&nbsp;OKrasyuk via Getty Images)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/alexa-battler" hreflang="en">Alexa Battler</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">SnapWrite, co-founded by 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough alum Athiya Rastogi, automatically generates product descriptions of clothing items </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Picture this: You upload an image of a T-shirt to a software program, and within seconds it generates a detailed product description covering the size, brand, materials, condition and other key features – and uses search engine optimization (SEO) to help get that T-shirt into an online shopping cart.</p> <p>That’s what <strong>Athiya Rastogi</strong> has built with <a href="https://www.snapwrite.ca/">SnapWrite, a startup</a> that uses AI to generate product descriptions from images, helping second-hand clothing stores make a name for themselves in the online marketplace.</p> <p>“As long as the human eye can see a product’s feature, the AI can see it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a low-quality photo or there’s a busy background,†says Rastogi, who graduated from the 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough with an honours bachelor of science in statistics.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_250_width_/public/2024-03/SnapRight-200.jpg?itok=6UG45suR" width="250" height="354" alt="Aryaman (left) and Athiya Rastogi are siblings and co-founders of SnapWrite. " class="image-style-scale-image-250-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Aryaman and Athiya Rastogi&nbsp;</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Rastogi built the AI technology with her brother and co-founder <strong>Aryaman</strong> after taking courses in machine learning. She initially grew the startup out of <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/">The Hub, 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough's early-stage entrepreneurship incubator</a>.</p> <p>SnapWrite has since enjoyed success in pitch competitions including at The Hub and <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thebridge/">The Bridge</a>, another campus-linked accelerator of 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough,&nbsp;winning around $40,000 in funding without having to give up equity. The startup has also attracted funding from big-league investors including&nbsp;FounderFuel,&nbsp;Inovia Capital and&nbsp;Panache Ventures.</p> <p>Rastogi says the idea for SnapWrite emerged from a business she operated when she was a student. “While in school, I ran my own resale store and met a woman who ran a pre-loved clothing store,†she says. “When I looked her up on Instagram, there was this endless feed of other accounts that were doing the same thing. This is a market with challenges that have not been fully addressed yet.â€</p> <p>Rastogi explains that demand for second-hand clothing is exploding, but because each pre-owned product is unique, online postings made to sell them must be too – which poses a challenge for businesses trying to keep up with growing inventory.</p> <p>SnapWrite helps these businesses save on time and labour by enabling them to upload hundreds of photos at once, with the platform giving each item a detailed digital identity in about 15 seconds – a task Rastogi says would take a human worker five to 15 minutes.</p> <p>What’s more, SnapWrite also integrates with major web platforms such as Shopify, Wix and Magento to automatically sync clothes’ attributes with websites, so that garments can be posted automatically and appear in the right place when shoppers are suggested similar products.</p> <p>These features have earned SnapWrite a client base of around 50 resellers and counting, including one that has more than 35 stores. The software has digitized 25,000 items and generated more than 700,000 product attributes, saving its users upwards of 6,000 hours, according to the company.&nbsp;</p> <p>The startup has also managed to rope clothing brands into the second-hand cycle through an initiative in which partner brands ask customers to bring used products back to their stores. These items are then run through the AI and offered to second-hand stores to resell. This model has already saved 25,000 pieces of clothing from ending up in landfills, says Rastogi.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-03/SnapRightAthiyaRastogi.jpg?itok=gsdIZzsV" width="750" height="500" alt="Athiya Rastogi " class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Don Campbell)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>SnapWrite’s AI generates a unique inventory number, which Rastogi envisions could enable a digital passport system of sorts for used clothing. For example, a T-shirt may get digitized by SnapWrite, sold by a thrift store, and then re-donated months later to another second-hand store that also uses SnapWrite – or uploaded to the startup's consignment platform. Even more time would be saved should the AI recognize the shirt and be able to pull up its data.</p> <p>Having identified a need in the clothing market, Rastogi says she and her brother are now focused on keeping SnapWrite's momentum going. “There’s no software in the Canadian market solving this problem in the resale market right now,&nbsp;so we decided to do it.â€&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:25:51 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 306615 at Startup trains women in rural Costa Rica, 'upcycles' airline seats into leather goods /news/startup-trains-women-rural-costa-rica-upcycling-airline-seats-leather-goods <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Startup trains women in rural Costa Rica, 'upcycles' airline seats into leather goods</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/20230225_123936-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=6sZPaiq2 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/20230225_123936-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=pu4ATTAK 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/20230225_123936-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=3qKkjphZ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/20230225_123936-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=6sZPaiq2" alt="woman standing by a window at the airport carrying an upcycled leather bag made from airplane seats"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-03-08T11:29:40-05:00" title="Wednesday, March 8, 2023 - 11:29" class="datetime">Wed, 03/08/2023 - 11:29</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Lynne Corvaglia, who graduated from 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough two years ago, models one of her startup company's bags made of leather upcycled from old airline seats (photo courtesy of Wearsos)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/alexa-battler" hreflang="en">Alexa Battler</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-week" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Week</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-women-s-day" hreflang="en">International Women's Day</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/women" hreflang="en">Women</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Lynne Corvaglia</strong>&nbsp;is on a mission to turn thousands of old airline seats into high-end leather products – and create job opportunities for women in rural parts of Costa Rica in the process.</p> <p>Southwest Airlines replaces the leather seat covers on its planes every four years. To keep thousands of old seats out of landfills,&nbsp;the airline donates the leather&nbsp;to organizations that can transform it into new products.</p> <p>More than 12,000 seats are being upcycled into bags and accessories through a program dedicated to teaching women in rural Costa Rica leatherworking and business skills.</p> <p>“There's a lack of access to opportunities here. We want to create a social enterprise that can create a positive impact in the lives of those working with us,†says Corvaglia, the founder of <a href="https://wearsos.co/">upcycling startup Wearsos</a>&nbsp;who graduated from the 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough’s <a href="https://utsc.utoronto.ca/admissions/programs/international-development-studies-hba-co-op">International Development Studies (IDS)&nbsp;Co-op</a> program two years ago.</p> <p>“Our strategy is to produce and activate local economies in Costa Rica.â€</p> <p>The seats are being stored in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.catie.ac.cr/en/">Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)</a>,&nbsp;where Corvaglia lives and has helped spearhead the launch of a free workshop series. Hosted at CATIE, Corvaglia says the program&nbsp;is working to act as an incubator by&nbsp;teaching artisans&nbsp;the basic technical skills for leatherworking&nbsp;along with&nbsp;entrepreneurship and personal and professional development. About 60 women have taken the first induction workshop.</p> <p>“The program at CATIE is meant to be comprehensive. It’s not just about leatherworking. We all want to empower women,†Corvaglia says. “They can learn the skills to start their own businesses and use upcycling as a tool.â€</p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/Training-program-CROP.