HEALTHI Secures Renewal for Fourth Cohort to Back 36 New Health Innovation Projects

HEALTHI Program Renewal Summary

On June 25, 2025, Innovation Factory announced the renewal of its HEALTHI program (Health Ecosystem to Accelerate and Leverage Trials of Healthcare Innovation), which will welcome its fourth cohort. This phase of the program plans to support 36 new projects from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the upcoming year. HEALTHI is partially funded by up to $650,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) and has seen significant success since its inception in 2021, generating $8 million in collaborative commercialization funding.

HEALTHI, in collaboration with the Synapse Life Science Consortium (Synapse), connects emerging health technology businesses with leading research institutions such as Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) and the Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (RISJH). This partnership allows start-ups access to up to $15,000 in specialized support services that assist in identifying product gaps, refining solutions, and developing pre-trial protocols necessary for commercialization and clinical trials. This structure acts as a validation point to gauge market readiness, thus facilitating the advancement of the most promising innovations.

David Carter, CEO of Innovation Factory, emphasized the program's significance, stating that it creates a strategic bridge between entrepreneurs and clinical expertise, effectively de-risking early-stage ventures and streamlining the journey from lab to market. Entrepreneurs like Sydney Robinson, Co-founder and CEO of Vessl Prosthetics, have praised HEALTHI for its pivotal role in their commercialization journey, highlighting how the program helped identify critical gaps and accelerate their technology's delivery to those in need.

Since it began, HEALTHI has supported 67 companies; 17 have successfully secured around $6.9 million in follow-on funding for product development and clinical trials. Additionally, 14 companies are expected to generate about $1.1 million in collaborative projects with hospital and research partners. The program's renewal reinforces its role in shaping the future of health technology and emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships between start-ups and research institutions for ongoing product innovation and economic growth.

Applications for the HEALTHI program remain open until March 2026, inviting health technology companies to apply online or contact Innovation Factory for more information.

About Innovation Factory
Innovation Factory is a not-for-profit business accelerator that has been a catalyst for technology innovation in the greater Hamilton area since 2010. It offers business services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections aimed at enhancing market adoption, leveraging intellectual property, and driving revenue growth, investment, and job creation. Additionally, innovators have access to specialized resources, including unique smart transportation test environments and a formalized ecosystem for life science and health innovation.

For more details, visit innovationfactory.ca.