NeuroSphere Demo Day: Innovating today, transforming tomorrow
Demo Day is NeuroSphere’s signature event for neuroscience startups and innovators from the McGill ecosystem and beyond. This event allows entrepreneurs to showcase their groundbreaking innovations to a diverse audience of investors, industry experts and key stakeholders. Demo Day highlights the value and potential of these projects, reflecting months, or in many cases, years of development, supported by NeuroSphere!
Demo Day Highlights
- Pitch presentations: Startups showcase their innovations, highlighting their impact and commercial potential
- Networking opportunities: Attendees can connect with industry leaders, investors and key players
- Feedback: Experts provide startups with insights on how to refine and enhance their ideas
- Investment opportunities: A chance for startups to attract funding and partnerships
Join us for NeuroSphere’s Demo Day!
Where we showcase the brightest in neuroscience innovation
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 12:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Centre PHI, 407 Rue Saint-Pierre, Montréal, QC H2Y 2M3
Attendees: The event is open to open to key stakeholders interested in innovation, such as investors, venture capital groups, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, startups, researchers, academics, students, trainees and government officials.
About NeuroSphere
NeuroSphere is a neuroscience innovation accelerator dedicated to advancing research and innovation. Supported by Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL), our dynamic ecosystem is dedicated to nurturing high-potential neuroscience projects, guiding them from early-stage concepts to commercial success. NeuroSphere ensures startups are well-prepared to make a real-world impact.
NeuroSphere support for startups
Incubation and acceleration
Tailored programs to transform ideas into market-ready solutions
Networking and partnerships
Opportunities to receive in-kind business development support and connect with industry leaders and investors
Pitch coaching and mentorship
Intensive workshops and expert guidance for effective presentations
Access to funding
Platforms and expert advice to secure financial support and pre-filtered resources
Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 12:00–1:15 p.m. | Registration and Lunch |
| 1:15–1:35 p.m. | Introduction |
| 1:35–2:35 p.m. | Startup Pitch Session 1 & Q/A (60 min) |
| 2:35–3:05 p.m. | Break |
| 3:05–4:05 p.m. | Startup Pitch Session 2 & Q/A (60 min) |
| 4:05–4:30 p.m. | Sponsor and Ecosystem Stakeholder Presentations |
| 4:30–4:40 p.m. | Closing Remarks and Awards |
| 4:40–7:00 p.m. | Networking |
NeuroSphere startups at a glance
AVATalk Technologies
Website: https://avatalkapp.com/
Contact: gail.myhr@avatalkapp.com
Team Members: Gail Myhr, Margaux De Smedt, Mohamad Matout
Focus Areas: Avatar therapy, Schizophrenia, Data Analytics, Patient Empowerment
AVAtalk Technologies is revolutionizing schizophrenia treatment with an accessible app for AVATAR Therapy. Conventionally, virtual reality-based approach helps patients manage persecutory voices by creating digital avatars of their voices. The AVAtalk team has developed a highly accessible solution, an app, designed for smartphones allowing therapists and patients to engage in therapy conveniently. The app includes a data collection portal to track medication use, health service utilization and demographic factors, aiming to improve therapeutic outcomes and personalize care for individuals with psychosis.
Nospharma
Website: https://www.nospharma.ca/science
Contact: anmol@nospharma.ca
Team Members: Anmol Nagpal, Derek Bowie
Focus Areas: Autism/Fragile X, Neurobiology, Therapeutics, Pharmacogenomics
Nospharma is transforming the treatment landscape for Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting 1.33 million people worldwide with learning disabilities and autism. By targeting two key biological dysfunctions identified in FXS, their innovative hybrid molecule approach promises a cost-effective, accelerated path to clinical trials within 12-16 months.
Brainscores
Website: https://brainscores.ai
Contact: boris.bernhardt@mcgill.ca
Team Members: Raul Rodriguez Cruces, Boris Bernardht, Philippe Benjamin-Duranceau
Focus Areas: Neuroimaging Optimization, AI Powered Diagnostics, Brain Imaging, MRI Integration
BrainScores is revolutionizing brain imaging with its AI-powered, multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) analysis platform. By integrating various MRI contrasts and leveraging AI to highlight atypicalities, it enhances lesion detection and diagnostic accuracy. The interactive app supports MRI viewing, annotation, and expert collaboration. Currently in development, it promises quicker, more precise evaluations and reduced healthcare costs.