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>Women artisans in the CATIE workshop program have been learning to strip the leather from airline seats and create high-end goods&nbsp;(photo courtesy of Wearsos)</em></p> <p>As a research centre, CATIE isn’t exactly built for the world of retail sales – that’s where Corvaglia’s startup&nbsp;Wearsos comes in. The company is dedicated to upcycling and plans to recruit women from CATIE’s program to become paid artisans. The women will then receive specialized training to make the specific products that Wearsos will eventually sell on its website, with a percentage of the profits going back to the training program.</p> <p>“We’re trying to provide real jobs with Wearsos. While we can train women, we also need to provide economic stability and create a demand,†Corvaglia says.</p> <p>Wearsos plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign to fundraise for their first year of production in the next few months. The launch will feature three bags: a belt bag (also known as a fanny pack), a crossbody and a tote. Other products in the works include duffle bags, shoes, clothing, laptop cases and other accessories.</p> <p>Reducing waste is essential for Wearsos, a portmanteau of “wear†and <em>sostenibilidad</em>,&nbsp;or sustainability in Spanish. The company also plans to incorporate other sustainable materials into its products, such as textiles made from pineapple fibres.</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/seat-worn.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Two of the leather accessories Wearsos plans to sell include a tote bag and a belt bag&nbsp;(photo courtesy of Wearsos)</em></p> <h4>Startup takes off amid pandemic</h4> <p>It’s taken three years, perseverance and a little serendipity for Wearsos to come together. In 2019,&nbsp;Corvaglia was completing a co-op placement at CATIE while volunteering with a women-run organization that supports entrepreneurs working in tourism. It was then that she witnessed the volatility of the tourism industry.</p> <p>“These women have many jobs. Maybe their main one is they have a farm&nbsp;or they are tour guides&nbsp;– but they're also sewers and creators,†she says. “But in an economic crisis like the 2008 recession or the pandemic, a lot of these women lost all their jobs.</p> <p>"We started thinking about how we can create other economic opportunities for people in rural areas. That’s where this whole project really came from.â€</p> <p><span id="cke_bm_14716S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/20230222_162922-crop.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Wearsos has created a range of prototype products including shoes, passport holders and laptop sleeves&nbsp;(photo courtesy of Wearsos)</em></p> <p>When Southwest Airlines contacted&nbsp;Corvaglia’s co-op adviser,&nbsp;Eliecer Vargas,&nbsp;about their initiative to recycle seats, Corvaglia and her business partner (and now husband)&nbsp;Christian Riquelme&nbsp;began writing proposals to create an upcycling company. They soon found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/welcome">The Hub,</a> an entrepreneurial incubator&nbsp;at 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough. Former director&nbsp;<strong>Gray Graffam</strong>&nbsp;encouraged the pair to enter the incubator’s annual startup competition. Wearsos later <a href="/news/u-t-entrepreneur-make-leather-goods-out-old-airline-seats">won first place</a> and received&nbsp;$5,000 in funding.</p> <p>The pandemic kept many of Wearsos’s plans and partnerships up in the air for years, but the company is now a registered business in Canada and Costa Rica&nbsp;–&nbsp;and another shipment of seats is on its way to CATIE.</p> <p>Wearsos’s website includes a mailing list that will notify customers of news and product sales.</p> <p>“During the pandemic, I was thinking, ‘Is this project even going to happen?’†Corvaglia says. “Now everything is just coming together.â€</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:29:40 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 180570 at International Women’s Day: What's happening across 91³Ô¹Ï's three campuses /news/international-women-s-day-what-s-happening-across-u-t-s-three-campuses <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">International Women’s Day: What's happening across 91³Ô¹Ï's three campuses</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT91500_DSC05755-21-lpr.JPG?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=552TVF2r 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT91500_DSC05755-21-lpr.JPG?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=OFFH7Lg1 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT91500_DSC05755-21-lpr.JPG?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=XmWYH4WL 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT91500_DSC05755-21-lpr.JPG?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=552TVF2r" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>mattimar</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-03-06T13:38:00-05:00" title="Monday, March 6, 2023 - 13:38" class="datetime">Mon, 03/06/2023 - 13:38</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Matthew Dochstader/Paradox Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-week" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Week</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/icube" hreflang="en">ICUBE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-law" hreflang="en">Faculty of Law</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-music" hreflang="en">Faculty of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-women-s-day" hreflang="en">International Women's Day</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/iran" hreflang="en">Iran</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>International Women’s Day on March 8 is an opportunity to come together to&nbsp;celebrate women’s social, cultural and political accomplishments&nbsp;– and to reflect on the challenges and work that lie&nbsp;ahead.</p> <p>This year’s theme is <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme">Embrace Equity</a>, which aims to spark conversations around the world about why equal opportunities aren’t enough and how true inclusion requires equitable action.</p> <p>91³Ô¹Ï is hosting events across the three campuses featuring inspirational leaders and student groups. Here is a snapshot of what’s happening this week:</p> <hr> <h4><a href="https://music.utoronto.ca/concerts-events.php?eid=3809&amp;cDate=2023-03-06" target="_blank"><b>Jazz and Justice: Transformative, Equitable Futures in Music</b></a></h4> <p>The Faculty of Music is holding a panel discussion on the pathway for equitable futures in music with faculty&nbsp;Dean&nbsp;<b>Ellie Hisama</b>,&nbsp;<b>Beth Coleman</b>, an associate professor at the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at 91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga, and Grammy award-winning jazz artist Terri Lyne Carrington. The event is on March 6 at 3 p.m. inside Walter Hall on the St. George campus.</p> <h4><a href="https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home/utsceventaggregator.htm?eventId=50662&amp;action=displayGlobalEventDetails"><b>Crowns for Change: Flower Crowns</b></a></h4> <p>The International Student Centre (ISC) at 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough invites students to make a beautiful flower crown, take photos with new friends and learn more about powerful female leaders who are making a difference around the world. The event takes place on March 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Highland Hall Event Centre.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <h4><a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lecture-me-learning-technology-systems-in-everyday-life-tickets-487631698537" target="_blank"><b>Learning Technology Systems in Everyday Life: Women’s Experiences Navigating Refugee Resettlement</b></a></h4> <p><b>Negin Dahya, </b>assistant professor at the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at 91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga, is participating in the Lecture Me series, which highlights research from different faculty at 91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga. The virtual event will take place on March 7 from 7 to 8:15 p.m.</p> <h4><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-womens-day-webinar-tickets-551685535287" target="_blank"><b>International Women’s Day Webinar</b></a></h4> <p><b><img alt src="/sites/default/files/images_456075239_1090677056723_1_original.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 375px;"></b></p> <p>The Faculty of Law is hosting a panel discussion moderated by the Women and Law student group on March 8 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. The event features 91³Ô¹Ï alumnae&nbsp;<b>Cherie Brant</b>, national leader for the Indigenous law group at Borden Ladner Gervais, <strong>Rita Maxwell</strong>, a judge on the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and <strong>Maria Zeldis</strong>, senior vice president legal at Onni Group of Companies.</p> <h4><a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/event/pitch-with-a-twist-2/" target="_blank"><b>Pitch with a Twist</b></a></h4> <p>Part of 91³Ô¹Ï’s <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/events/entrepreneurship-week/">Entrepreneurship Week</a>, 91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga’s&nbsp;<a href="https://icubeutm.ca/">ICUBE</a>&nbsp;incubator&nbsp;is hosting Pitch with a Twist, International Women’s Day edition on March 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga in the IMI Rotunda. The event features <a href="/news/authentic-inclusive-body-positive-lesley-hampton-makes-her-mark-fashion-world">91³Ô¹Ï alumna <b>Lesley Hampton</b></a>, an Anishinaabe artist and fashion designer, as a keynote speaker and provides an opportunity for women-identifying entrepreneurs to pitch early-stage ventures to a panel of women-identifying judges from a variety of sectors.