BioNova has announced eight semi-finalists for the 2017 edition of The BioInnovation Challenge, or BIC, the pitching event at BioPort Atlantic in Halifax on Oct. 17 and 18.
Scott Moffitt, Managing Director of Nova Scotia’s life sciences organization, announced the semi-finalists last month. (We were on our annual summer break when the announcement came out, so we’re getting around to publishing their names now.)
The semi-finalists will receive pitch training in the lead-up to the semi-final run off, which will be held at the first day of BioPort Atlatnic, BioNova’s annual conference, on Oct. 17. The top three presenters will then pitch to the judges and the conference audience on Oct. 18. The winner will be announced that afternoon.
The BIC is held in collaboration with BioNB and PEI BioAlliance, which promote the life sciences sector in NB and PEI respectively.
“We’re very excited about this year’s BioInnovation Challenge,” said Moffitt. “We have a number of brand new semi-finalists, which shows that, year over year, this region is producing great life science ideas and great innovators.”
The semi-finalists (with links to Entrevestor’s previous coverage of some companies) are:
• Tieös Pharmaceuticals Inc., New Brunswick
• Neck Tronics Inc., Nova Scotia
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• iPSNP Computing Inc., New Brunswick
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• Heterogeneous Nanosystems Ltd., Nova Scotia
• Zecken Laboratories, New Brunswick
• ADDtext Inc., Nova Scotia
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• Pfera Inc., New Brunswick
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• Canuevo Biotech Inc., New Brunswick
The winner of the BIC will receive a $15,000 seed investment and a package of support services and mentoring valued at more than $30,000.
BioNova said 38 companies from the three Maritime provinces have entered BIC since 2011, each receiving significant training to help position them for investment attraction. As of 2016, BIC had provided about $250,000 in funds and in-kind services to support life sciences companies in the region.
Last year, the competition was won by MacKenzie Healthcare Technologies of Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S. It has developed ParaGlide, a device that allows wheelchair users to move from a slouching to upright position by using a remote control that operates a motor-driven belt behind his or her back.
BioPort Atlantic, the region’s main conference for the life sciences sector, will take place at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel on Oct. 17 and 18. You can register here.
