MCGILL DOBSON CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2020-2021
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Dear Partners, This past year has been an unprecedented year for the Dobson Centre and we are very grateful to our community of Entrepreneurs, Donors, Sponsors and Volunteers who jointly made it possible. During our academic year of 2020-2021, The Centre has reached a remarkable milestone: The startups it has supported have now raised over $1 billion in seed funding (source: Crunchbase), a sign that investors are being persuaded by our entrepreneurs’ vision and see meaningful opportunities to contribute to our economy. As we continuously scale our programming, we were grateful to announce this year a new $3-million gift from the John Dobson Foundation to help drive entrepreneurship at McGill University. Morty Yalovsky Founded in 1988 by the late John Dobson, BCom’49, the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship supports entrepreneurs from all 11 faculties at McGill Interim Dean, University. The Dobson community has grown to include 450 active startups which operate in over 35 countries and have generated more than 6,000 new Professor of Operations jobs. More than 40 per cent of Dobson startups are cofounded by women and the Management Centre engages with 24 partner universities around the world. Desautels Faculty of Management This success is a direct result of the seminal work of John Dobson, the Dobson Centre’s founding director Professor Peter R. Johnson, and former director Professor Gregory Vit who established the signature Dobson Cup competition and McGill X-1 Startup Accelerator program. We now have the privilege of building on this strong foundation. In 2020, The McGill Dobson Centre has also been recognized as one of the Top 20 University Business Incubators by the UBI Global World Rankings of Business Incubators and Accelerators and PitchBook University Rankings named the Dobson Centre second in Canada for undergraduate programs for entrepreneurs — and first in the country for developing successful female entrepreneurs. As we pursue our mission to help entrepreneurs across the University to build innovative companies with purpose, we intend to continue to expand our offering of programs tailored to the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey, as well as mentorship opportunities and access to a wide network of resources and investors. In the coming year, The Dobson Centre is set to open a new location in the Marie Josée Lamothe Bronfman Building with a main entrance on Sherbrooke Street, where it will house flexible, state-of-the-art collaboration spaces and cutting-edge Academic Director technologies designed to fuel and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit among all members of the McGill community. McGill's Dobson Centre For Entrepreneurship, As the University enters its third century amid a critical time for the economy, we look forward to fostering the McGill entrepreneurial ecosystem as a driver of Professor of Practice future job creation and strong, sustainable growth Desautels Faculty of Management Morty Yalovsky Marie Josée Lamothe Interim Dean, Academic Director, Professor of Operations McGill's Dobson Desautels Centre for Entrepreneurship Faculty of Management Professor of Practice, 2 Desautels Faculty of Management
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. THE DOBSON CENTRE........................................................4/ Our Mission and Values The Dobson Community in 2021 The Dobson Centre Team II. DOBSON PROGRAMMING...................................................8/ Lean Startup Neuroscience Lean Startup Dobson Cup X-1 Accelerator Mentorship Circle International Startup Tour NYC Retail Startup Tour Celebrating Entrepreneurship Day III. 2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS.........................................27/ IV. DOBSON IN THE NEWS.......................................................47/ V. WITH GRATITUDE.................................................................52/ VI. Let's Stay In Touch!.............................................................54/ 3
OUR MISSION BUILDING INNOVATIVE COMPANIES WITH A PURPOSE The McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship was founded in 1988. It has since established itself as the hub of entrepreneurial activity at McGill University. Our mission is to teach, coach and support McGill entrepreneurs as they seek to build innovative companies with a purpose. OUR VALUES Integrity Community Diversity Excellence Impact
THE DOBSON COMMUNITY IN 2020-2021 $1B+ 450 active startups Present in Over $1 billion + raised 40% co-/founded 34 countries by women 10 McGill Faculties Collaboration with Highly engaged ecosystem 6,000 + new jobs 24 universities of 10,000 + members created #1 in Canada for Developing Successful Female Founders (2020) #2 in Canada for Producing Competitive Startup Founders (2020) #2 in Canada for Undergraduate Program (2020) Top 20 University Business Incubators Globally (2020)
THE DOBSON CENTRE TEAM KIKA ARMATA MARIA APONTE MORTY YALOVSKY MARIE-JOSEE LAMOTHE Program Program Dean and Professor Academic Director, Manager Manager of Operations Professor of Practice Management CAROL CLELLAND MICHAELA MARIANNE VÉRONIQUE STUDENT Program DENEVA KHALIL BEAULIEU-FOWLER EXECUTIVE Administrator Coordinator Coordinator Communications TEAM Manager FACULTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ARVIND ARUNAKARAN ROBERT NASON DAPHNE ANN DEMETRY JAVAD NASIRY Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Strategy & Organization Strategy & Organization Strategy & Organization Operations Management
II. DOBSON PROGRAMMING • Lean Startup.....................................................9/ • Neuroscience Lean Startup • Dobson Cup....................................................12/ • X-1 Accelerator..............................................14/ • Mentorship Circle..........................................16/ • International Startup Tour..........................18/ • NYC Retail Startup Tour • Celebrating Entrepreneurship..Day.......25/ 8
LEAN STARTUP “Lean Startup has been integral to getting closer to An eye-opening program to initiate launching the first early-stage startups into the exciting world of entrepreneurship. stage of our product, since starting the Lean The Lean Startup Program is an integral Start-up Incubator, part of the center’s programming. we have gone Startups work on moving from the idea back and spoken stage to developing a viable startup to potential concept. customers and Through exposure to business from there frameworks and tools to diagnose ideas, developed and they have the opportunity to test the feasibility of their concept and generate streamlined our challenging, yet feasible goals for their ideas.” startup. They acquire the confidence and Ffion Lew is, Co-Founder, the clarity to pursue the next steps in Aglet PR building a successful startup. Neuroscience tailored program: In partnership Healthy Brains Healthy Lives, we also offer an entrepreneurship program tailored specifically for scientific researchers in neuroscience. MORE DETAILS 9
