When life sciences entrepreneurs and investors gathered in Halifax Wednesday for the first full day of this year’s BioPort conference, the agenda included two pitch sessions, one for pre-seed companies and one for seed-stage companies.
The pitches were moderated by George Kenney, a life sciences entrepreneur who co-founded Boston-based EntraTympanic.
The BioPort conference is now in its 23rd year, though this is the first over which Life Sciences Nova Scotia's recently appointed CEO Doris Grant has presided. The theme is “Powered by Possibilities,” which organizers describe as a reference to the potential of life sciences on the East Coast, with the right collaboration across the sector.
Here’s a look at the companies that pitched:
PRE-SEED
Dr. Alex Mitchell
Halifax
Brightlight sells AI tools for patient intake and management to enterprise clients in the healthcare space.
Dr. Jennifer Johnston
Halifax
Elle MD plans to market a novel birth control device that does not rely on hormonal treatment, dubbed the Better Ring.
Dr. Louis Beaubien
Halifax
ResolveHD has developed an AI system that uses natural language processing to read and clean up disorganized medical records.
Courtney Howell
Grates Cove, N.L.
7 Fathoms makes seaweed-based cosmetic and skincare products, such as lotions, scalp treatments and clay masks.
SEED-STAGE
Mandy Woodland
St. John’s
Amp has developed an app that aims to use artificial intelligence and behavioural modification to help pre-diabetic people avoid becoming fully diabetic.
Christine Goudie
St. John’s
Granville designs and prints three-dimensional, anatomically correct models of women’s pelvises for use as educational tools.
Mohammed Shameer Iqbal
Halifax
Kardio Diagnostix is developing an artificial intelligence system to help doctors assess whether a cardiac murmur is caused by a heart defect.
Dr. Jeremy Brown
Halifax
Sound Blade is developing a surgical technique to use sonic energy to cut tissue, which has applications including a surgery to treat sleep apnea.