</p> <h4><a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/wed-03082023-1730/she-moves-conference-motion" target="_blank"><b>She Moves: A Conference with Motion</b></a></h4> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/She%20moves%202023_1920X1080.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 422px;"></p> <p>The Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education is inviting all women-identifying students to participate in MoveU, an evening of physical activity, wellness and discussion. The event takes place on March 8 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Athletic Centre on the St. George campus.</p> <h4><a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/mgmt/empower-leader-within-international-womens-day-2023" target="_blank"><b>Empower the Leader Within</b></a></h4> <p>91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough is hosting a panel discussion with inspiring executives about their career journeys, the challenges they’ve navigated and their hope for future leaders. The event takes place on March 8 from 5 to 7:30 pm. at the Instructional Centre.</p> <h4><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpD_v0mgwX_/" target="_blank"><b>Event in Solidarity with Iranian Women</b></a></h4> <p>In collaboration with the Iranian Scholars for Liberty, the 91³Ô¹Ï Students for a Free Iran (UTSFI) are holding an event on March 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to show their support for women in Iran. The event will take place at the Galbraith Building in Room 220 on the St. George campus and is open to the community.</p> <h4><a href="https://iranianstudies.utoronto.ca/event/international-womens-day-celebration/" target="_blank"><b>International Women’s Day Celebration: Women, Life, Liberty</b></a></h4> <p>The Iranian Women Organization of Ontario, 91³Ô¹Ï’s The Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science and the Royal Ontario Museum are holding an event to reflect on women’s empowerment and leadership in Iran and the Middle East. The event takes place on March 8 from 6:15 to 9 p.m. at the Eaton Theatre at the ROM.</p> <h4><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/inspire-international-womens-day-with-fennella-bruce-and-elina-chow-tickets-471508343147" target="_blank"><b>Inspire: Breaking Down Barriers to Success</b></a></h4> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_397371359_34949501892_1_original.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 375px;"></p> <p>Part of 91³Ô¹Ï’s <a href="http://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/events/entrepreneurship-week/">Entrepreneurship Week</a>, there will be a discussion with 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough alumna <b>Fennella Bruce</b>, veteran television producer and host and media consultant, and <b>Elina Chow</b>, CEO of JotTech. The event takes place on March 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/welcome">The Hub</a> in Highland Hall.</p> <h4><a href="http://clnx.utoronto.ca/home/slevents.htm?eventId=50981" target="_blank"><b>International Women’s Day: Reproductive Rights and Faith</b></a></h4> <p>The Multi-Faith Centre on the St. George campus&nbsp;is hosting an event to explore how gender rights, justice and spirituality are connected on March 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Main Activity Hall. The event features a panel discussion, a dinner and an opportunity to network.</p> <h4 class="x"><a href="https://www.kpe.utoronto.ca/wed-03082023-1900/category-woman-film-screening-and-panel-discussion"><span style="text-size-adjust:auto">Category: Woman, Film Screening and Panel Discussion</span></a></h4> <p class="x"><span style="text-size-adjust:auto">91³Ô¹Ï's Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education and the Cinema Studies Institute in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science are hosting a screening of <i>Category: Woman</i> on March 8 at 7 p.m. at Innis Town Hall Theatre. There will be a panel discussion and a Q&amp;A featuring filmmaker Phyllis Ellis following the screening. </span></p> <h4><a href="http://music.utoronto.ca/concerts-events.php?eid=3582" target="_blank"><b>Terri Lyne Carrington in Concert with 91³Ô¹Ï Jazz Orchestra</b></a></h4> <p>The Faculty of Music is hosting a concert with drummer, composer and producer Terri Lyne Carrington&nbsp;on March 8 at 7:30 at Walter Hall. Carrington, the founder and artistic director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice in Boston, will perform with the 91³Ô¹Ï jazz orchestra.&nbsp;91³Ô¹Ï students are admitted free with a valid TCard, space permitting.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 06 Mar 2023 18:38:00 +0000 mattimar 180416 at 91³Ô¹Ï startup Genecis scales up effort to commercialize ‘the holy grail of plastic replacement’ /news/u-t-startup-genecis-scales-efforts-commercialize-holy-grail-plastic-replacement <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">91³Ô¹Ï startup Genecis scales up effort to commercialize ‘the holy grail of plastic replacement’</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/DSC04070-55-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YI4bU9dL 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/DSC04070-55-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=fIajSCuC 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/DSC04070-55-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=cBeQE1bB 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/DSC04070-55-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YI4bU9dL" alt="a person pours liquid into an Erlenmeyer flask at Genecis "> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>bresgead</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-03-06T11:38:10-05:00" title="Monday, March 6, 2023 - 11:38" class="datetime">Mon, 03/06/2023 - 11:38</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Genecis Bioindustries uses highly engineered bacteria to turn food waste into biodegradable natural polymers that can be used to make a range of environmentally friendly products – from T-shirts to flip flops (photo by Matt Volpe)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/adina-bresge" hreflang="en">Adina Bresge</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-week" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Week</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/creative-destruction-lab" hreflang="en">Creative Destruction Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-hatchery" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Hatchery</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Remember those carrot peels you threw in the compost? If <a href="https://www.genecis.co/">Genecis Bioindustries</a> has its way, you could soon be wearing them.</p> <p>The clean-tech company is using highly engineered bacteria to turn food waste into biodegradable natural polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates – or PHAs – that can be used to make products ranging from soft T-shirt fibres to squishy flip-flop soles.</p> <p>With more than $20 million in funding raised, Genecis plans to become the first company to commercialize the food-waste-to-PHA production process, which it says would allow it to compete with synthetic plastics in both performance and cost – all without taking a toll on the environment.</p> <p>“We’re moving very quickly,†says Director of Fermentation <b>Andrew Chiappetta</b>, one of several 91³Ô¹Ï alumni who work at the company.</p> <p>“The plan is to be at full commercial scale in the next few years.â€</p> <p>At a research facility in downtown Toronto, fermenters churn a cream-coloured brew where the microbial magic happens. First, the bacteria consume the carbon in organic matter and convert it into building blocks called monomers. This intermediate is then fed to another set of bacteria, which are deprived of specific nutrients to spur the production of PHA, which is stored in the cells as an energy source. Then, the PHA is extracted from the cells, collected, purified and processed into different formulations.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="media_embed" height="422px" width="750px"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="422px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OrjWy47H2yo" title="YouTube video player" width="750px"></iframe></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Genecis got its start in a 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough lab when founder and CEO <b>Luna Yu </b>–<b> </b>who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree at 91³Ô¹Ï in four years – and her collaborators demonstrated their nascent technology using rice cookers. The startup went on to receive early support from 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough’s <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/research/hub-idea-startup">the Hub</a>, the Rotman School of Management’s <a href="https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/EducationCentres/CreativeDestructionLab">Creative Destruction Lab</a> and <a href="https://hatchery.engineering.utoronto.ca/">the Hatchery</a> at the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.</p> <p>91³Ô¹Ï also provided Genecis with space for its lab researchers to refine their approach.</p> <p>“The 91³Ô¹Ï has supported Genecis in many different stages of our development,†says Chiappetta, noting the company now has more than 40 employees.