NEUROSCIENCE LEAN STARTUP “[The program] Helped us come Turning scientific ideas into startups together as a team and think about the We are delighted to partner with Neuro- Sphere, McGill's neuroscience accelerator viability of the funded through Healthy Brains Healthy project, our Lives, to offer an entrepreneurship program tailored specifically for scientific value researchers in neuroscience. proposition, and The program takes scientific innovation opened up many from the idea stage to developing and discussions launching a viable startup. about our Teams acquire a general understanding business plan in of key business concepts needed to bring their vision to life, while being immersed general.” into the world of entrepreneurship. Viviana Rom ero, Founder, 8 Bit Cortex MORE DETAILS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: 10
2020-21 LEAN START UP COHORT 24 Startups 54 Co-Founders 9 McGill faculties 7 universities “It has helped give clarity around “All of the speakers were setting up a company, but mainly knowledgeable and offered great focused our thoughts on product, insights. I learned how how viable it is for the market, and fundamental the process of getting how can we build our user base, as user feedback and iterating is. In without user base demand we particular, I learned how to ask wouldn't be there.” these questions to hear the Thomas Durcan, Founder of MBrainBio genuine problems of the intended audience, as opposed to presenting my solution.” Colleen Chang, Founder of Sobremesa
DOBSON CUP “The program surpassed our expectations in many regards, the The 13th edition of the McGill Dobson Cup powered by National Bank, was opportunity to gain the first to be held fully online. Over 56 feedback from the teams were initially selected to be a judges and program part of the highly competitive coordinators along program in January. the way was one The finals, which were held on March notable takeaway for 29 and 30, saw the 26 finalist teams us. We believe that competing in four tracks to win over $200 000 in funding: the MDC program has better prepared • Health Sciences Enterprise (HSE) us for our upcoming • Innovation or Technology Driven investor pitches.” Enterprise (ITDE) • Social Impact Enterprise (SIE) Kyle Feigenbaum, Co-founder • Environmental Enterprise (EE) MyHealthy Bud The 135 founders, 96 of which stem from McGill, were accompanied throughout the program by more than 60 seasoned business experts through mentoring sessions, workshops and judging. MORE DETAILS 12
2020-21 DOBSON CUP COHORT 9 McGill faculties 135 founders 10 countries 58 Semi-finalists 7 universities 26 finalists “The team at Keen to Help learned “McGill Dobson Cup is easily one immensely from the workshops, of the best university affiliated sharpened our pitching skills, and competitions for startups. Win or improved our business model. With lose doesn't matter, one always the funding and the support of the comes out as a more Dobson Center we know that Keen to knowledgeable person on the Help will continue to make an impact other side of it.” within Canadian communities.” Sanjay Thakur, Co-Founder, RydeSafely Jack Turner, Founder of Keen to Help.
X-1 ACCELERATOR “The X-1 program helped us to get closer to our next milestones and This program offers an immersive experience, provided us tools aimed at launching startups to the next phase – investment readiness. to generate some investment Designed to accelerate McGill startups, opportunities.’’ X-1 offers a wealth of learning Charles Couture-Lebrun, Co- opportunities as teams engage with Founder, Off The Grid experienced industry leaders through weekly workshops and one-on-one mentorship meetings. Startups benefit from up to $15,000 in funding as they work over the summer to develop greater clarity of their market and customers, as well as the business acumen to effectively sell their vision to investors. MORE DETAILS 14
2020-21 X1 ACCELERATOR COHORT 20 Startups 72 Co-founders 9 McGill faculties 7 universities “This entrepreneurship program “The X-1 Accelerator equipped opened my eyes to a new world of us with the tools needed to successfully scale our opportunity that made me think business and develop our about healthcare from a business perspective. It provided the tools vision even further. We are so grateful to have participated in and strategies necessary to take innovation from lab to market.” such an extensive, well- thought-out program that will Ahmed Abou-Sharkh, Co-Founder, PhysioBiometrics help us grow our business for years to come.” Ophelia Sarakinis Co-founder of Vertité
DOBSON MENTORSHIP CIRCLE "Mentorship has Mentorship to get to the next level played an invaluable role in the progress of The Dobson Mentorship Circle, is a new Algi. Being able to program to support startups that have graduated learn from experienced from our entrepreneurship programs, and who are entrepreneurs and looking to receive mentorship as they navigate industry leaders has the challenges and opportunities of growing their helped us to make business. smart decisions and grow more quickly.“ Our distinguished group of prominent business leaders, each with twenty or more years of Alessandra Amato, Co-Founder, Algi expertise with startups, business innovation and leadership, provide a source of inspiration, a listening ear and new perspectives to broaden the horizons of fledging Dobson founders to help them grow. LEARN MORE ''It takes many attributes to be a successful entrepreneur: conviction, perseverance, dedication, and intense focus. This is not a journey for the faint of heart, making the Dobson Mentorship Circle a relevant and timely initiative.'' Dino Di Palma, Chair of the 16 Mentorship Circle
DINO DI PALMA, LORA TISI, RUBIN GRUBER, SHARON STERN, Chair Dobson Senior Retail Chariman Of The Board, President of Mentorship Circle Strategist, U.S. Metrika, Boston Eastmore Management and Metro Investments YOLANDA M. JEFF SPEAK, STEPHEN HARPER, NEIL MURDOCH, WARDOWSKI, President at Director at Strathmore former CEO of Managing Director, Speakco Investments Ltd., Connor, Clark & Lunn Avalon Net Worth, Investments London Capital Markets New York JOSEPH SASSON, SOULA CHRONOPOULOS, MiICHAEL MEE, CEO, Delon – Iris President of ellicom & Vice Principal, President of Innovation at LCILX, Amplitude Venturs Canada