Remote Optical
Website: https://remoteoptical.com
Contact: jeremy.zwaig@mail.mcgill.ca
Team Members: Jeremy Zwaig, Leonard Levin
Focus Areas: Neurodegenerative Diagnostics, Advanced Optical Imaging, Non-Invasive Diagnostics, AI Driven Pattern Recognition
Remote Optical aims to leverage novel imaging techniques to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases through the eye’s anterior segment. By developing a remote, asynchronous imaging device, they capture high-resolution light-field images to detect pathognomonic features like Kayser-Fleischer rings and Lisch nodules. This proof-of-concept device will use advanced pattern recognition algorithms to identify lesions, providing early detection and facilitating initial screening for neurodegenerative conditions.
Lasso Informatics
Website: https://www.lassoinformatics.com
Contact: lmacintyre@lassoinformatics.com
Team Members: Alan Evans, Leigh McIntyre
Focus Areas: Data Management, Technology, Data Complexity
Lasso Informatics is dedicated to advancing clinical research through a versatile and intuitive data management system. Created by Dr. Alan Evans and his expert team over 20 years, this platform integrates data acquisition, processing, quality control, querying and analysis into a single, collaborative tool. It is a comprehensive solution which enhances researchers’ ability to manage and monitor patient data effectively, streamlining complex workflows and improving research outcomes.
Clinivance EDC
Website: https://clinivance.com/en
Contact: joshua.unrau@mail.mcgill.ca
Team Members: Joshua Unrau, Gabriel Devenyi, Mallar Chakravarty
Focus Areas: Electronic Data Capture (EDC), Research Data Management, Cloud-Based Platform, Academic Research Tools
Clinivance is redefining research data collection through a secure, cloud-based electronic data capture platform tailored for academic use. Designed by researchers, it addresses outdated and costly systems by offering an intuitive, affordable solution. Built to support modern research workflows, the platform ensures streamlined, compliant data collection while increasing accessibility across institutions.
Foursight Medical
Website: Under Construction
Contact: mark.tchinov@mail.mcgill.ca
Team Members: Mark Tchinov, Caroline Wagner
Focus Areas: Glaucoma Treatment, Surgical Innovation, Ophthalmic Devices, Intraocular Pressure Management
FourSight Medical is transforming glaucoma treatment through surgical innovation. With over 80 million people affected globally and high failure rates in existing procedures, there is a critical need for more effective solutions. FourSight is developing a next-generation device to improve intraocular pressure control, reduce surgical failure and halt disease progression. Designed to raise the standard of care, this solution offers durable, scalable impact for glaucoma patients worldwide.
Acuiti Health Inc
Website: Under Construction
Contact: dimitrios.palidis@mcgill.ca
Team Members: Dimitri Palidis, Lesley Fellows
Focus Areas: Digital Therapeutics, Stroke Rehabilitation, Remote Patient Monitoring, Gamified Neuro–Rehabilitation
Acuiti Health has developed a software app that provides stroke survivors with accessible motor rehabilitation using camera-based motion capture on consumer devices. It delivers real-time feedback and gamified training to boost motivation and adherence. The app enables remote, asynchronous monitoring and can be adapted to other neurological conditions affecting movement.
WillTher
Website: Under Construction
Contact: salah.elmestikawy@mcgill.ca
Team Members: Salah El Mestikawy
Focus Areas: Anorexia Nervosa, Compulsive Disorders, Neuropharmacology, Drug Development
WillTher is pioneering innovative treatments for anorexia nervosa, a severe eating disorder affecting millions worldwide. Their research focuses on acetylcholine’s role in habit formation, leading to the development of donquine, a breakthrough drug that shows significant promise in reducing anorexic-like behaviors in animal models. This novel approach not only targets anorexia but also has potential applications in treating other compulsive disorders. For more information see a recent media article about this project!