</p> <p>“The education alone at 91³Ô¹Ï is great, and students can also take advantage of all the resources and programs that they have available for entrepreneurs.â€</p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/2018-09-24-genecsis-resized_0.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>Genecis founder and CEO Luna Yu and her team originally demonstrated their technology in a 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough<b>&nbsp;</b>lab<b>&nbsp;</b>(photo by Don Campbell)</em></p> <p>With the support of Silicon Valley startup accelerator Y Combinator, government funds and venture capital financing, Genecis has since expanded its operations to two full research labs, as well as a pilot facility in Scarborough.</p> <p>The company has also partnered with London, Ont.-based <a href="https://www.stormfisher.com/">StormFisher Biogas</a> to demonstrate the potential of its technology at scale.&nbsp;</p> <p>Chiappetta, who graduated from 91³Ô¹Ï’s master of biotechnology program, says Genecis can fine-tune its PHAs to take on a wide range of properties – from soft and flexible, to hard and rigid.</p> <p>He says this versatility could make PHAs “the holy grail of plastic replacement†in categories including packaging, medical tools, car parts, textiles and other commercial products.</p> <p>While synthetic plastics can take centuries to degrade and pollute waterways with microplastics, PHA products that wind up in the landfill can safely degrade both on land and in water.</p> <p>And when properly discarded, these bioplastics can be composted and upcycled into something new, Chiappetta says.</p> <p>“This creates a circular end-of-life,†he says. “Our polymers, no matter where they end up, can be composted and fed back into the front-end of the process.â€</p> <p>Addressing two global challenges – food waste and plastic pollution – might seem like a daunting proposition, but Chiappetta urged community members taking part in 91³Ô¹Ï’s <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/events/entrepreneurship-week/">Entrepreneurship Week</a> to aim high and not get discouraged.</p> <p>“The big thing is to be curious, work hard and if things don’t work – keep trying,†he says.</p> <p>“Oftentimes, things don’t work out the first time, and I think you learn most from the failures as opposed to the successes.â€</p> <h3><a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/events/entrepreneurship-week/">Learn more about 91³Ô¹Ï&nbsp;Entrepreneurship Week</a></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 06 Mar 2023 16:38:10 +0000 bresgead 180477 at 91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship Week 2023: Top 10 startups to watch /news/u-t-entrepreneurship-week-2023-top-10-startups-watch <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship Week 2023: Top 10 startups to watch</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/top-ten-v5.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Dqozm0kv 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/top-ten-v5.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UhRjZMrh 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/top-ten-v5.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=meAsQRy7 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/top-ten-v5.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Dqozm0kv" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-03-02T11:01:59-05:00" title="Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 11:01" class="datetime">Thu, 03/02/2023 - 11:01</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(supplied images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-founders-network" hreflang="en">Black Founders Network</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-week" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Week</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/temerty-faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Temerty Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/true-blue-expo" hreflang="en">True Blue Expo</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/computer-science" hreflang="en">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/leslie-dan-faculty-pharmacy" hreflang="en">Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/psychology" hreflang="en">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/self-driving-cars" hreflang="en">Self-Driving Cars</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-michael-s-hospital" hreflang="en">St. Michael's Hospital</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A plant-based alternative to conventional plastic. Using drones to tackle reforestation in wildfire-ravaged locations. And a new generation of self-driving technologies that leverage the full potential of artificial intelligence.</p> <p>These are just some innovative ideas that have emerged from the 91³Ô¹Ï’s entrepreneurship community in recent years.</p> <p>Ranked <a href="/news/u-t-among-top-five-university-business-incubators-world-ubi-global?utm_source=UofTHome&amp;utm_medium=WebsiteBanner&amp;utm_content=UBIGlobalRanking">one of the top five university business incubators in the world</a>, 91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship is set to celebrate these and other startups, as well as their founders, during its annual <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/events/entrepreneurship-week/">91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship Week</a> from March 6 to 9. The schedule includes pitch competitions, workshops, panel discussions and the popular <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/event/true-blue-expo-2023/">True Blue Expo</a>, which will feature the founders of more than 40 of 91³Ô¹Ï’s top startups.</p> <p>Another highlight:<b> Raquel Urtasun, </b>founder and CEO of Waabi and a 91³Ô¹Ï professor of computer science, will discuss lessons learned while building her&nbsp;self-driving vehicle company at the <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/event/desjardins-speaker-series-entrepreneurship-week-keynote/">Desjardins Speakers Series</a> on March 9.</p> <p>Here are 10 exciting 91³Ô¹Ï startups to keep an eye on in 2023:</p> <hr> <h3><a href="https://www.arma-bio.com/"><b>Arma Biosciences</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/arma-thumb2.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">The ability to give patients agency over their own health monitoring was one of the reasons <b>Surath Gomis</b> co-founded Arma Biosciences. The startup’s goal is to develop a new sensor technology for biomarker-informed digital health care. In partnership with Analog Devices, work on the company’s first product is underway – a handheld finger-prick blood test for patients with heart failure.</p> <p>With a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from 91³Ô¹Ï, Gomis established the company in 2020 with his supervisor <b>Shana Kelley</b>, a researcher in 91³Ô¹Ï’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Temerty Faculty of Medicine.</p> <p>Gomis hopes future products will include wearable, implantable and ingestible sensors for monitoring applications. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <h3><a href="https://erthos.ca/"><b>Erthos</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/erthos-thumbnail.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left;">91³Ô¹Ï alumnae <b>Nuha Siddiqui</b> and <b>Kritika Tyagi</b> are working to transform the plastic industry for the better. In 2018, the pair co-founded Erthos, a company that offers fully biodegradable plant-based material as a replacement for single-use plastics.</p> <p>Erthos creates resins using materials that are both compostable and microplastic-free – and compatible with existing manufacturing technology. Siddiqui and Tyagi recently made the <i>Forbes </i><a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/erthos/?sh=1fca8fe33ee0">list of 30 under 30 in the social impact category</a>, which noted that Erthos has raised more than US$5.5 million in funding.</p> <h3><a href="https://www.transcrypts.com/"><b>TransCrypts</b></a></h3> <p><b><img alt src="/sites/default/files/Transcrypts-thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">Ali Zaheer</b> and <b>Zain Zaidi</b> co-founded TransCrypts to transform digital privacy and security. Back in 2020, they set out to answer a simple question: “Why can’t consumers own their important documentation digitally and in a way that can be easily verified?â€</p> <p>TransCrypts&nbsp;– which took home a <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/resource/ute-startup-prize/#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Toronto%20Entrepreneurship,place%20on%20March%207%2C%202022">$10,000 second-place</a>&nbsp;startup prize at a 91³Ô¹Ï pitch competition during last year’s Entrepreneurship Week&nbsp;–&nbsp;is a blockchain-based document verification platform that gives people direct access to their official documents, such as medical records. Supported by 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough’s <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/welcome">The Hub</a>, Zaheer and Zaidi <a href="/news/startup-brings-blockchain-ukrainian-refugees-lands-24-million-funding">have already helped thousands of Ukrainian refugees access medical records</a> through a pilot project and landed US$2.4 million in funding from backers including <i>Shark Tank</i> investor Mark Cuban.