Competition overview
Innovator finalists receive training, mentorship, a $2,000 grant, and a chance to pitch and compete for up to $50,000 cash and in-kind prizes!
Synapse Pitch Competition
By the numbers
Competition phases
Phase One
Team Formation
Interested participants will complete a short application and finalists will be notified in December of their acceptance into the competition. Innovators and students will form teams at our Meet & Greet in January.
Phase Two
Commercialization Plan
Teams will receive training and mentorship in order to submit a 10-15 page Commercialization Plan, outlining detailed steps needed to commercialize their innovation, and a timeline to market in February.
Phase Three
Investor Pitch
Teams will attend training to develop and deliver a 5-minute investor pitch, including the components of a pitch, delivery methods, and addressing questions in March.
Final Phase
Final Pitch & Showcase
The top-ranked teams will deliver a business pitch, competing for cash and in-kind services from our generous partners. All finalists will present a poster and have the opportunity to network with top industry leaders in the life science sector in March.
Competition Schedule
September 27, 2024: Applications Open
November 10, 2024: Applications Close
December 2024: Finalists Notified
January 8, 2025: Networking & Team Formation
January 15, 2025: Commercialization Plan Training
January 22, 2025: Regulatory Training
Jan – Feb 2025: Business Advisory Meetings
February 12, 2025: Commercialization Plan Due
February 19, 2025: Investor Pitch Training
March 5, 2025: Elevator Pitch & Poster Due
March 26, 2025: Synapse Pitch Competition Showcase
* Dates subject to change
Questions about the competition? Email hannah.fritchley@innovationfactory.ca
Some fine print:
There are two participant categories that individuals can apply to. “Innovators”, who must be working on an idea, product, or service in the Life Science field and have the individual capacity to continue developing the product and/or service after the competition. “Students”, must be either a current student or recent graduate (having graduated no more than 36 months prior to January 2025) from a recognized post-secondary institution.
All participants must
- Submit applications prior to the due date online and
- Certify that they abide by all guidelines of the Competition.
Participants must be residents and business owners in Ontario, Canada. Innovation Factory clients are eligible to participate in the Competition. Any corporation or enterprise with revenues in excess of $1 million are not eligible for the Competition. Innovators who have previously participated in both, LiONS LAIR and the Synapse Competition, or either competition more than once; and/or who placed in the top ten at a previous LiONS LAIR, and/or placed in the top three at a previous Synapse Competition shall be precluded from participating in this Competition.
About Innovation Factory
The Synapse Life Science Pitch Competition is delivered by Innovation Factory, a business accelerator dedicated to helping businesses launch, scale, and succeed. We provide start-ups and scaling companies with advisory services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections to help bring disruptive technologies to market, leverage intellectual property, increase revenues, attract investment and create jobs.
Meet our partners
Our valued partners play a crucial role in driving innovation and entrepreneurship by offering exceptional support, sharing their expertise, and creating strategic partnerships to boost the success of upcoming entrepreneurs and businesses in the health sciences field.
