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Victoria-based startup VoxCell BioInnovation, winner of the YSpace Technology Accelerator program's Demo Day in 2021, were recognized in this year's Collision conference PITCH competition, which took place last month in Toronto. The annual technology conference – one of the biggest of its kind in North America – attracts startups, investors and industry leaders from around the globe.
VoxCell offers what it calls a Universal Bioink Kit, which promises to innovate the 3D bioprinting field by replicating the extracellular matrix of living tissues to assist with drug screening.
“VoxCell’s journey is deeply inspiring as they drive towards revolutionizing the industry," said Nafis Ahmed, associate director of entrepreneurship at YSpace. "We take great pride in the team’s achievements and eagerly await what the future holds for them.”
For VoxCell's team members, they say the competition win gives them a welcome boost in confidence, purpose and exposure.
“It reaffirms our mission to revolutionize drug development," said Asees Kaur, VoxCell’s business operations co-ordinator and the winning pitcher, "and has further increased our brand awareness as we focus on commercializing our Universal Bioink Kit and securing partnership contracts with pharmaceutical companies for the use of our cancer tissue models as advanced drug screening platforms."
YSpace's Technology Accelerator program, which VoxCell benefited from in 2021, nurtures innovative startups through comprehensive support, including mentorship, resources and networking opportunities. It supports startups in executing go-to-market strategies, acquiring customers and preparing for fundraising.
"VoxCell's recent success is a testament to their relentless innovation and commitment to excellence," said David Kwok, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at YSpace. "We are incredibly proud to see our alumni making such a profound impact on the global stage."