</p> <h3><a href="https://waabi.ai/"><b>Waabi</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/waabi-thumb-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">A world-leading expert in machine learning and computer vision, <b>Raquel Urtasun </b>was inspired to start Waabi when she recognized a need for a new generation of self-driving technologies that leverage AI’s full potential. Backed by high-profile investors, <a href="/news/raquel-urtasun-s-self-driving-startup-waabi-brings-volvo-strategic-investor-reports">including Volvo</a> and Uber, the company is leading the way when it comes to the next generation of self-driving solutions.</p> <p>The company recently launched Waabi World, an advanced simulator to test its autonomous vehicles, and Waabi Driver, its first generation of self-driving trucks. Urtasun says she focused on the long-haul trucking sector because it’s one of the most dangerous occupations – not to mention an industry that suffers from a shortage of drivers.</p> <h3><a href="https://www.wooyourboo.com/"><b>WooYourBoo</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/wooyourboo-thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">Husband-and-wife co-founders La Vance and <b>Colleen Dotson</b> – head coach of the 91³Ô¹Ï Track &amp; Field Club – are the entrepreneurial force behind a slick dating app for people already in relationships.</p> <p>WooYourBoo aims to help partners reconnect and better communicate with each other through quizzes, activities and rewards.</p> <p><span style="background:white">“Our goal is to create depth and help you reconnect with this person that you’ve committed to – and make it fun</span>,†Colleen recently <a href="/news/relationship-feeling-stale-wooyourboo-startup-help-couples-reconnect">told <i>91³Ô¹Ï News</i></a>.</p> <p>The Dotsons say that 91³Ô¹Ï’s <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/for-entrepreneurs/black-founders-network/">Black Founders Network</a> was instrumental in building WooYourBoo, which was among the inaugural cohort of the BFN Accelerate Program.</p> <h3><a href="https://otilumionics.com/"><b>OTI Lumionics</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/oti-thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">OTI Lumionics could change the look of the smartphone in your pocket.</p> <p>Founded by 91³Ô¹Ï alumnus <b>Michael Helander</b>, the company has been working on expanding its line of organic LED technology solutions – <a href="/news/startup-s-tech-could-put-end-unsightly-screen-notches-smartphones">including smartphone screens that are uninterrupted by notches</a>, which are currently needed to house front-facing cameras and other equipment in some smartphone designs.</p> <p>The company, which was spun out of research at 91³Ô¹Ï, has <a href="https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/quantum/2018/12/11/microsoft-quantum-startups/">collaborated with Microsoft Quantum</a> and, most recently, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/26/say-goodbye-to-the-notch-oti-raises-55m-for-technology-to-remove-screen-obstructions/">their name has been connected to Apple</a> as a key supplier for a future notch-free iPhone.</p> <h3><a href="https://flashforest.ca/"><b>Flash Forest</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/flashforest-thumbnail_0.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">Flash Forest, a startup with ties to 91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga, is fighting climate change and restoring forests by leveraging the use of drones, AI, geographic information systems and plant science technology.</p> <p>The company – which received support from 91³Ô¹Ï’s Mississauga’s ICUBE incubator – recently inked a federal contract to use drones to <a href="/news/startup-lands-federal-contract-plant-one-million-trees-across-canada-using-drones">plant more than one million trees</a> over the next two years in wildfire-ravaged locations across Canada.</p> <p>The co-founders, brothers Bryce and Cameron Jones, say they are focused on restoring severe wildfire sites where the seed pods and cones are lost.</p> <h3><a href="https://signal1.ai/"><b>Signal 1</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/signal-thumbnail-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">Signal 1 is <a href="/news/health-startup-signal-1-ai-uses-machine-learning-save-lives-globe-and-mail-betakit">looking to transform health care</a> by equipping doctors and nurses with real-time AI predictions.</p> <p>The company, co-founded by CEO <b>Tomi Poutanen</b>, a 91³Ô¹Ï alumnus, and <b>Mara Lederman</b>, professor of strategic management at the Rotman School of Management, has built a machine learning tool called CHARTWatch that can help predict how much support a patient will need.</p> <p>The tool was originally developed at St. Michael’s Hospital by a team led by Signal 1's clinical adviser <b>Muhammad Mamdani</b>, who is vice-president of data science and advanced analytics at Unity Health Toronto and holds cross-appointments at 91³Ô¹Ï’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Dalla Lana School of Public Health.</p> <p>The surgical unit at St. Michael’s Hospital <a href="https://unityhealth.to/2023/02/chartwatch-surgical/">has already begun using CHARTWatch</a> to help care teams communicate and make decisions.</p> <h3><a href="https://mounibrealfoodonly.ca/"><b>Mounib Real Food Only</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/mounib-thumb2.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">When 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough alumna <b>Iman Mounib </b>encountered gut health issues, she took it upon herself to create products that are free of refined sugars, palm oils, gluten and dairy.</p> <p>She founded Mounib Real Food Only, <a href="/news/simple-eco-friendly-chocolate-hazelnut-spread-real-food-only-startup-has-you-covered">which sells a chocolate hazelnut spread</a> made of just three local ingredients. The company also makes a peanut chocolate spread, as well as an almond chocolate version. Mounib’s goal was to create alternatives to popular products that are both tasty and good for you.</p> <p>The products are sold in almost 20 restaurants, cafes and stores in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as one location in Ottawa.</p> <h3><a href="https://hippocamera.com/"><b>HippoCamera</b></a></h3> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/hippocamera-thumb-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 150px;">HippoCamera is a smartphone application that helps to improve memory recall, which could be beneficial for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory impairment.</p> <p>Backed by years of research at 91³Ô¹Ï, the app has an easy-to-use interface and is a personalized way to boost recall of daily experiences and enhance activity in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays a key role in memory.</p> <p><b>Morgan Barense</b>, a professor in the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science and co-author of <a href="/news/smartphone-app-designed-u-t-researchers-can-significantly-improve-memory-recall">a recent study on the technology</a>, said her team found that memories that were associated with the HippoCamera were long-lasting – and that the device worked for both healthy older adults and those starting to show cognitive decline.</p> <h3><a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/events/entrepreneurship-week/">Learn more about U of Entrepreneurship Week</a></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:01:59 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 180382 at From spikeball to affordable meds, 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough startups aim to change the game /news/spikeball-affordable-meds-u-t-scarborough-startups-aim-change-game <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">From spikeball to affordable meds, 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough startups aim to change the game</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Hub-Pitch-Competition-21-crop_1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=4562bPFY 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Hub-Pitch-Competition-21-crop_1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=CO3ELWMk 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Hub-Pitch-Competition-21-crop_1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=W573KdH9 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Hub-Pitch-Competition-21-crop_1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=4562bPFY" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-02-23T15:50:39-05:00" title="Thursday, February 23, 2023 - 15:50" class="datetime">Thu, 02/23/2023 - 15:50</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Donovan Dill, who leads operations at 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough's The Hub incubator, addresses the crowd at the incubator's annual pitch competition (all photos by One Take Entertainment)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/alexa-battler" hreflang="en">Alexa Battler</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>From mental health and medicines to spikeball and cosmetics, startup founders sought to impress judges with their innovative ideas&nbsp;at a recent&nbsp;pitch competition hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/welcome">The Hub</a>, an entrepreneurial incubator at the 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough.</p> <p>“This year’s pitch competition really showcased innovative solutions to some of the world’s most common challenges,†says&nbsp;<strong>Donovan Dill</strong>, who leads operations at&nbsp;The Hub. “We are very proud of this year’s cohort, who are now in residence at The Hub.