The Emera ideaHUB has announced the launch of its Fall 2025 ideaBUILD cohort, welcoming 10 deeptech startups focused on creating physical solutions for a healthier world.
The ideaBUILD program is designed to support companies as they journey from prototype concept through to a functional, operational prototype, the group said in a statement.
For the following 10 months, participants will engage in a program that features:
- A 12-week bootcamp focusing on product desirability, feasibility and viability;
- Technical feasibility assessments;
- Engineering support from lead engineer Danielle Maltais and co-op students;
- Access to state-of-the-art prototyping facilities;
- And $10,000 in non-dilutive funding towards prototyping efforts.
"These companies are building physical solutions in the health, oceans and agriculture sectors that will tangibly improve human health and environmental sustainability. It’s a privilege to be a part of their journey and see their ideas come to life," said TalisApud−Martinez, Associate Director at ideaHUB.
The Fall 2025 ideaBUILD cohort includes:
Able Mama: Able Mama designs smart, body-conscious parenting tools that support moms with disabilities and postpartum recovery needs.
Blue Frontiers: Blue Frontiers innovates modular underwater camera and buoy systems enabling reliable, affordable marine monitoring for research, security, and citizen science applications, advancing coastal conservation worldwide.
LimbRise Recovery Solutions: A hands-free, spring-loaded mobility aid offering a safer, more comfortable alternative to crutches.
medNOVA DIAGNOSTICS: Based in Antigonish, NS, Mednova is transforming medical diagnostics through innovative AI-powered at-home testing solutions that address Canada's growing healthcare access crisis by combining advanced microbiome analysis with artificial intelligence to deliver accurate, affordable health insights directly to consumers.
Nimbus: Customizable, high-performance earplugs that protect hearing without compromising comfort or situational awareness.
Nova Rescue Tech: Nova Rescue Tech Inc. is an ocean technology startup developing a next-generation enhancement to traditional Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). The company is focused on improving maritime safety through a novel technology designed to strengthen beacon reliability in life-threatening situations, ensuring faster and more dependable distress signalling when it matters most.
Ranchflow AI: Halifax-based Ranchflow AI gives ranchers and dairies real-time visibility into animal health, feed efficiency, and emissions using smart collars and an easy dashboard. V1 collars are already live in Nova Scotia with pilots expanding across Canada. The result is earlier treatment, better feed decisions, and a measurable return per head.
SEEYA: SEEYA designs toys dedicated to vision health, inspiring children to play and explore through creative, eye-healthy games and activities.
SURF Robotics: SURF Robotics is developing affordable, long-range subsea robots that bridge the gap between expensive open-ocean gliders and limited-range AUVs, giving researchers and scientists an accessible way to collect high-quality ocean data. By leveraging modern manufacturing methods, they make ocean science easier to start and scale.
Techleft Solutions: Techleft of St. John's is using technology to prevent blister packaged medication non-adherence for seniors living in their homes and at the same time, providing peace of mind to the care team.
The cohort is supported by Emera, Invest Nova Scotia, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Dalhousie University.
