Innovation Factory

10/09/2026

We spent yesterday afternoon at the TechPlace Annual Open House, and what an evening!

Founders demoing, partners connecting, and innovators showing off their work. We had the chance to hear from Authencore AI, Valentir Green Tech, and many more.

Congratulations to the team at TechPlace on celebrating another year of innovation in the Hamilton-Halton region.👏

Swipe through for a look at the highlights from the event 👇

10/09/2026

The 2026 Startup Canada Tour will be at the Living Arts Centre on October 29, 2026 ✈️🇨🇦

As entrepreneurs navigate rising costs, emerging technologies, and an increasingly complex business landscape, this event is your go-to source for expert talks and networking to help you adapt, grow, and scale your business.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to take your business to the next level!

🔗 Register now: https://bit.ly/startup-canada-tour-mississauga

09/29/2026

Last week, MPP Stephen Crawford and MPP Monica Ciriello sat down at Innovation Factory with founders from nine companies across our network.

Founders talked through procurement processes built for much larger vendors, and through the practical side of artificial intelligence sovereignty: where data is allowed to live, who owns the compute, and how intellectual property holds up on a public contract.

A massive thank you to both MPPs for coming to listen, and to all the founders who brought their valued opinions and experiences to the table.

That is what makes conversations like this impactful.

Here are some snippets from the day!👇

09/28/2026

Last call. 📣This week, we're breaking down Innovation Factory's legal and IP partner network, including who's in it, what they do, and how to access their support.

If you've ever wondered when to bring in a lawyer, how to think about trademarks, or what's available to help you protect your IP, this session will give you a clear path forward.

🗓️ Wednesday, September 30 | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EDT | Virtual
📌Save your spot: https://loom.ly/tQw4B9o

Discover Innovation Factory's legal and IP partner network, including IP Assist, and learn how to protect and grow your business.

09/25/2026

🦁 Meet the winners of Innovation Factory's 16th Annual LiONS LAIR!

Last night, over 350 attendees gathered at the Oakville Conference Centre to celebrate the region's most promising start-ups as they competed for $55,000+ in cash and in-kind prizes.

1st Place ($30,000): NewGen Health — an accessible urine-based screening device (+ software) for rapid, early detection of kidney disease.

2nd Place ($15,000): Sensible Vascular — a first-in-class thrombectomy system built for complete clot removal in a single pass, protecting brain function after stroke.

3rd Place ($7,500): TOMI - Plant Protein For Toddlers & Kids — clean, plant-based beverages made for toddlers and kids.

People's Choice ($2,500): Tiny Tube Bio — a next-gen micropipette with an auto-calibrating sensor, delivering far greater precision than industry standards.

We also introduced a new tradition this year: the inaugural Pillar of Innovation Award, presented to Geotab for its leadership and ongoing support of start-ups across the Hamilton-Halton-Brant-Norfolk innovation ecosystem.

Huge congratulations to all 10 finalists, and a big thank you to our sponsors Deloitte, Marks & Clerk, and our incredible community of partners for making it all possible.

👉 Read the full press release here: https://innovationfactory.ca/meet-the-winners-of-innovation-factorys-16th-annual-lions-lair-pitch-competition/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=lionslair26

09/25/2026

That's a wrap on ! 🦁 Tonight we celebrated 16 years of innovation, 10 exciting pitches and post-show reflections with our winners and LiONS LAIR judges.

Congratulations again to NewGen Health and all our finalists! We can't wait to see what's next for you. Shout out to everyone who joined us to celebrate the Hamilton-Halton innovation ecosystem tonight! 🎉

09/25/2026

Closing out the night: Our LiONS, Mark McQueen from Deloitte and Kevin Shipley from Marks & Clerk, speak with our CEO David Carter about the caliber of this year's finalists and what's next for LiONS LAIR. 🦁

09/25/2026

Tonight's winners, Mazhar Shahen, from NewGen Health, Kevin Macwan from Sensible Vascular, Luis Medina from TOMI, share what this win means for their business and what's next.

09/25/2026

🥁 The results are in! Congratulations to tonight's winners:

🥇 Grand Prize Winner ($30,000): Mazher Shahen - NewGen Health
🥈 Second Place ($15,000): Kevin MacAwan - Sensible Vascular
🥉 Third Place ($7,500): Luis Medina - TOMI
🏆 People's Choice Award ($2,500): Ranvir Chaudhri- Tiny Tube Bio

Huge congratulations to all 10 of our incredible finalists for an unforgettable night of pitches! 🦁 A massive thank you to our LiONS, sponsors, and everyone who came out to celebrate 16 years of innovation with us.

09/25/2026

The pitches are done and the results are in, but the night isn't over yet! 🎥 We're going behind the scenes with tonight's winners and LiONS for some post-show reflections. Stay tuned on Cable 14 Hamilton for highlights from !

First up, our VP of Operations, Karen Linseman, shares her reflections on tonight's 16th annual gala — the pitches, the energy, and what makes this community so special.