â€</p> <p>Here are some of the entrepreneurs who walked away with cash prizes&nbsp;to help build their budding&nbsp;businesses.</p> <hr> <h4>Meds for Less</h4> <p><em>“Like Amazon for medicinesâ€</em></p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/IMG_3171-crop_0.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>Aliya Ali Shaikha's start-up Meds for Less, which won $10,000, created&nbsp;an app that lets users order drugs from pharmacies in India.</em></p> <p><strong>Aliya Ali Shaikha</strong>&nbsp;didn’t realize how expensive medicine can be until her father had to reduce his health insurance – but she spotted an opportunity when she discovered the drugs he needed were almost 70 per cent cheaper if ordered and shipped from India.</p> <p>“People are literally suffering because medicines are so expensive,†says Shaikha, a third-year neuroscience student at the 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough and the founder of startup&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medsforless.net/">Meds for Less</a>. “If we can connect them to Indian pharmacies, it’s a game-changer.â€</p> <p>Meds For Less has an app featuring 140,000 Indian drugs that are at least 50 per cent cheaper than those at the non-Indian pharmacies Shaikha researched. Within roughly 72 hours of uploading a prescription, a partner pharmacy in India fills the order and the drugs arrive at a customer’s doorstep.</p> <p>“We are like an Amazon for medicines,†says Shaikha, an international student from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).</p> <p>The company is currently operating in the UAE and is targeting Canada next, with a goal of reaching any place in need of affordable medicine.</p> <p>“I came to Canada because I heard about free health care, but I learned that provincial health insurance doesn’t even cover prescription drugs,†says Shaikha. “We want to make sure that no one has to compromise on their health because of cost.â€</p> <h4>Bash Roundnet&nbsp;</h4> <p><em>A straightforward spikeball solution</em></p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/IMG_3141-crop.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>Shayne Gryba demonstrates his spikeball net at The Hub's annual pitch competition.&nbsp;</em></p> <p>Playing roundnet, a sport commonly known as “spikeball,†involves hitting a ball onto a trampoline-like net until the ball touches the ground or the net’s rim. Things get complicated when players hit a pocket – the slightly saggy part of the net next to the rim.</p> <p>“In other sports the boundaries are clear; in tennis there's a two-inch white line and ping-pong has the edges of a table. For spikeball, the boundary is fuzzy,†says&nbsp;<strong>Shayne&nbsp;Gryba</strong>, who recently finished his PhD in theoretical physics at 91³Ô¹Ï.</p> <p>Gryba’s solution? He&nbsp;developed a net with a uniformly bouncy surface and no pockets.&nbsp;His model can be put together 10 times faster than the traditional version without losing its consistent tension. It fits into a small backpack and the rim is outfitted with pieces that make a distinct noise when touched.&nbsp;</p> <p>His start-up, Bash Roundnet, is looking for investors while he continues honing the model.&nbsp;</p> <h4>mhapy</h4> <p><em>Proactive mental health chatbot</em></p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/IMG_3122-crop.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>Chijindu Ukagwu drew on his experience as a mental health nurse to create his startup.</em></p> <p><strong>Chijindu Ukagwu</strong>,&nbsp;a mental health nurse, wants to automate mental health screenings without losing the feeling of conversation patients get from interactions with health-care staff.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, <a href="https://www.mhapy.com/">he founded&nbsp;mhapy</a>, a startup with a chatbot named Ruby that has open-ended conversations while subtly completing mental health status exams. Over time, Ruby detects a user’s baseline mood and symptoms. If the user’s mental health begins to worsen, the chatbot notifies their support system&nbsp;– be it a friend, family member or mental health professional.&nbsp;</p> <p>“We are democratizing access to mental health chatbots,†says&nbsp;says Ukagwu, a master’s student at 91³Ô¹Ï. “With our software, any psychotherapist or mental health organization will be able to get a version of our chatbot and share it with patients.â€&nbsp;</p> <p>mhapy has been training Ruby on more than 2,000 conversations totalling more than 18,000 messages. The company is also working on a feature to connect users with similar symptoms, expanding their support network.&nbsp;</p> <h4>Beau Beauty&nbsp;</h4> <p><em>A smarter way to buy cosmetics</em></p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/Hub-Pitch-Competition-93-crop.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>The Beau Beauty team, from left to right: Joshua Raphael,&nbsp;Kritika Pandey, Didier Ramazani and Benny Liao.</em></p> <p>Some cosmetics retailers let customers “try on†makeup using virtual filters, but the team at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beautoronto.com/">Beau Beauty </a>hasn’t been impressed with the accuracy of these simple overlays.</p> <p>“Especially for people of colour, the virtual makeup try-ons are mismatching skin tone and colour,†says&nbsp;<strong>Joshua Raphael</strong>, a graduate of the bachelor of business administration program.</p> <p>The team is training an AI model to better recognize skin qualities and facial features and use augmented reality to show what products will really look like on faces. Users will be able to try on multiple cosmetics at once, get recommendations and add products straight to their cart.</p> <p>The potential impacts aren’t skin-deep – the team’s research found one in four product returns are for cosmetics, which end up in landfills.</p> <p>“There are developing countries where people are living next to piles of makeup returns,†says&nbsp;<strong>Kritika Pandey</strong>, who graduated with a degree in finance and statistics. “We can make sure people get the right product.â€</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 23 Feb 2023 20:50:39 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 180030 at Startup brings blockchain to Ukrainian refugees, lands US$2.4 million in funding /news/startup-brings-blockchain-ukrainian-refugees-lands-24-million-funding <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Startup brings blockchain to Ukrainian refugees, lands US$2.4 million in funding</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/transcrypts-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7NO1EtGc 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/transcrypts-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=1kV38piK 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/transcrypts-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=yrfLiWeg 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/transcrypts-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7NO1EtGc" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-02-09T16:30:58-05:00" title="Thursday, February 9, 2023 - 16:30" class="datetime">Thu, 02/09/2023 - 16:30</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Ali Zaheer (left) and Zain Zaidi co-founded TransCrypts to give people direct access to official documents such as medical records and income verification forms (supplied image)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/alexa-battler" hreflang="en">Alexa Battler</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For many, blockchain is best known as the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transcrypts.com/" target="_blank">startup company TransCrypts</a>&nbsp;is using it to give people more control over their personal information – including refugees who fled Ukraine.&nbsp;</p> <p>A document verification platform, TransCrypts is making waves,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/transcrypts-will-help-bring-an-end-to-credential-verifications-while-democratizing-access-and-control-of-important-credentials-back-to-the-consumers-301726762.html">recently landing US$2.4 million in funding</a> from backers that included&nbsp;Mark Cuban.</p> <p>At the helm are 23-year-old CEO&nbsp;Zain Zaidi and co-founder and&nbsp;chief technology officer&nbsp;<strong>Ali Zaheer</strong>, an alumnus of the 91³Ô¹Ï. The pair&nbsp;developed the startup with the support of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/welcome">The Hub</a>, 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough’s entrepreneurial incubator.</p> <p>“Our goal is to give you control of all your documents,†says Zaidi. “We can do away with this 20th-century way of verifying documents and create a world where I can instantly show you who I am, my employment and income history, and, hopefully one day, my criminal and medical history.â€</p> <p>The company, which also received initial&nbsp;funding via&nbsp;startup competitions organized by the&nbsp;The Hub and&nbsp;<a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/">91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship</a>&nbsp;last year, uses blockchain technology to break files into thousands of pieces, or blocks, and store them on computers around the world. The files are so thoroughly encrypted that even TransCrypts itself can’t access them without direct permission. For official documents, such as medical records, the credentials that make a file legitimate are converted into a block in its blockchain. Owners can share and access those verified files, but can’t alter them.