INTERNATIONAL STARTUP TOUR “The Dobson International Startup Tour was a great With the support of the Ministère de opportunity to pitch our l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec, business to investors on the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship the West Coast and in launched its first virtual International Startup Europe. We made great Tour. connections and received amazing feedback from an Showcasing Dobson's most promising impressive panel of startups, the goal of the International Startup investors including one of Tour is to promote entrepreneurial innovation stemming from all faculties, while creating the original Dragons from opportunities for our founders with regards to Dragons’ Den. We are fund raising and new business partnerships on looking forward to an international scale. continuing our Spanning seventeen (17) cities, the conversations with them as programming included three (3) separate virtual we close our seed round events, anchored around Eastern Time, Pacific this summer.” Time and Central European Time. For each geography, our startups presented their Lucas Francioli innovative solutions, followed by a question-and- Founder, MoveMate answer period led by top caliber industry experts. The events were rounded out with panel discussions and one-on-one investor meetings In addition, The Dobson New York City Retail Startup Tour introduced and connected a select group of Dobson entrepreneurs to a dynamic startup ecosystem composed of Finance Executives, Retail Giants and Tech Executives from across the globe. MORE DETAILS 18
NEW YORK CITY RETAIL STARTUP TOUR “This tour was a great experience. We continued to refine our pitch, The Dobson New York City Retail Startup and had the chance Tour introduced and connect a select group of Dobson entrepreneurs to a dynamic to tell our story startup ecosystem composed of Finance countless times to Executives, Retail Giants and Tech all different types of Executives from across the globe. people through the The programming, included personalized TechDay and coaching and mentoring, as well as the opportunity to attend flagship tech and retail ShopTalk events. industry events based in New York City I think that the (online). program was a Teams gained invaluable exposure to key success, and we players and pitched their innovative were honored to be business solutions to potential clients and investors, with the hope of encouraging included in this international investment, partnership year's edition.” opportunities and strong business growth. Interius Farms MORE DETAILS 19
SUPPORT EMERGING BUSINESSES TO ACCELERATE THEIR RAPID DEVELOPMENT Québec abounds in talented individuals who dare to initiate and innovate. More than 2000 start-ups with strong growth potential are operating in different areas of activity. They are noteworthy for their original business models and bold reliance on new technologies. Ensuring the development of this thriving ecosystem is essential to maintain the Québec economy’s competitiveness. The Québec government is delighted to encourage the Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship at McGill University in conjunction with the McGill International Startup Tour. I would especially like to emphasize the multi-disciplinarity of the sectors covered and the scientific relations that have developed between major Québec universities. Moreover, this project is brilliantly helping to better match research and its practical applications through the marketing of products stemming from university research. The tour will raise the international profile of Québec innovations and is another example that shows that our knowledge-based economy LUCIE LECOURS creates collective wealth. I salute all the participants Ministre déléguée à for their commitment to showcasing Québec ingenuity and creativity the world over. l’Économie Best wishes to the innovative young entrepreneurs for a successful tour! CATHERINE LOUBIER PHILIPPE HUNEAULT PIERRE GABRIEL CÔTÉ Déléguée générale à New York Délégué du Québec à Los Angeles Délégué général à Londres et Silicon Valley
INTERNATIONAL STARTUP TOUR 18 Startups 17 Cities 5 McGill Faculties 8 Universities 50 Founders A total of: 207 Investor Meetings | 93 Follow-ups “A few days after the virtual “The NYC Retail Startup Tour Dobson Day, we was a great experience for were approached by an Geek-it! We had follow- attendee who introduced ups from several angels and us to a sustainable VC with mentors. We also talked with whom we have a meeting (an investment firm) and they next week.” are really interested in us.” Turbodega Geek-It!
INTERNATIONAL STARTUP TOUR PROGRAM AT A GLANCE SEPTEMBER 2020 ONE-ON-ONE COACHING AND MENTORING McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship worked with selected participants to help prepare and further refine pitches and business plans for their upcoming events. OCTOBER 20-22, 2020 SHOPTALK RETAIL WEEK Teams engaged in one-on-one meetings with potential clients, partners and investors at North America’s largest retail event. https://shoptalk.com/ OCTOBER 27-28, 2020 VIRTUAL DOBSON DAY A private virtual event, co-hosted by the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation. Teams pitched to and networked with an audience of invited VC investors, government dignitaries and industry experts from the New York City area. Register NOVEMBER 17-19, 2020 EXHIBIT BOOTH AT TECHDAY ONLINE Teams hosted exhibit booths and engaged in discussions with participating conferees from investors, to partners and potential customers. https://techdayhq.com/online
TOUKER SULEYMAN, MARC DESCHAMPS, SANJAY PUROHIT, ANTHONY PALERMO, Chairman at Low Managing Partner Trade Commissioner - CEO & Co-Founder Profile and Dragon, and Executive Information, Communi- Connect&GO Dragon’s Den BBC Chairman at Drake cations and Technology Star Partners (ICT) at High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom ATHENA SOSANGELIS TOM DUCROT, MARIE-EVE PICHE, MICHAEL MEE, LORENZO, Principal at Fides CFO at Verana Principal at PartnerCapture + Radio LLC Health Amplitude Ventures Capital - New York STEVEN FRASER, JACKIE HUSPETH, JOEY ADLER, Director of Open Director of Growth at founder and visionary Innovation, Partnerships, InfinityQ Technology of Dept of GOOD and and Strategic University Inc. co-founder od Relations of Innoxec BLOQS4
PARTICIPATING PANELISTS – RETAIL EDITION SAFIA MORSLY-FIKAI TIM CECI LORA TISI Head of Information & Founder Tim Ceci Retail Expert Communications Retail Consulting (former President RW&Co, Technology, Consulate (former Nordstrom) American Eagle, Northern General of Canada in Reflections) New York YOLANDA M. WARDOWSKI GREGORY LARKIN Managing Director, Avalon Partner, Boundless Tech Net Worth and best-selling author of This Might Get Me Fired
CELEBRATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP DAY “Just believe in yourself. If you know what’s right keep walking In a special event forward and don’t celebrating Entrepreneur’s Day, we were delighted to present a lively stop! And celebrate conversation with leading New York City the little things based Entrepreneurs and investors – along the way.” and friends of the Dobson Centre. Gary Hoberm an, CEO of Unqork Animated by McGill alumnus, Gregory Larkin, Founder at Punks & Pinstripes and best-selling author of This Might Get Me Fired, the event, which was live streamed, featured special guests: Charles Bonello, Founder of Vivvi and Grand Central Tech – the biggest incubator in NYC, Peter Crysdale, SVP of Minerva, Gary Hoberman, CEO of Unqork and former CIO of Metlife, JJ Kasper, one of the most respected VCs in NYC and former McKinsey partner, Amanda Kirby, former SVP Tech Startup Partnerships at Bank of America. The discussion focused on the journey of entrepreneurship and celebrated the important contribution that entrepreneurs bring to our economy and society.
