Annual Report 2023
A year of new partnerships
& possibilities
This year V1 Studio solidified its position as a market leader in supporting researchers in Quebec to explore entrepreneurship.
We’ve been busy this year...
Creating and implementing three new programs to fill the gaps in the entrepreneurial journey
Partnering with 10 universities to provide better support to QcSE participants province-wide
Connecting more than 1330 researchers, experts, and other ecosystem stakeholders through our programs, impact workshops, and events
Graduating a growing number of budding entrepreneurs across the journey from research to startup
Researchers who completed our programs
328
111
2022
2023
V1 Studio’s programs and impact workshops serve as funnels to drive researchers to further incubation and acceleration, towards building a scientific or innovative startup.
Impact Workshops: From Researcher to Innovator
From researcher
To innovation
leader
Startup creation
Personal transformation
Impact Workshops
Students and professors want to know the potential impact of their research beyond academia. Impact workshops were delivered on-site and virtually across the province.
13
Impact workshop provided
450+
Researchers impacted
Impact workshopgiven at Université of Sherbrooke Faculté de médecine et sciences de la santé
Program highlights
Funder:
The Quebec Scientific Entrepreneurial program’s reputation as a safe space to discover entrepreneurship continued to attract participants in 2023.
746
Accepted applicants
4
Cohorts (2 English / 2 French)
62%
Increase in QcSE applications compared to 2022
328
83%
Increase in completion rate compared to 2022
Participants who completed all program requirements to receive the QcSE completion certificate
The QcSE is acting as a pipeline for more women to explore scientific entrepreneurship. In 2023 QcSE graduated more women than men.
The program drew applications from all graduate levels, demonstrating a desire to explore scientific entrepreneurship.
In 2023, QcSE recruited participants from 16 Quebec Universities.
34% of participants were from outside Montreal
Graduate students, postdocs and researchers from various disciplines in STEM, Humanities and Social Sciences pitched their research projects to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Total # of pitches in the pitch showcase
270
Spring 2023: 110
Fall 2023: 160
Distribution by science branch
Ecosystem partners play a major role to help deliver QcSE. We thank our partners for their contributions and support for the program.
This year, guest experts from 14 organizations offered feedback on pitches and gave workshops on everything from IP, to social entrepreneurship, to storytelling, guiding the next generation of scientific entrepreneurs. Their experience and dedication is a precious resource!
99 %
An astounding 99% of QcSE participants say they want to purse entrepreneurship post QcSE.
Program highlights
Funders:
V1 Studio, with operational funding from the MEIE and bursaries from the JohnDobson Foundation, launched the new Researchers in Entrepreneurship program (REN), in partnership with 15 ecosystem partners.
Researchers got out of their comfort zone, cultivated their soft skills and put their new knowledge to the test during Startupfest, interfacing with the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
30
Participants
66
Average number of new connections added to their network
94.7
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Clearly, QcSE participants were keen to pursue their entrepreneurial journey in 2023.
2/3 of of those who joined the first Researchers in Entrepreneurship Network cohort were former QcSE participants!
2/3
Most REN participants were postdocs and PhD graduates ready to build their networks!
Thanks to our ecosystem partners who helped make the first REN cohort a great success!
Program highlights
Funder:
The Lab2Market Validation program allowed us to expand our reach and impact this year.
As regional Quebec lead on the L2M National network, V1 Studio delivered two French cohorts, training 28 teams from 11 universities.
28
Researchers who completed the program
11
Universities represented
873
Customer discovery interviews conducted
100%
Participant retention rate
62
Average number of interviews per team
”The L2M Validation program allowed me to approach my project in novel ways, allowed me to grow and made me more comfortable having discussions about my project.”
Jessica Rakotoarisoa
Doctoral researcher in social communications at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Program highlights
Funder:
The Scientific Venture Program is custom-designed for PhDs ready to start their own businesses.
6
Startups accepted, representing:
- Medtech
- Biotech
- Cleantech
- Artificial Intelligence
- Optics Manufacturing
- Healthcare
Check out the startups who joined us in 2023!
Spheroid AI
Medtech I AI
Spheroid AI is working on detecting ovarian cancer earlier to save lives. The startup is using AI to predict whether a set of genetic data comes from a cancer patient, and is using previously unidentified markers in the bloodstream to diagnose the early onset of ovarian cancer.