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“One thing we really pride ourselves on is that we don’t store your data like a lot of big tech companies,†Zaidi says. “We consider ourselves like the postal service. We’re delivering the letter. We don't open it – we don’t know what’s inside, we’re just helping share it.â€</p> <p>In the case of&nbsp;the health-care system.&nbsp;Zaheer says providers often use different platforms to store electronic health records, leaving patients with a disjointed medical history scattered across clinics and hospitals.</p> <p>“Patients are unable to easily take their complete health data and records with them if they change hospitals or relocate,â€&nbsp;says Zaheer, a graduate of 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough’s computer science program. “This makes it very hard for doctors to see the history and rationality of decisions made by previous doctors.â€</p> <h4>Thousands of Ukrainian refugees access medical records with pilot project</h4> <p>TransCrypts is developing a way to let both patients and health-care providers easily access and share electronic health records via the blockchain. When the war in Ukraine broke out, the company worked with grassroots organizations helping refugees to set the idea in motion.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>“A lot of refugees didn’t have their medical records and couldn’t contact hospitals that were now in a war zone,†Zaidi says. “They were receiving poor quality health care because they didn’t know the local language and couldn’t communicate, say, an allergy to a medication or a proxy condition that would impact treatment.â€</p> <p>TransCrypts’s pilot project let Ukrainian hospitals upload medical records straight to its virtual platform. Refugees were then able to view, access and share their records with health-care providers via QR codes&nbsp;and translate them into their host country’s language through a built-in feature. The project has given more than 4,000 refugees direct access to their medical records, which TransCrypt says resulted in significant increases to their quality of health care.</p> <h4>Blockchain-based service freeing up thousands of hours for HR departments</h4> <p>Zaidi says easy access to&nbsp;medical records would save patients from&nbsp;waiting&nbsp;for their files – not to mention the fees hospitals and clinics often charge to share them. The same logic applies to any official documents held by an organization. That includes criminal background checks&nbsp;and independently sharing school transcripts&nbsp;or confirmations of employment.&nbsp;</p> <p>The same goes for getting a mortgage, lease or loan, which&nbsp;typically requires HR deparatments to send documents that verify income or employment.&nbsp;TransCrypts offers a service that integrates with an HR department’s existing software and lets employees access their own verification documents. Employees can then email their files straight to the third parties – with&nbsp;the email coming from their employer’s email address, adding to the validity.</p> <p>The company says more than 100 organizations using TransCrypts collectively saved tens of thousands of hours last year that&nbsp;would have otherwise been&nbsp;spent filling employment and income verification requests.&nbsp;</p> <p>“HR departments love us because they don't have to worry about filling these requests anymore,â€&nbsp;Zaidi says,&nbsp;“and consumers love us because now they don't have to worry about being the middle person between HR and the bank.â€</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 09 Feb 2023 21:30:58 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 179878 at 91³Ô¹Ï among top five university business incubators in the world: UBI Global /news/u-t-among-top-five-university-business-incubators-world-ubi-global <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">91³Ô¹Ï among top five university business incubators in the world: UBI Global</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT90745__FO26724-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iL4PWBYc 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT90745__FO26724-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=35aaky88 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT90745__FO26724-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=f5QFfPeX 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT90745__FO26724-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iL4PWBYc" alt="exterior of The BRIDGE at UTSC"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-02-06T11:20:53-05:00" title="Monday, February 6, 2023 - 11:20" class="datetime">Mon, 02/06/2023 - 11:20</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">The BRIDGE at 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough is one of several entrepreneurship and innovation hubs on 91³Ô¹Ï's three campuses (photo by Matthew Dochstader)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/tabassum-siddiqui" hreflang="en">Tabassum Siddiqui</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6891" hreflang="en">UBI Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/icube" hreflang="en">ICUBE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/creative-destruction-lab" hreflang="en">Creative Destruction Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-hatchery" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Hatchery</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-innovation-hub" hreflang="en">Health Innovation Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/innovation" hreflang="en">Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rankings" hreflang="en">Rankings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/utest" hreflang="en">UTEST</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The 91³Ô¹Ï has been recognized as one of the top five university business incubators in the world by UBI Global in its latest <a href="https://www.worldbenchmarkstudy.com/">world benchmark study</a>.</p> <p>In its 2021-2022 study, UBI Global – a Swedish-based innovation intelligence company with more than 1,000 member organizations – assessed 1895 organizations from 90 countries.</p> <p>The top organizations were benchmarked across 21 key performance indicators against their global peers based on the value they provide to their innovation ecosystems and client startups.</p> <p>“The UBI ranking is a reinforcement of all the great work that so many 91³Ô¹Ï students, faculty and alumni entrepreneurs have been doing,†says <b>Jon French</b>, <a href="/news/collision-home-u-t-entrepreneurship-s-new-director-jon-french-startups-age-covid-19">director of 91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship</a>, the umbrella organization for the incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurship programs across 91³Ô¹Ï’s three campuses. “It’s a recognition of how we fare against the best in the world.â€</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The ranking is particularly notable, French adds, since UBI is one of the only organizations examining both economic and social impact in its global assessment of the post-secondary entrepreneurship space.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">“The approach that UBI takes is quite holistic – they measure hard metrics, including funding raised and jobs created, but they also take a look at criteria such as&nbsp;where the mentor network is coming from and how engaged the university’s alumni are,†French says, noting that 91³Ô¹Ï scored high on all such indicators in the UBI report and takes pride in&nbsp;supporting innovators at all stages of their journey –&nbsp;everyone from idea-stage student entrepreneurs to faculty members and PhD researchers seeking to commercialize their work.</p> <p>Over the past decade, 91³Ô¹Ï entrepreneurs have created more than 600 venture-backed companies and secured more than $2.5 billion in investment. 91³Ô¹Ï Entrepreneurship, for its part, supports current and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing: co-working, meeting and event spaces; mentorship and advisory supports; pitch competitions and prizes; and access to investor networks to secure funding.</p> <p><img alt="map showing locations of all of the incubators on all 3 u of t campuses" src="/sites/default/files/screenshot-entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca-2023.02.03-10_09_29.png" style="width: 750px; height: 422px;"></p> <p><em>91³Ô¹Ï’s network of&nbsp;campus acccelerators and incubators in the Greater Toronto Area are currently supporting more than 500 teams working on potential startups.</em></p> <p>“It is important&nbsp;that our entrepreneurs have a sense of community – they are surrounded by like-minded people who are excited about innovation and turning ideas and opportunities into companies,†French says. “Across the 10-plus <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/for-entrepreneurs/u-of-t-accelerators/">campus accelerators</a> on our three campuses, we currently have over 500 teams that are working on projects that could become companies.â€</p> <p style="margin-bottom:16px">UBI’s world benchmark study is a third-party assessment, based on a comprehensive survey, that analyzes the impact and performance of business incubators and accelerators from four sectors: university, public, private and corporate. Its framework for analysis was developed in collaboration with an advisory board comprising innovation thought leaders and industry experts.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:16px">Other Canadian universities also ranked highly in their categories in the UBI report, including incubators from McGill University, York University, Memorial University and École de technologie supérieure.