PARTICIPATING PANELISTS – ENTREPRENEURSHIP DAY GREGORY LARKIN GARY HOBERMAN JJ KASPER Partner, Boundless Tech CEO of Unqork and Founder and Partner at and best-selling author of former CIO of Metlife Blue Collective This Might Get Me Fired CHARLES BONELLO AMANDA KIRBY PETER CHRYSDALE Founder and CEO at Vivvi Former SVP Tech Startup Co-Founder and SVP of and Founder of Grand Partnerships at Bank of Minerva Central Tech America
III. 2020-21 COHORT • Our Participating Startups (in alphabetical order) 27
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Acrylic is a pre-launch hardtech startup helping professional artists sell their artwork at scale by rethinking how 3rd PLACE WINNER paintings are produced. Innovation and Technology Driven Dobson Cup Enterprise Track AGLET PR Aglet PR gives artists and their teams the opportunity to pitch directly to journalists, paying only for tangible results if and when their music gets picked up. We want to create a space where there is complete transparency between artists, journalists, and PR professionals. Lean Startup AGRITOURISM CONNECT Description of our company: Our startup idea is to create a service that collects data on agritourism businesses and allows users to search, find, and visit these businesses. Lean Startup An Agro-tech company focused on using technology to improve food security while creating a significant impact on the welfare and profitability of the agricultural industry. McGill Dobson Cup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Algi creates purpose driven food products centred around the world’s oldest and smallest superfood, spirulina algae. 1st PLACE WINNER McGill Dobson Cup Environmental Enterprise Track ARC is a tablet-based application that focused on the strengths and intense interest in word reading of preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hyperlexia as a means to support their challenges in reading comprehension. Neuroscience Lean Startup Biotech Square uncovers the hidden lessons in drug development using artificial intelligence to innovate more, and to address patients’ needs sooner. McGill Dobson Cup B3D Performance specializes in additive manufacturing (3D printing) using metal powders. We develop instrumentation to monitor the powder quality to reduce production costs and minimize the impact on the environment. X-1 Accelerator
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS C-Big repository is an open-science neuroscience bio-repository that generates novel iPSC cell lines from patients with human disease with known genetic alterations for use in industry and academic research. Neuroscience Lean Startup Customer Feedback for the Modern Retailer: Chatter uses AI-driven, conversational surveys to increase online and in-store conversion by 1.4%. Our conversation engine interprets responses in real-time to deliver actionable insights when they matter. NYC Retail Startup Tour CHK PLZ enables restaurants and bars to control their brand, increase efficiency, and own their customer like they never have before through an all-in-one suite of web applications. International Startup Tour Circulus AgTech valorizes manure and compost to produce liquid organic fertilizer suitable for hydroponics while using high-tech ion monitoring to reach target nutrient levels and ensure optimal bacterial activity. X-1 Accelerator 2020 International Startup Tour
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS CourseLnk is a platform that connects students in the same classes, faculties and extracurriculars. Thousands of pre-made chats allow students to coordinate studies and social life on one, centralized platform. McGill Dobson Cup Universal, cloud-based, machine learning powered platform that enables true smart farming by optimizing resource consumption, increasing yield, and facilitating the orchestration and scaling of a network of greenhouses. McGill Dobson Cup ePRS Cluster provides a faster solution with immediate access to processing pipelines, designing and deriving polygenic scores, and results to accelerate the process of scientific discovery and optimize the use of valuable data from small scale studies. Neuroscience Lean Startup Transforming not only the storage industry, but also the 3rd PLACE way we manage our things WINNER Environmental entirely. Enterprise Track McGill Dobson Cup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS The FitDrive app helps fitness trainers save time, increase retention and grow their business by making it easy to program workouts, track progress and keep in touch with clients when training remotely. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour Flowbo specializes in financing creators and influencers to monetize and grow their value. McGill Dobson Cup Food Bundles is a digital platform designed to optimize the distribution of fresh food to consumers living in cities. Digitizing the supply chain, it creates a 2nd PLACE sustainable market for smallholder WINNER farmers. MASTERCARD FOUNDATION AWARD 2nd Place Winner McGill Dobson Cup Geek-it! is the marketplace for the geek culture. At Geek-it!, users can buy and recommend geek products such as anime food T-shirts, Star Wars masks and Avengers toys. We also provide tools for geek retailers to facilitate inventory management on Geek-it! Marketplace. NYC Retail Startup Tour
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Gualtieri Inventions' aim is to include and promote the well-being of people with disabilities in air travel. They are continuously striving to improve and 1st PLACE WINNER provide solutions and support for this Social Impact community. Enterprise track McGill Dobson Cup GynAware’s mission is to improve the quality of life for women by reducing the number of unnecessary surgeries in Gynaecology through an integrated and cost-effective pre-surgical biopsy solution for uterine tumors. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour Healthybud is a pet wellness company helping animals thrive through research- backed nutrition, education and community. Working alongside universities, vets and 1st PLACE nutritionists, Healthybud empowers pet- WINNER parents to best care for their pets. Health Sciences Enterprise Track McGill Dobson Cup Heka Health is an on demand personalized healthcare platform that helps people who are injured or are in pain get a consultation as soon as possible while optimizing operating efficiency for clinic owners. McGill Dobson Cup X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Hepius Medical is developing smart cardiac catheter technology to assist surgeons in delivering safer and more effective ablation therapy to patients with cardiac arrhythmia. STEVEN PAL FAMILY AWARD McGill Dobson Cup Hydrolux is a green hydrogen production company distributing to warehouses looking to transition towards fuel cell powered forklifts that will save them money, increase productivity and have a smaller impact on the planet. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour Indigirecruit, an Indigenous student led social enterprise, works to ensure adequate represent- tation of Indigenous peoples in post-secondary academic institutions by increasing University and College application readiness in Canada. X-1 Accelerator Interius Farms provides clients with the freshest produce while mitigating pricing and supply chain risks through long-term, price stabilized contracts. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS JoS is an AI-powered communication application that facilitates informed and shared decision- making between patients, families, and surgical teams. Their initial focus is to improve the 2nd PLACE experienceand outcomes for children undergoing WINNER Health Sciences surgery. Enterprise Track McGill Dobson Cup Just imagine designs and plants green rooftops on buildings to achieve positive environmental and social impact. The ultimate goal is to look down from the sky and see not a mass of conc rete, but a living breathing city of green. Just imagine... Lean Startup A social network whereby users build their volunteer profiles to enable seamless volunteer onboarding with the 2nd PLACE WINNER goal of encouraging volunteerism Social Impact amongst university students. Enterprise Track & AVMOR PRIZE FOR McGill Dobson Cup SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LeapEd Foundation facilitates creative thinking, practical learning and skills development through the provision of entrepreneurship training, technological skills training and mentorship programs for Zambian High school students. McGill Dobson Cup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Lenders API is a challenger credit bureau that provides real time data to Canadian lenders. McGill Dobson Cup Live Cell Technologies Canada provides consumables, consulting, and software for microscopy-based quantification of cellular contractile forces in response to pharmaceuticals. X-1 Accelerator MBRAINBIO Our aim at MBrainBio is to ameliorate the organoid production process, making it robust, consistent and scalable, to levels where organoids can be provided to users across the life science sectors for testing a given therapeutic related to disorders of the brain. Neuroscience Lean Startup We're making expert nutrition advice accessible and personalized for student- athletes. Our platform matches users to their ideal nutritionist from a curated network of sports nutrition experts. Lean Startup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS MinutesFluidics is disrupting the traditional testing market by developing a faster, easier to use, and more affordable diagnostic test for the MRSA superbug. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour MoveMate connects customers with a Mate that has the tools, the manpower, and the vehicle adapted to their needs. We take care of packing and transporting peoples’ possessions to their new residence, as well as delivering any large item purchased online or at retailers. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour My Media Creative is a youth-run non- profit creative agency serving social impact organizations across Canada. 2nd PLACE WINNER McGill Dobson Cup Social Impact Enterprise Track My Place du Marche develops IT infrastructure to improve food nonprofits’ operations by creating a digital marketplace through a centralized network of volunteers and MURDOCH FAMILY INITIATIVE AWARD organizations. McGill Dobson Cup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS At Neophyto Foods, our goal is to make it easier for everyone to choose foods that are delicious as well as kind to the planet. Our first product is a soy-based fermented cream cheese product with a smooth and creamy texture, akin to that of dairy cream cheese. X-1 Accelerator Building resilience against Alzheimer’s Disease Neuro Nautilus is developing computerized program utilizing virtual reality to stimulate memory and plasticity in the healthy older adult hippocampus and neocortex, offering resilience against Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience Lean Startup Empowering people to grow nutrient-rich greens at home with an easy-to-use indoor garden to effortlessly grow more than 20 types of microgreens all year round. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour NURA Medical aims to reduce human error and increase efficiency of care in pediatric emergency departments through the development of user-friendly, automated intravenous solutions. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Nurau’s platform provides businesses with creative, accessible, novel, custom and science-based solutions to further each individual’s goals of becoming their very best self which in turn will improve productivity and ultimately benefit the bottom line. Neuroscience Lean Startup International Startup Tour A private, not-for-profit social impact enterprise organization that aims at improving the overall health of women and children through fostering MASTERCARD optimal feeding programs and nutrition-sensitive FOUNDATION AWARD agricultural programs in African communities. 2nd Place Winner McGill Dobson Cup Off The Grid offers a spinning bike that reinjects electricity in the grid of the building reducing monthly bills for the gym, while a web application allows users to compete with others to reduce their ecological footprint. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour Save life with cellphones! An artificial intelligence-based application to diagnose oral cancer using cellphone images. X-1 Accelerator