Founder: Jorgelindo Da Veiga Moreira
PhD in System Biology
Medtech I AI
Skinaptics aims to enhance sensory experiences and empower those who have lost limbs by incorporating skin-like technologies into prosthetics. Skinaptiks has developed a unique solution combining sensor technology, electronic architecture, and custom AI models for a more realistic sense of touch.
Founder: Cyril Bounakoff
PhD in Applied Engineering
(robotics and microtechonologies)
Nanofacile
Biotech
Nanofacile strives to make next-generation therapies easier and faster to create. Its unique technology simplifies the process of packaging medications into lipid-based nanoparticles within minutes, allowing researchers to focus on targeted therapeutic innovation, and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.
Founder: Ruben Rodrigo Lopez-Salazar
PhD in Applied Engineering
NEIGES biotechnologies
Biotech
NEIGES biotechnologies aims to maximize preclinical efforts in the healthcare industry. It offers R&D solutions thanks to miniature organ-like intestinal tissues, which cost up to 100 times less than non-human primate models. The solution is also ethically responsible and scalable, removing barriers towards the delivery of new medicines.
Founder: Andrew Song
PhD in Cell Biology
Epsilon
Optical Manufacturing
Epsilon wants to empower its customers to create world-class devices thanks to cutting-edge optical components. Its nanoengineered components allow for superior light manipulation. Epsilon’s technology has the potential to change to transform the manufacturing process to make devices that are smaller, lighter, and higher-quality.
Founder: Ashutosh Patri
PhD in Electrical Engineering
Qalam Health
Medtech I AI I Healthcare
Qalam Health offers groundbreaking technology that has the potential to be a game changing cancer detection tool. Its innovative handheld medical device allows surgeons to detect bone cancer cells in tissue margins to prevent cancer recurrence and optimize patient care.
Founder: Haitham Shoman,
PhD in Experimental Surgery
The first ever Dobson Scientific Venture Awards offered 5 SVP startups $61,000 to take their ideas from lab to market in 2023
First place - $35,000
Second place - $10,000
BioSam, Meysam Taghinasab
Agritech | Biotech | Agriculture Industry
ABen Hub, Syed Taha Taqvi
Cleantech | Renewable Energy | AI | Saas
Third place - $3,000
GC Lipid Tech, Dilan B. Jaunky
Cleantech | Oceantech | Biotech
Sentryfy, Jonathan Roy
Cybersecurity | Cyber-Risk Management | Saas| AI
Congratulations to first SVP cohort who graduated in the Fall of 2023!
Expansion of the SVP to the SIVP
Building on the success to the Scientific Venture Program, V1 Studio joined forces with the FRQ, Axelys and Mitacs this year to create
a new iteration of the program:
The Scientific and Innovative Venture Program.
The SIVP will support PhD graduates from participating Quebec universities, offering them a $50,000 annual bursary of excellence to pursue their research and found scientific and innovative startups.
It is now open to students from social sciences and humanities as well as STEM researchers.
Together, we’re boosting the innovation ecosystem in Quebec!
Zone Grises
In 2023 V1 Studio launched a new video podcast to document the journey from researcher to innovation leader.
Zones Grises is already on Startup Montreal’s list of can’t-miss podcasts, and we’re just getting started…stay tuned in 2024!
Watch all of our episodes here:
Animating an online community of scientific entrepreneurs
+90%
Followers on
V1 Studio’s linkedin
2099
Total followers for V1 Studio
+35%
Followers on the
QcSE’s LinkedIn
1939
Total followers for QcSE
Thank you from the V1 Studio team!
V1 Studio
QcSE
Thierry
Harris
Manager, Marketing & Partnerships
Annie DeMelt
Marketing & Communication Lead
Alice
Vervaeke
QcSE Program Lead
Diana Horqque
Ratto
Executive Director
Patrick
Vespa
Program Lead &
Venture Manager
Andrea Mendoza
Programs and Operations Manager
Analisa
Wong
Ops and Admin Coordinator
Emran Ghasemi
Program Lead &
Venture Manager
Arthur
Brousseau-Regaudie
Graphic Designer