Velocity attracts attention at MaRS Impact Health
Velocity leadership and founders took to the stage at the MaRS Impact Health, a two-day conference in Toronto.
The event gathered the community of Canadian health innovators, giving a voice to founders who are transforming healthcare technology, solving the most important issues facing the community.
As one of Velocity’s three business streams, including deep tech and software, Velocity health* is building a globally competitive platform for startups to commercialize health technology in Canada. Led by Moazam Khan, the health stream provides world-class support in Canada to improve quality of care with technology, advance Canadian healthcare entrepreneurship on a global stage, and connect and grow the innovation economy in Canada.
Moazam Khan, Director of Velocity Health, hosted a digital health pitch session on day two of MaRS Impact Health, which also saw nine Velocity health tech founders pitch and participate in panel discussions.
Amr Abdelgawad co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of FluidAI, participated in the digital health pitches. FluidAI’s data-driven tech monitors post-operative leaks to prevent infections. FluidAI exited Velocity in 2020.
Velocity company MedMe co-founder and CEO Purya Samadi explains to the audience how the company’s data-driven software is empowering pharmacists to deliver clinical services at scale. Rui Su, MedMe co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer (not pictured), is a pharmacists and experienced problems related to outdated pharmacists software first-hand before founding the company with Samadi in 2020.
Michael Phillips, co-founder and CEO Vena Medical, explains the company’s tech — the world’s smallest camera, an endoscope providing real-time navigation enabling physicians to see inside veins and arteries to help treat stroke victims. Phillips shared the company’s successes, which includes their tech being used during surgery, allowing the patient return to daily activities within days of suffering a stroke. Vena Medical exited Velocity in 2019
Qidni is developing a portable dialysis device making the treatment accessible to millions of patients with end-stage kidney disease. CEO Morteza Ahmadi gave conference attendees insight into the company’s tech and traction to date.
Able Innovations Chief Technology Officer Philip Chang outlined the company’s mission and tech: an automated patient transfer system, preserving patient dignity and preventing medical professionals from injury.
Foqus Technologies‘ software solution enhances and speeds up MRI scans — from an hour down to 5 minutes. CEO Sadegh Raeisi took to the stage to illustrate the proprietary tech, that utilizes quantum technologies and artificial intelligence.
Alison Smith (far right), co-founder and CEO of Roga, which is developing a wearable wellness device to help users limit symptoms of burnout and stress, spoke during the panel discussion “To regulate or not? Tech for cognitive function” about the path to regulate devices used for cognitive disorders. Garth Smith, VP of business development and partnership at the Ontario Brain Institute, moderated the panel which included Andrea Palmer, CEO and co-founder of Awake Labs, and Peter Adams, VP corporate and business development at Vielight Inc.
James Lowman (second from right), CEO and co-founder of Cauchy Analytics, a Velocity company developing non-invasive heart monitoring for critical care patients, lended his insights on the panel “The future of diagnostic devices: A delicate balance” with fellow health tech innovators Keith Loo, CEO and co-founder of Skinopathy, Chris Kent, president and CEO of Reveal Surgical. Dina Kamal, partner at consultancy firm Deloitte, moderated the panel discussion.
Rachel Bartholomew (centre), CEO of Velocity company Hyivy Health, which is developing a pelvic floor rehabilitation device and software, spoke at the “Opportunities in women’s health” panel. Bartholomew, who also runs Femtech Canada, a group of Fem Tech startups providing networking, partnerships and support, spoke about the way forward to support breakthrough technology for women. Her co-panelists were Sanj Singh (right), CEO of Temple Therapeutics, Annie Theriault (left), Managing Partner at Cross-Border Impact Ventures, which invests in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health technology companies. Not pictured are Fanny Sie of healthcare company Roche, and moderator Katherine Ward, Global News journalist.
Velocity company Cobionix representatives speak to conference attendee. The company is developing robotics to improve medical and everyday procedures.
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