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Otto develops technologies that drive growth and bring operational efficiencies to independent eyecare practices, empowering them to remain competitive in an evolving industry. McGill Dobson Cup Developing therapeutic wearable technologies for gait and posture vulnerabilities that can be marketed directly to those at risk and those who treat them. X-1 Accelerator Placify is a solution that helps people move in their dream house now and build equity while living in it. We are on a mission to make homeownership possible for everyone. Lean Startup PROJECT BUILD-IT aims to improve treatment modalities and create diagnostic solutions for patients with cancer. The founding team’s synergy comes from their complementary expertise in basic, translational, and clinical research in the areas of Immunology and Oncology. Lean Startup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS RailVision Analytics specializes in artificial intelligence and software for the rail industry. Our projects are focused on reducing fuel consumption, preventing locomotive failure and improving the safety of rail operations. International Startup Tour Reconsolidation Therapy offers an efficient treatment method for treating psychiatric symptoms stemming from a bad memory. The treatment has the potential to be improved and patented, and used for a variety of mental disorders locally and globally. X-1 Accelerator Remote Optical provides medical devices that allow ophthalmologists and optometrists to remotely examine, diagnose and track optical diseases, disorders, and damage. 3rd PLACE WINNER McGill Dobson Cup Health and Science Enterprise Track RELIEFAI measures physical symptoms of childhood disorders as well as inputs from family and mentors with the highest technology to detect any mental disorder using machine- learning algorithms. Lean Startup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS The Rydersafely platform validates that autonomous systems can perceive unforeseen dangers - or edge cases - around them. This unblocks automotives 1st PLACE to mandated assisted driving in 2021 and WINNER Innovation and the $2.5 trillion self-driving future. Technology Driven Enterprise Track McGill Dobson Cup SEEDAI offers services across the whole data value chain, and builds and maintains custom AI solutions and products. We have also developed a unique and proven methodology to help organizations in their transformation towards AI. X-1 Accelerator NYC Retail Startup Tour ShuttleControl is a Software-as-a-Service designed to revolutionize the way courtesy shuttle services are offered around the world. We offer an all-in-one solution to increase customer satisfaction and make shuttle operations easy. NYC Retail Startup Tour “It [Neuroscience Lean Startup program] transformed my idea into something more palpable. I am less scared to see my idea as a startup.” Dr. Patricia Pelufo Silveira, Founder, ePRS Cluster
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Simmunome Inc. builds AI-driven disease simulations to predict outcomes of clinical trials in the drug discovery process. Using their approach, researchers could avoid costly late- stage failures before stepping into the lab. McGill Dobson Cup Sktch.io is a no-code platform that allows anyone to build dynamic websites and apps. McGill Dobson Cup SOBREMESA Sobremesa is an AI matcher that helps solo diners find quality companions to virtually converse with over meals. Using mealtimes as social opportunities, we strive to foster meaningful conversations and forge new friendships. Lean Startup SquareFeet.ai optimizes the revenue of a new residential development project by offering automated market research, automated initial price list 2nd PLACE generation and a demand driven WINNER Innov ation and dynamic price optimization. Technology Driv en Enterprise Track McGill Dobson Cup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS Stocate connects local sellers with their customers through an online platform to make local businesses more accessible to their community. McGill Dobson Cup X-1 Accelerator Toujours en Groupe Foundation is a non- profit organization that aims at reaching vulnerable people, in order to empower them economically, mentally, and socially. They aim to change lives today for a better tomorrow. McGill Dobson Cup TRAQC is an easily integrated solution for non-destructive and in-line quality control of printed electronics, reducing the production cost by up to 80% and the production time by up to 90%. International Startup Tour learned a lot from the opportunities for one-on-one mentorship – “We both sessions allowed us to take away something that completely changed an aspect of our current plan (both our pitch and our financial projections). The visibility that the Dobson Cup gives you is also fantastic, and I truly believe will open many doors for us!” Chloë Ryan, Co-Founder, Acrylic Designs
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS We give bodegas in Latin America a frictionless, AI-powered app that automates orders, optimizes inventory using AI and saves them time, increases revenue and allows them to compete with larger chains. International Startup Tour Our tech-enabled urban farms cultivate local, pesticide-free strawberries all year long to provide consumers with a healthier, higher quality, and more sustainable product. X-1 Accelerator International Startup Tour VitalTracer focuses on personalized medicine. We use biomedical sensors through the wrist to continuously detect bio-signals and store them in a secure cloud - based environment. By using machine learning algorithms, a complete assessment of vital signs can be provided and shared with the doctor or caregiver as needed. International Startup Tour WALK-AI With the help of WALK-AI, physicians will be better equipped to diagnose ataxia at an earlier stage and prescribe appropriate intervention, improving patients’ prognoses and quality of life. By harnessing the power of machine learning, WALK-AI is programmed to detect close to 100 well-known features from gait and balance before disease onset. Neuroscience Lean Startup
