Eight Ontario biotech companies you need to know about

WHAT’S REVOLUTIONARY IN HEALTH, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AND CLEAN TECH? ONTARIO GENOMICS HAS THE RUNDOWN

Eight exciting and promising start-ups have been tapped as the first-round recipients for Ontario Genomics’ BioCreate program. This brand-new, $11.6-million initiative is funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), and is providing financial and business support to help move the province’s biotechnology scene forward in a major way.

Who are these must-know biotech innovators?

AIMA LABORATORIES has a game-changing solution to a painful health problem affecting millions. According to the World Health Organization, 190 million girls and women suffer from endometriosis, but AIMA is speeding up the often years-long detection of this debilitating illness by creating a highly accurate home test for faster diagnoses and treatment.

INDEX BIOSYSTEMS is working on ways to make our food safer. Its BioTag technology uses microscopic barcodes made from baker’s yeast to enhance food safety and cut down on food recalls. Combined with tracking software, it provides a more reliable way to record product quality and source-of-origin.

KRAKEN SENSE is leading the way in wastewater testing advancements. We learned from the COVID-19 pandemic how invaluable this kind of monitoring is to maintain public health. Kraken Sense has developed new technologies to sense bacterial contamination in real-time, speeding up the detection of new and existing variants of viruses and bacteria.

CERAGEN is flipping the agricultural script by proving probiotics aren’t just for humans anymore! They’re showing farmers the benefits of microbiome engineering by harnessing good microorganisms to make hydroponic plants healthier and more resilient, which increases crop yields.

BIOFECT INNOVATIONS is working on cracking that elusive secret to satisfying the world’s sweet tooth in a healthier way. Through precision fermentation, they’re mass producing brazzein, a protein in the West African oubli plant. It’s sweeter than sugar and is meant to be a healthier substitute, especially for people with diabetes.

GENECIS is proving that the circular economy is alive and kicking in Ontario. It has engineered a bacteria that breaks down food waste to make a key ingredient for cheaper bioplastics, including textiles and medical tools.

LIVEN PROTEINS is looking to become the new best friend of millions of vegans around the world. It’s tapping into the $20-billion vegan food market by using engineered microorganisms to produce animal-free protein ingredients for the food and beverage industry.

PERFORMANCE PLANTS

knows climate change is here and hitting the agriculture sector hard. But the company is coming to the rescue with validated ‘game-changing’ genetic engineering to produce climate change-resistant crops and keep the world’s food supply resilient.

This impressive list is just the beginning! Ontario Genomics is changing the start-up game with the BioCreate program that will supply up to 32 highly vetted, innovative companies with $150,000 in non-repayable funding, 18 months of business mentorship and access to critical infrastructure. They’ll also get the opportunity to pitch to investors for further funding. Learn more at BioCreate.ca.