DendroTEK Biosciences
Website: https://dendrotek.ca
Contact: jean-pierre.clement@dendrotek.ca
Team Members: Jean-Pierre Clément, Timothy E Kennedy
Focus Areas: Advanced Cell Culture Matrices, Long-Term Cell Culture Stability, Biomedical Research
DendroTEK Biosciences has developed a novel solution to one of biomedical research’s major challenges, which is prolonging the life of human cells in culture. Conventional cell culture substrates are susceptible to degradation by proteases secreted by the cells, often resulting in destabilized environments and cell death. DendroTEK’s breakthrough technology offers enhanced stability, supporting cell cultures for up to five times longer than existing solutions. By providing highly stable matrices, DendroTEK is making long-term cell culture more reliable and accessible for researchers.
Pain +
Website: Under Construction
Contact: hannah.derue@mail.mcgill.ca
Team Members: Hannah Derue, Alfredo Ribeiro Da Silva
Focus Areas: Chronic pain, Artificial intelligence, Clinical tools, Pain management, Non-pharmacological interventions
PAin+ is an AI-powered visual journaling tool that turns patients’ pain experiences into clear clinical insights. Using natural language processing and imagery, it improves communication between patients and clinicians. By capturing both quantitative and qualitative pain data, PAin+ helps overcome challenges in understanding chronic pain and offers a non-pharmacological approach to pain management.
Our judges
Check out the link below to know more about our judges
Previous Demo Days
In 2024, NeuroSphere hosted two milestone Demo Days that brought together startups, investors, researchers and policy leaders to spotlight the future of brain health innovation.
The inaugural Demo Day, held on March 21, featured six pioneering startups who presented transformative ideas to an audience that included venture capitalists, academics and government officials. The event also served as a competition, with winners selected through both audience votes and evaluation by a panel of expert judges.
Building on this momentum, NeuroSphere held its fall Demo Day on November 8 at Maison Alcan in Montreal, with support from sponsors Gowling WLG and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). The event welcomed and attracted over 160 members of Canada’s innovation ecosystem for a day of startup pitches, panel discussions and strategic networking.
Together, these events underlined NeuroSphere’s commitment to fostering excellence in neuroscience entrepreneurship and knowledge exchange.
Our Previous Jury Panels
The 2024 events featured jury panels composed of seasoned professionals from both the business and neuroscience sectors. These included prominent figures from venture capital firms, leading neuroscience researchers and industry experts. With extensive experience in their respective fields, the panel evaluated the startups based on innovation, market potential and scientific rigor. In addition to selecting the winning startups, the jury offered insightful feedback to help these early-stage companies refine their approaches and strategies for the future.
The winners, chosen for their potential to revolutionize healthcare, exemplified how emerging startups can significantly advance neuroscience. The Demo Day not only showcased innovation but also created opportunities for collaboration, offering invaluable insights to all participants and fostering growth within the ecosystem.
Gallery 2024
Pictures from November Demo Day
Pictures from March Demo Day
Testimonials
“NeuroSphere Demo Day was an inspiring experience and a fantastic opportunity to connect with experts, investors and peers, and I left feeling motivated by the collaborative spirit and potential of the work being done.”
“It was truly an incredible event! Thank you for all the dedication and for providing a platform for early-stage startups to gain visibility.”
“Demo Day provided a fantastic opportunity to pitch to expert judges and a knowledgeable audience. I received invaluable feedback from well-connected experts in the healthcare innovation community. Also, I made crucial connections with directors of incubators and research consortia across Montreal.”
“Meeting inspiring individuals and witnessing the ingenuity behind their pitches was truly up-lifting. It’s a testament to the endless possibilities when passion meets purpose.”
“Demo Day was phenomenal ! Our team felt supported, and the feedback that we received was invaluable. The event was well-organized, filled with industry insiders, and exceeded all our expectations. we will be participating in any upcoming event hosted by this amazing organization.”
“The audience award holds a special place in my heart, knowing our mission deeply resonated with everyone present. Your support fuels our drive to make a meaningful impact.”
NeuroSphere is funded by:
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