Celebrating UVic-linked innovation

Across almost every industry, there are innovators identifying unique problems and striving to develop new, opportunistic ways to create solutions—making positive change to society. The University of Victoria’s Coast Capital Innovation Centre (CCIC) has supported hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs who seek to tackle big challenges, from global climate change to period and health care to developing efficiencies in the property management industry.

This June, Douglas Magazine 10 to Watch list featured six ventures linked to CCIC.

• Katie Gamble of Nature Bee Wraps offers a sustainable, reusable beeswax wrap that reduces single-use plastic waste and keeps food fresh longer.
• BinBreeze, backed by Taylor McCarten, is an all-natural compost bin fruit fly and odour eliminator, taking the yuck out of composting and encouraging more people to enjoy the process.
• Faizan Ali Khan of LetHub utilizes artificial intelligence to create efficiencies in the property management space, saving time and paperwork for both renters and landlords.
• Harsh Rathod from Niricson Technologies makes infrastructure safer through data-driven predictive analytics.
• Joni’s Jayesh Vekariya offers organic and biodegradable period care products and has a 1:1 model which provides pads to the one in three Canadians who can’t afford period care on a regular basis.
• Stephanie Willerth of Axolotl Biosciences has developed a novel bioink that makes the printing of 3D human tissue possible.

CCIC, based at UVic, offers resources, guidance and infrastructure to support entrepreneurs as they test their business models and develop their products and services in a safe environment. Resources include mentorship, access to executives-in-residence, a prototype fund for proof of concepts, and an entrepreneurship support network comprising of mentors, investors, funders and subject-matter experts.