2020-2021 DOBSON STARTUPS XCOV19 aims to build a software application that will help patients and hospitals in third world countries overcome the pre-admission challenges that they face. Specifically, we will provide a service to route patients to the nearest hospital and to pre-register them to allow for an accelerated admission. Lean Startup 8 BIT CORTEX Our app uses gamified micro-tests to measure changes in cognition, mood, and health behaviors over time to automate the psychiatric assessment process and expand its scope to be more informative for clinician treatment planning. Neuroscience Lean Startup UNTITLED PROJECT A non-profit start-up at the intersection of genomics, machine learning (ML) and neuropsychiatric disease to help physicians in diagnosing patients with neuropsychiatric diseases. Neuroscience Lean Startup “It has been really great in helping compartmentalize the overwhelming amount of work of a startup into more manageable and specific goals (making it easier to get things done efficiently and also avoiding forgetting potentially important aspects).” Ashley Bock, Co-Founder, Just Imagine
IV. THE DOBSON CENTRE & STARTUPS IN THE NEWS • 2020-21 Media Presence 47
DOBSON IN THE NEWS AUGUST 2020 OCTOBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 Dobson Centre Dobson Centre Nura Medical & PhysioBiometrics Inc. McGill newsroom: Dobson McGill Giving: Planting the seeds Bonjour Startup Montréal: En Centre receives $3M gift to of innovation route vers le Web Summit bolster entrepreneurship at McGill DECEMBER 2020 McGill ranks 1st in Canada, 30th globally and 18th for Female CTV News: Startups find ways to Founders: Pitchbook Universities adapt and thrive during COVID- 2020 Ranking 19 crisis Interius Farm McGill among the world’ s leading McGill Alumni: The Role of universities for female founders McGill Newsroom: Sustainably Startups in the time of COVID-19 grown, pesticide-free produce for McGill entrepreneurship Canadians, McGill Crew Sync (formerly First Mark) programs ranked one of the best in Canada Rail Vision Hollywood Reporter: Canada Restarts Holiday Film Production Sensequake McGill Newsroom: Using AI to With Quarantine Pods, Masks help railroads save fuel, cut and Santa Masks Quebec Science: Invention of greenhouse emissions, McGill the year 2020 Off the Grid ShuttleControl LinkedIn: Off the Grid wins big at SEPTEMBER 2020 Auto123: 5 Simple Ways to Help the Gala des prix innovation of Your Dealership Stand Out ADRIQ-RCTi, LinkedIn Using Mobility Software VitalTracer Planned Nurau CTV News: Montreal inventor's PRWeb: Planned announces C2Mtl: Drum roll $4.7M in funding to build the smartwatch could help in battle please…Announcing the winners against COVID-19 future of event planning in a of the 2020 Emerging post-pandemic world , PR Web Entrepreneurs Contest MoveMate Gynaware Off The Grid Award recipient at Startup Fest 2020 for both the Wild Card LinkedIn: Gynaware takes first 24h Montréal: Un vélo place at the Biotechnology and Prize for the best pitch stationnaire pour économiser de competition Bioengineering Conference's l'Hydro Second Annual Pitch Top 10 Companies voted by Competition, LinkedIn CBC in their ability to pivot due to COVID 48
JANUARY 2021 FEBRUARY 2021 Global News: Cheaper food delivery service in Montreal giving Uber Eats and company a run for their money Off the Grid Eric Boyko, BCom'92 and Dobson alumnus The Montreal Gazette:CHK PLZ Le Journal de Montreal: L’ hydro- booms in the pandemic, offering vélo, une idée électrisante, From mentee of the late John a low-cost alternative to Dobson to leading a disruptive UberEats CHK PLZ global business: Eric Boyko's entrepreneurship journey, Sonder CTYV News: Wine Delivery Victory for restaurants, CTV Arkangel AI Sonder Announces Partnership News with Government of Québec , Google: Canadian startup Sonder Journal Montreal Inc.: 4 Questions à Arkangel AI taps into Cloud tech Roberto Casoli, LinkedIn Montréal Inc. to remotely detect disease in seconds—including COVID-19, MARCH 2021 VitalTracer Forbes Colombia: Con IA para prevenir enfermedades, Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship Innovating Canada: Innovation in colombianos ganan premio Canada’ s Entrepreneurship mundial de Everis, McGill Reporter: Dobson Centre Community, Innovating Canada surpasses $1-billion milestone in LinkedIn Jose Zea startup seed funding Ubenwa Health Vital Tracer Le Cercle canadien de Montréal: McGill Newsroom: The birth of Chris Arsenault, Founding an idea, McGill University LinkedIn: Azadeh Dastmalchi Partner at Inovia Capital followed named as one of Top 25 Women by a Q&A with Marie Josee FitDrive of Influence Canada Lamothe Hustle Over Everything Off the Grid Chambre de Commerce Podcast: Ep. 53: Behind the App Métropolitaine de Montréal: - How He Created a Fitness Les Retours du 91.9 FM Marie Josée Lamothe to speak Company from on entrepreneurship, diversity Scratch (Spotify | Apple) Le Courrier du Sud: Off the Grid and the Dobson Centre on veut récupérer l’énergie que March 26 GynAware vous produisez en vous entraînant, The Globe and Mail: With spare LinledIn: First place win at the time during the pandemic, Biotechnology and hobbyists are starting their own Bioengineering conference of the Explora TV: Réduire sa facture micro-ecommerce businesses University of Waterloo, LinkedIn d'électricité en faisant du vélo! Ryan Thomas McInturf's Rants MoveMate Local university grads create an and Raves Podcast eco-friendly spin bike that Founder Institute Montreal: Co- generates electricity La Presse: Le secteur des founder Lucas Francioli entreprises en démarrage est en discusses the future of CHK PLZ ébullition transportation in Montreal, Founder Institute Montreal MTL Blog: There's A Montreal- L'Actualité: based App Offering Des entreprises en démarrage Sensequake Commission-Free Delivery For tirent leur épingle du jeu même Your Fave Restaurants en pleine pandémie TechWeek 2020: Quebec Business Forum at the Mexico TechWeek2020, LinkedIn
Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship Global News: Cheaper food Gualtieri Inventions delivery service in Montreal LinkedIn: Mouvement des giving Uber Eats and company a CBC:Montreal woman with accélérateurs d'innovation du run for their money cerebral palsy designs custom Québec airplane seat for people with Squarefeet.ai disabilities Sonder The Montreal Gazette: Montreal CBC Listen: An airplane seat for CTV News: Montreal man turns startup uses AI to set real-estate people with disabilities side hustle into billion-dollar prices business Circulus Agtech Forbes: Montreal Entrepreneurs Aim To Simplify Real Estate LinkedIn: Circulus Agtech obtient CTV News: How a McGill Pricing With Artificial Intelligence le soutien du gouvernement du dropout wound up running a Tool Québec, via le programme billion-dollar business with Jeff d’Innovation Volet 1 Bezos' backing Renx.ca: Proptech startup Squarefeet.ai prices condo, Eli rental projects CNBC Make It: This 28-year-old LinkedIn: EFFERVESCENCE turned his college side hustle The Peak 2021 winners into a $1.3 billion start-up backed Weekly Podcast: Selling over by Jeff Bezos 350,000 Face Masks During COVID-19 with Jordan Owen, APRIL 2021 Taiga Motors CEO of Squarefeet.ai, The Financial Post: Droit-Inc: Pas de stage, pas de Dobson Centre for Taiga's new deal turns up the job...Je pars en affaires! Entrepreneurship throttle on the electric snowmobile dream LinkedIn: Jordan Owen Pricing Chambre de Commerce du analysis Montreal: La diversité La Presse: Taïga Motors entrepreneuriale : au cœur d’une construira une usine à MTL in Tech: Mondev sons ’ AI relance inclusive Shawinigan startup scratching a real estate itch Taiga Motors Blazing trails in electric snowmobiles | Les petits génies Off the Grid Cision Newswire: Taiga Motors de la motoneige Corporation (formerly Canaccord La Ruche: Off The Grid Spinning Genuity Growth II Corp.) Montreal jet-ski maker Taiga to Bikes Announces Completion of go public via Cannacord SPAC, Qualifying Transaction; Symbols 91.9 Sports: Entrevue avec of the Securities of the CHKPLZ Charles Couture-Lebrun Combined Company on the TSX Expected to Change to "TAIG" McGill Alumni Magazine: Helping La Presse: Off The Grid : pour And "TAIG.WT" on April 23, restaurants survive the arrêter de pédaler dans le vide 2021, pandemic VitalTracer Cision Newswire: Canaccord CTV News: Wine delivery victory Genuity Growth II Corp. for restaurants uOttawa Gazette: PhD candidate Confirms Closing Date of from uOttawa develops a Qualifying Transaction and The Montreal Gazette: smartwatch that can help save Announces Redemptions in CHK PLZ booms in pandemic, lives Connection Therewith, offering a low-cost alternative to UberEats
Cision Newswire: Mixonset Taiga Motors Taiga Commences Trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange Mixonset Partners with TIDAL for Les Affaires : À surveiller: Taiga Revolutionary Smart DJ Motors, Stella-Jones et Cargojet Cision Newswire: Experience Taiga Virtually Opens the Market BNN Bloomberg: We have first SquarefeetAI movers advantage in the off-road Yahoo Finance: Stocks in play: electrify vehicle market: Taiga Taiga Motors Corporation La Presse Plus: Suspense sur Motors CEO les prix des loyers La Presse: Une année au son Sonder des véhicules récréatifs … La Presse : Des condos appelés électriques à s’apprécier plus vite que le The Globe and Mail: Travel marché accommodations provider Inside Evs: Sonder outlines aggressive Tesla Model 3 Performance Real Estate Magazine: growth plans as it says it will go Races Taiga Snowmobile In A SquareFeet.ai stakes claim as public Muddy Mess “pioneer of price optimization” in real estate Real Estate Daily Beat: Sonder Plug Boats: More electric boats agrees to $2.2B SPAC deal investments: X Shore $18M, Real Estate News Exchange: ePropulsion $15M Proptech startup Squarefeet.ai GlobeSt.com: Sonder is the prices condo, rental projects Latest to Join the SPAC Parade The Battlefords News-Optimist, With a $2.2B Deal On-site, Canadian Plastics: Front Row Ventures: Behind the Taiga Motors Inc. plans to build Deal: SquareFeet.ai Yahoo Finance: Sonder to go assembly plant in Shawinigan, public in $2.2 billion SPAC deal Que. Gualtieri Inventions BC Business: Desautels Faculty of B.C. cleantech company hits the Management: road to keep electric vehicles Dobson Cup Winner is running Transforming Air Travel for People with Disabilities Sonder La Presse: Sonder entre au NASDAQ par la petite porte MAY 2021 Million Acre: Sonder Becomes Latest Company to Go Public Via SPAC: Is It Investible? Interius Farms Betakit: Sonder to go Public on LinkedIn: Sustainable NASDAQ Through SPAC Deal Development Technology Canada announce along with Hotel Business: Sonder merges Minister François-Philippe with Gores Metropoulos II; to go Champagne an investment of public $1.9M in 21 additional leading Canadian cleantech firms! Short Term Rentalz, BTN: Sonder rumoured to go public with $2.5bn valuation
V. WITH GRATITUDE Our 2020-21: • Partners • Mentors • Speakers • Panelists • Judges • Volunteers 52
Thank you... Thank you for an unequaled year. J. Adler D. Dasilva S. Harper N. Murdoch J. Sicard P. Alessi A. Dastmalchi R. Heckler M. Nantais A. Sosangelis Lorenzo M. Amar M. Davaapil S. Hernandez R. Nason S. Sow S. Ansary F. Davidson G. Hoberman D. Nault J. Speak P. Audette J. Delage O. Hogeboom O. Novac A. Spitzer I. Bajeux-Besnainou D. Demetry J. Huspeth M. Daniel Nicolescu S. Stern J. Barralet M. Deschamps O. Juma S. Pal H. Stevenson R. Bellini E. Devilliers S. Kalra A. Palermo Andriy Strogan C. Bernardi D. Di Palma J. Kasper T. Park T. Suleyman C. Berube P. Di Pierro J. Kelisky M. Piché S. Suzer J. Besnainou T. Ducrot A. Kirby D. Pinault N. Tadjine F. Blackburn M. Enault S. Kokinos J. Piquion N. Taghvai F. Blaise M. Etinson S. Kozlick A. Popliger N. Taleb C. Bonello N. Feller É. Labelle S. Purohit A. Tchoupani A. Bouchard A. Ferrara I. Lalani S. Rao S. Tenasco H. Boulos P. Flegel R. Lalonde L. Rathmell C. Thierry R. Bouskila S. Fraser F. Lamoureux C. Rizzi L. Tisi E. Boyko M. Frate S. Landolt C. Robinson L. Veilleux G. Cadet P. Gagne M. Lane D. Roskams-Edris L. Velasquez R. Cayouette I. Galiana G. Larkin P. Rwagatore E. Verrier-Choquette T. Ceci F. Gervais S. Leblanc S. Saab J. Walewicz B. Chau G. Gervais C. Lennon D. Saks Y. Wardowski C. Chow S. Germain C. Macdonald J. Sasson M. Weber S. Chronopoulos J. Gomez Zea M. Maciw P. Séguéla M. Weiss P. Chrysdale R. Gruber M. Mee K. Self A. Wheatley C. Corkery C. Guimond-Drapeau V. Missout J. Selick C. Williams B. Cornwall N. Haeems C. Mong Lee N. Sharma S. Yaphe P. Cote M. Hammad S. Morsly-Fikai D. Shemesh D. Moss
LET’S STAY IN TOUCH. FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES: dobson.mgmt@mcgill.ca SIGN-UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: Monthly Newsletter FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn WEBSITE: www.mcgill.ca/dobson
You can also read