On July 8, 2026, Innovation Factory announced the top 10 finalists for the highly anticipated LiONS LAIR pitch competition, set to take place on September 24, 2026, at the Oakville Banquet & Conference Centre. This gala event is expected to attract over 350 attendees from the region’s innovation and business community. The selected finalists, representing a variety of unique solutions, include Sensible Vascular, Remmen Brakes, LIVESENS, NexScale AI, TOMI, Tiny Tube Bio, Twish Cart, HumanisRx, NewGen Health, and Gasner HealthTech. These startups epitomize the vibrant innovation landscape of the region.
Before presenting their pitches at the gala, finalists will participate in training sessions designed to bolster their performance and prepare them for their investment and commercialization journeys. The finalists emerged from a competitive pool of over 30 startups that went through Innovation Factory’s intensive training program, Founders Fast Track. This program provided essential tools, mentorship, and networking opportunities, culminating in a speed-pitching event evaluated by angel and venture capital investors. The top-scoring start-ups were invited to showcase their businesses at LiONS LAIR, which is dedicated to fostering innovation and creating community connections.
David Carter, the CEO of Innovation Factory, highlighted the significance of the event: "LiONS LAIR is all about celebrating our region’s entrepreneurs. Watching these ten startups progress through our Founders Fast Track program has been incredible, and we are proud to continue supporting them as they scale, pitch, and bring their solutions to market."
The LiONS LAIR gala serves as a vital networking platform, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, business experts, and industry leaders who actively contribute to regional innovation. The evening’s agenda includes cocktail networking, dinner, live pitch presentations, an awards ceremony, and exclusive live interviews with winners conducted by Cable 14. This environment is designed to cultivate meaningful business connections and partnerships.
Over the last 15 years, LiONS LAIR has not only supported 185 high-potential companies but has also awarded more than $1 million in cash and in-kind prizes, underscoring its role as an essential element of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The pitch competition has become an annual highlight and is known for selling out each year.
The upcoming event is scheduled for September 24, 2026, in Oakville, Ontario. Those interested in attending can visit lionslair.ca to purchase tickets or reserve a table for the gala.
Innovation Factory, a not-for-profit business accelerator, has served as a catalyst for technology innovation in the regions of Brant, Halton, Hamilton, and Norfolk since its inception in 2010. It offers various business services, training programs, mentorship, and strategic connections to drive market adoption, leverage intellectual property, and ultimately increase revenues, investment, and job creation for emerging innovators. The organization also provides access to sector-specific resources, including smart transportation test environments and a formal life science and health innovation ecosystem, solidifying its role as a cornerstone for businesses seeking to navigate and thrive in the technology landscape.
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