</p> <p>Many of the 91³Ô¹Ï-backed success stories flagged for the UBI survey stemmed from the university’s strength in leading-edge research fields such as quantum computing, biotech, clean tech, advanced manufacturing and machine learning. In particular, French points to the recent announcement of <a href="/news/quantum-computing-startup-xanadu-receives-40-million-federal-funding-globe-and-mail">$40 million in federal funding for 91³Ô¹Ï startup Xanadu Quantum Technologies</a> – an alumnus of the <a href="https://creativedestructionlab.com/">Creative Destruction Lab</a> (CDL) at the Rotman School of Management that was founded by former 91³Ô¹Ï post-doctoral physics researcher <b>Christian Weedbrook</b> – and the more than 150 ventures supported annually by the <a href="https://h2i.utoronto.ca/">Health Innovation Hub</a>&nbsp;(H2i).</p> <p>French noted that 91³Ô¹Ï’s commitment to entrepreneurship is longstanding, with several incubators and accelerators recently celebrating their 10-year anniversaries. They include CDL, <a href="https://hatchery.engineering.utoronto.ca/">The Hatchery</a> at the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering and the <a href="https://utest.to/">UTEST accelerator</a>.</p> <p>“And now when we&nbsp;look at the new <a href="/news/landmark-100-million-gift-university-toronto-gerald-schwartz-and-heather-reisman-will-power">Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus</a>&nbsp;close to opening on the St. George campus, that’s again an example of 91³Ô¹Ï doubling down on how important innovation and entrepreneurship are to the university,†he says.</p> <p>91³Ô¹Ï’s world-leading innovation network&nbsp;–&nbsp;which includes 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough’s <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/welcome">The Hub</a> and <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thebridge/">The BRIDGE</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://icubeutm.ca/">91³Ô¹Ï Mississauga’s ICUBE</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;will be showcased during <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/events/entrepreneurship-week/">Entrepreneurship Week</a> from March 6 to 9, featuring more than 15 free in-person, hybrid and virtual public events to teach, inspire and celebrate entrepreneurship on campus.</p> <p>One flagship event&nbsp;returning in-person for the first time in three&nbsp;years is the <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/event/true-blue-expo-2023/">True Blue Expo</a>&nbsp;on March 9, where more than&nbsp;40 91³Ô¹Ï startups, accelerators and community partners will be sharing information on their products and services.</p> <p>“We’ll be highlighting groundbreaking companies during Entrepreneurship Week, including those led by women founders and startups connected to our <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/for-entrepreneurs/black-founders-network/">Black Founders Network</a>,†French says. “All three campuses are represented – it’s really a snapshot of what makes 91³Ô¹Ï entrepreneurship so special.â€</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 06 Feb 2023 16:20:53 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 179753 at 'A doctor in the palm of our hands': Brother-sister duo create app to make virtual eye care possible in Bangladesh /news/doctor-palm-our-hands-brother-sister-duo-create-app-make-virtual-eye-care-possible-bangladesh <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'A doctor in the palm of our hands': Brother-sister duo create app to make virtual eye care possible in Bangladesh</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/banner_11-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=B433vCLs 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/banner_11-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=a4vJ2fmE 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/banner_11-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=XQhdyebG 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/banner_11-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=B433vCLs" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-10-19T11:12:53-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 11:12" class="datetime">Wed, 10/19/2022 - 11:12</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Purnashree (left) and Pradipta Chowdhury have created an app to bring telehealth to eye doctors, while offering training and tracking features for eye care (Submitted photo)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/alexa-battler" hreflang="en">Alexa Battler</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hub" hreflang="en">The Hub</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A brother-sister duo’s start-up has partnered with one of the largest eye hospitals in Bangladesh in an effort to make trips to the eye doctor completely virtual.</p> <p><strong>Pradipta</strong> and <strong>Purnashree Chowdhury</strong>, who&nbsp;come from a family of eye doctors,&nbsp;<a href="https://eyebuddy.app/" target="_blank">created the EyeBuddy</a>&nbsp;app to deliver the&nbsp;vision screenings and eye tests used in most check-ups.</p> <p>“We’re trying to make a whole ecosystem where a patient just sitting in their house can call up an ophthalmologist,†says&nbsp;Pradipta, who graduated from the 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough last year and was recently accepted into medical school.&nbsp;“Anyone can have a doctor 24-7 for immediate and certain eye issues.â€</p> <p>The app will also bring telehealth to eye doctors in the coming months, connecting patients across Bangladesh with ophthalmologists&nbsp;at a major eye-care hospital.</p> <p>“In developing countries, transportation is a massive deal. The top hospitals cannot provide services to remote areas,†says&nbsp;Pradipta, who aspires to be an ophthalmologist like his father.&nbsp;“But we can have a doctor in the palm of our hands.â€</p> <p>The siblings are working to make sure Bangladesh is only the first of many partnerships with hospitals around the world as their start-up continues growing out of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/thehub/welcome">The Hub</a>, 91³Ô¹Ï Scarborough’s entrepreneurial incubator.</p> <p>“EyeBuddy is moving quite rapidly with the full support of the community, the government and several top doctors in Bangladesh,†says&nbsp;<strong>Gray Graffam</strong>, former director of The Hub. “They’re tied into something that can go beyond Bangladesh and their current connections.â€</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="media_embed" height="422px" width="750px"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="422px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q__Dfo37Sak" title="YouTube video player" width="750px"></iframe></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For now, the rest of the world can access EyeBuddy’s other features, which aim to make eye care fun. Daily eye tests notify users of potential early vision loss and eye conditions while tracking the progress of each eye. The app also has more than 50 exercises that train all 12 eye muscles, and users can customize their training around conditions such as dry eye, lazy eye and macular degeneration. They can also earn points, unlock milestones and connect with others on the platform.</p> <p>“It can be a very depressing thing to know you’re dealing with an eye condition or vision loss,†Pradipta says. “We are trying to build a huge community around people with similar eye conditions that can support each other.â€</p> <p>That community is quickly growing.&nbsp;The app has more than 17,000 subscribers and nearly 2,000 daily visitors from almost every continent. Though they designed EyeBuddy to appeal to&nbsp;all ages,&nbsp;the siblings also created a custom version for kids with more colours and games and fewer medical terms. They hope to eventually roll it out to schools across Canada.</p> <p>Purnashree says childhood is a crucial time for eye development; it’s also when children may begin adapting to eye conditions instead of seeking help.</p> <p>“Early detection would relieve a lot of financial burden on families. If a condition is chronic, treatment is long-term,†says Purnashree, who is a doctor in Bangladesh and is pursuing her licence to practice in Canada. “With lots of conditions, we can be saved from spending unnecessarily – if we can just pick it up early.â€</p> <p>The Chowdhurys had heartening results after testing EyeBuddy in elementary schools. A teacher reported students were playing with the app, unprompted, in the middle of class. One student discovered he was colourblind through EyeBuddy and later followed the app’s recommendation of going to an eye doctor.</p> <p>“Health care is complicated. We wanted to make a friendly but scientific app so people can be aware of their eye health and protect their eyes in a way that’s not boring,†says Pradipta,</p> <p>Pradipta and Purnashree’s father is the director of a major eye hospital in Bangladesh. As Pradipta prepares to attend medical school in the U.K., he and his sister say they are glad the app will keep them connected with each other and their father, who has been at the back of the business in an advisory role.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Through this app, we have a purpose tying us together,†Purnashree says.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 19 Oct 2022 15:12:53 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 176930 at