Seven Alumni Turning Research Into Solutions Canada Needs Now
Meet the 2025 Lab2Market Summit Pitch Competition Finalists
Article by Zeeanna Ibrahim, Lab2Market
In a world shaped by rapid technological change, global health challenges, and climate uncertainty, these founders are building ventures designed for real impact.
This October at the second annual Lab2Market Summit in Montreal, seven Lab2Market alumni stepped onto the Pitch Competition stage to share how they’re turning graduate research into real-world solutions. These researchers-turned-founders are translating science into ventures that support healthier people, safer communities, and a more resilient future — tackling challenges in health, climate change, and biotechnology along the way.
From microneedle tattoos to climate hazard monitoring, these ventures reflect the diversity and ambition of Canada’s innovation ecosystem — one that reaches both small and large businesses, and communities in every region of the country. Their stories highlight not only academic excellence, but their commitment to solving problems that matter.
Meet the founders behind the pitches — and learn what drives them forward.
Dr. Sam Babity — CEO, mTatt
L2M Validate Quebec 2024
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Université de Montréal
Sam never expected to become an entrepreneur — but when his research started to generate clinically interesting results, it seemed like the right move.
During his PhD, Sam Babity was working on diagnostic microneedles when a “pitch your startup idea” contest changed everything. After winning a prize, he realized the technology had the potential to empower individuals to access health information without a clinic visit. That idea became mTatt, a temporary tattoo that can measure biomarkers painlessly from home — offering a new frontier for at-home diagnostics.
Like many early-stage founders, Babity points to financing as a critical hurdle – especially when transitioning a PhD project into a full-time startup. He bridged the gap with a mix of pitch competition wins, a V1 Studio SIVP grant, and a prize at Startupfest. Along the way, Lab2Market played a key role in helping mTatt connect with potential end-users.
“L2M really helped me build my network, especially by connecting with potential end-users during the validation process. Getting into the habit of talking about my startup to as many people as possible was an important reflex to build.”
Sam attended the Summit to connect with other founders and share mTatt with a national audience — and left as the first place winner of the pitch competition, receiving a $5,000 cash prize as well as $25,000 in in-kind legal services.
Madline Sauvage — Cofounder & CEO, SensÈn
L2M Validate Quebec 2024
PhD in Molecular Biology, Université de Montréal
With a background in molecular biology, Madline Sauvage saw a gap: although cancer therapies were advancing quickly, detection tools were not keeping pace. She co-founded SensÈn to change that.
SensÈn is developing next-generation biomarker detection devices for breast cancer monitoring — enabling decentralized, rapid, and personalized testing so clinicians can adapt treatments with precision.
The biggest challenge was balancing her PhD with entrepreneurship, but mentorship and disciplined time management helped her stay focused on the long-term impact: helping patients.
Lab2Market helped turn her research into a business opportunity by pushing her to “validate my hypotheses directly with the market.”
Her advice: “Stay open-minded… The program is about discovery, not confirmation.”
Manak Bajaj — Founder, Wonder Guard
L2M Validate National Cohort, Spring 2025
PhD in Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University
“I see myself as not just an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur-scientist. That blend of technical depth and business drive has been the most rewarding part of the journey.”
From a childhood experience with his mother’s health to a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University, Manak Bajaj has always been close to the realities of infection and diagnostics. His venture, Wonder Guard, is an AI-powered catheter sensor system for continuous infection monitoring.
“The main problem we’re tackling is that indwelling catheters lead to urinary infections in roughly 70% of patients who use them.”
A technical breakthrough — a low-cost, lab-grade electrode — became the foundation of the platform. Lab2Market provided critical mentorship and structure, which he calls “transformative.”
“Lab2Market has been transformative for Wonder Guard. The mentorship, structure, and network the program provided were invaluable… The Validate program gave me the time, funding, and space to sharpen our value proposition and validate the real-world need for our device.”
Benjamin Ringler – CEO & Co-Founder, TissueTinker
L2M Validate Quebec 2025
Masters in Translational Biomedical Engineering, McGill University
Benjamin Ringler and his team at TissueTinker are rethinking how cancer therapies are developed and tested. Their goal: to build a new cancer modeling system that will give biopharma companies more meaningful and translatable data, so they can develop new therapeutics faster and at a lower cost
“Our team has a highly technical foundation, which has required us to learn new skills such as business development and organizational management. This pushed us to join a number of accelerators and incubators to help us develop these skills and expand our team.”
“Lab2Market Validate helped us expand our professional network, and pushed us to find more customers and refine our business plans and model. This has helped propel us to new heights and raise early funding.”
Ringler’s advice to future founders is to fully immerse themselves in the experience: “Dive in, and don't hold back! Meet everyone you can and challenge your assumptions!”
Catherine Evans – Co-creator, SWIM Alert
L2M Validate Atlantic 2024 & Launch Atlantic 2025
Masters in Oceanography, Dalhousie University
“I was inspired to bring our research to market because I know that we could make a real difference in helping communities adapt to climate change.”
With a background in oceanography and data analytics, Catherine Evans and her co-founder started SWIM Alert (Smart Water and Invasive Monitoring Alert system), a tool that helps communities monitor environmental hazards using field data, satellite imagery, and environmental models.
“We would not be where we are today without Lab2Market,” said Catherine. “The financial support to focus on the program full time really allowed me to dive into the greater commercial ecosystem and figure out what people wanted from our product.”
Her advice to future participants is to stay curious and open: “Come in with an idea you are excited about but have an open mind… And talk to as many people as you can! Keep yourself curious through the entire process.”
Catherine attended the Summit both to reconnect with the L2M community and to challenge herself. It was her first time pitching in the short time frame of 3 minutes, and she was ranked in second place, receiving a $2,500 cash prize plus $25,000 in in-kind legal services.
Tayab Soomro — Founder, PathoScan
L2M Launch Prairies 2025
With a background in agricultural genomics, Tayab Soomro created PathoScan to make pathogen testing faster and more accessible for farmers with their innovative, user-friendly kits.
His Lab2Market experience was “transformative,” helping him turn a scientific idea into a real-world solution. Pitching at the Summit was “an incredible experience.”
His message to others: “I highly encourage you to take part in Lab2Market! This program is one of the best bridges from academia to entrepreneurship!”
Dr. Stephanie Buryk-Iggers — Founder & CEO, Sparked Inc.
L2M Validate Ontario 2022 & Launch Ontario 2025
Sparked Inc. began from a deeply personal experience for Dr. Stephanie Buryk-Iggers, after losing her father to an unexpected stroke. Her mission is clear: improve early, accessible screening for cardiovascular disease.
“Many of these events are preventable, and some cardiovascular diseases can even be reversible if detected early enough.”
Her biggest challenge has been prioritization in a landscape full of programs and funding opportunities. But each stage brings growth.
For Buryk-Iggers, one of the ongoing challenges is deciding where to focus limited time and resources. “While funding and time are continued challenges (as most entrepreneurs will tell you), the biggest challenge lies in prioritizing. Fortunately, today there is an excess of programs, learning opportunities and potential funding streams available to entrepreneurs in Canada, but knowing which one to engage with and when is a game-changer.”
Lab2Market provided “a road map for the next steps” from product development to investment readiness.
Her advice? “Go beyond the workshops and utilize the network.”
Photography: Thomas Desjardins