Praxis Spinal Cord Institute is pleased to announce our inaugural cohort of high-impact technology ventures.

These companies were carefully selected by a panel of spinal cord injury (SCI) consumers, researchers, commercial leaders in healthcare—as addressing key challenges for people with SCI, but also with a potential to transform healthcare outcomes for the broader community.

The Praxis Spinal Cord Institute’s SCI Accelerate program is made possible through support from Western Economic Diversification Canada, Genome British Columbia, University of Waterloo and University of Waterloo-Bioengineering and Biotechnology Centre.

Meet the 2020 Cohort

• PathMaker Neurosystems is a clinical-stage neuromodulation company developing breakthrough non-invasive systems for the treatment of patients with serious neurological disorders, including SCI, ALS and stroke. PathMaker’s proprietary technology uses synchronized stimulation at multiple points along the neural axis to modulate the activity of spinal circuits. PathMaker has a dominant IP portfolio with 35 issued patents, and has won numerous innovation awards in the US and Europe.

• Rehabtronics has a suite of products in the rehabilitation space including Intermittent Electrical Stimulation (IES) technology to reduce pressure injury for those with mobility and sensation deficits. Rehabtronics strives to deliver technologies and products that provide expanded access to better care at a lower cost. Rehabtronics aims to eliminate deadly pressure ulcers, improve care for millions of people, reduce billions in care costs and save thousands of lives.

• Dr. Gordon’s Bum Cream Inc. is a physician-led Nova Scotian company that has developed a fast-acting, complexcompounded, non-prescription skin cream to effectively treat Moisture Associated Skin Damage (MASD). Dubbed “Dr. Gordon’s Bum Cream” by nurses, it’s a single-step remedy that has been safely used by Dr. Gordon in intensive care and other units in Canadian teaching hospitals for over 20 years.

• CathBuddy, Inc. is developing a reusable intermittent urinary catheter system that aims to improve the standard of care and reduce UTI incidence for individuals who use intermittent catheters to urinate. A reusable system enables the company to amortize the cost of production for safer, premium catheters over multiple uses. This system will help reduce healthcare costs related to catheters and UTIs, while also reducing environmental waste caused by single-use catheterization.

• BioInteractive Technologies (BIT), endorsed by the Mayo Clinic and Techstars, is a medical device and digital health company developing intelligent wearables for physical therapy, using its patent-pending TENZR™ musculoskeletal sensing technology. BIT’s flagship product, the TENZR™ Wristband, assesses range of motion, provides instantaneous guidance and feedback on rehab exercises via a mobile app, and monitors hand and wrist use to encourage healthy ergonomics.

Interested in investing, mentoring or collaborating with these companies? Get in touch with :

Arushi Raina Program Manager,
SCI Accelerate
T: 604.827.0720
E: araina@praxisinstitute.org

Visit their Website here

Read full announcement release here

Praxis SCI Accelerate Cohort Update

Demo Day 2020

On Wednesday, June 24, Praxis Spinal Cord Institute launched a virtual Demo Day for their Praxis SCI Accelerate program, a 12-week acceleration pilot program for health start-up companies with solutions that address care- and cure-related treatments and overall quality of life of individuals with SCI.

The five companies of the 2020 cohort, PathMaker Neurosystems, Rehabtronics, Cathbuddy, Dr. Gordon’s Bum Cream, and BioInteractive Technologies, pitched their innovations virtually and participated in a live Twitter Q&A where they answered questions about their products, their experience with the program, and more.

Read some of the conversation and the fantastic responses below and at the Twitter hashtag #PraxisDemoDay

We invite you to watch the pitches and get in contact with the companies! https://praxisinstitute.org/commercialization/acceleration-program/demoday-2020/

View the introductory message from the Praxis Director of Commercialization, Fred Rego:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psh_AZloeFM 

For more information about the Praxis SCI Accelerate Program, visit https://praxisinstitute.org/commercialization/acceleration-program/ 

We invite you to watch the pitches and get in contact with the companies! https://praxisinstitute.org/commercialization/acceleration-program/demoday-2020/

View the introductory message from the Praxis Director of Commercialization, Fred Rego:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psh_AZloeFM 

For more information about the Praxis SCI Accelerate Program, visit https://praxisinstitute.org/commercialization/acceleration-program/