Innovation UBC
Venture studioVancouver · Pre-Seed–Growth · 43 people tracked
Investment thesis
Innovation UBC helps UBC researchers translate academic discoveries into social, health, environmental and economic benefits. It facilitates research collaborations with industry, government, non-profits, hospitals and other institutions, and supports the creation of research-based ventures. Through services such as sponsored research agreements, patent and commercialization support, an Express License framework for spin-off companies, and founder-focused programs like the Venture Founder program, the organization guides researchers from idea to impact. Its work is guided by an Advisory Council and a team of experts serving the university's research community.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 43 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 28 of 63 portfolio companiesBiotech ×12Cleantech ×8Deep Tech ×8Healthtech ×7AI & Machine Learning ×6Medical Devices ×6Climate Tech ×5Hardware ×4
HQs:Canada×11United States×2
Investments · 63 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathConexeu is developing CXU™, a collagen-based extracellular matrix (ECM) platform for soft-tissue regeneration intended as an alternative to static fillers, combining structural support with tissue in-growth and integration.
BiotechHardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesReno, US
STEPHEN D INOUYE(Executive Officer)BRIAN PILCHER(Executive Officer, Director)JEFF SHARPE(Executive Officer, Director)MILES HARRISON(Executive Officer, Director)AARON FARBERG(Director)CLAUDIA CHAVEZ-MUNOZ(Executive Officer)
3C Therapeutics develops therapeutics using targeted protein degradation, centered on a proprietary modular Degrader-Antibody Conjugate (DAC) platform (TriCore) that delivers intracellular protein degraders via monoclonal antibodies.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Dan Wattier(Chief Executive Officer)Tony Polverino(Fractional CSO)David Perrin(Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor)David Wood(Chief Financial Officer)Benjamin Noichl(Co-Founder & VP of Chemistry)
Agora Energy Technologies is an electrochemical engineering company developing a battery technology that uses industrially captured CO2 to generate electricity and store energy.
CleantechClimate TechDeep TechEnergy
Social-focused spin-off based in British Columbia, Canada.
Spin-off based in British Columbia, Canada.
Arrowsmith Genetics is a preclinical-stage drug discovery company developing therapeutics from genetic research conducted at UBC and BC Cancer.
BiotechDeep TechVancouver, CA
Phil HieterPeter Stirling
Avenue Intelligence produces proprietary sensors that count pedestrian foot traffic in real time and deliver anonymized data through a custom dashboard for reporting and decision-making.
Data & InfrastructureHardwareIoT
Baerfell produces high-performance natural fibre insulation using sustainable technologies.
CleantechConstruction Tech
Broadsight is a shared workspace for communications teams that preserves the background, messaging, people, and decisions behind each communications file, and applies AI grounded in that organizational context.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaS
Steve Lowry(Chief Executive Officer)Kurt Heinrich(Founder & Chief Strategy Officer)John-Jose Nunez(Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer)
Sustainable skincare venture developing breakthroughs in bioproducts, co-founded through the Venture Founder program.
Carbonyx develops proprietary technology to recover valuable materials from waste rock while permanently removing carbon from the atmosphere, producing carbon-negative and low-carbon materials for infrastructure and supply chains.
Circular EconomyCleantechClimate TechVancouver, CA
Centre for Digital Media (CDM) offers a project-based Master of Digital Media program and short-track digital product development courses for students and professionals entering or advancing in the digital media industry.
EdTechMedia & EntertainmentVancouver, CA
CURA develops electrochemical technology to reduce the process CO2 emissions released during limestone calcination in cement production.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechClimate TechDeep Tech
Climate and sustainability spin-off based in British Columbia, Canada.
D2Type provides AI-enabled, lifestyle-first diabetes and cardiometabolic care delivered as between-visit clinical support, using proactive monitoring, early detection, and human clinical escalation to complement therapies like GLP-1s.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechCanada, CA
DISC Alloys develops metal manufacturing and materials technology aimed at aerospace, defense, and high-performance industrial applications.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardwareNew MaterialsSpace Tech
Francis Steiner(Co-founder)Stefano Fregonese(Co-founder & CEO)
Envoke is an email platform built for communications teams rather than marketing, letting organizations send newsletters, internal memos, and regulatory or compliance updates — including mandatory messages that can't be unsubscribed from — while staying within anti-spam laws.
Enterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaS
Fibernx develops and manufactures carbon fiber and carbon nanofiber materials, offering lower-cost and lower-emission alternatives to traditional PAN carbon fibers with properties customizable per industry.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechNew MaterialsVancouver, CA
Dr. Yasmine AbdinDr. Frank KoDr. Scott Renneckar
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Information technology spin-off based in France.
ImageCyte develops precision nanowell plate technology that prepares cells, organoids, and model organisms for imaging, aiming to improve imaging quality, reproducibility, and throughput.
BiotechDeep TechHardware
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Melius MicroBiomics develops microbiome-based live biotherapeutics (its GEMM technology) to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, pursuing both human and animal health applications.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Dr. Deanna Gibson(Co-Founder)Robert Emlyn(Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer)Celinka Zhou(Co-Founder & Executive VP, Corporate Development & Capital Markets)Kevin Horgan(Head of Research & Development)
Mesintel develops a proprietary target discovery platform based on fibroblast biology to accelerate drug development in cancer, fibrosis, rare diseases, tissue regeneration, and aging-related conditions.
AI & Machine LearningBiotech
T. Michael Underhill(Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer)Lesley Hill(Co-founder, Chief Operating Officer)R. Wilder Scott(Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer)Jonathon Jafari(Co-founder, Chief Business Officer)
Metastem is developing a therapy for advanced metastatic cancers.
BiotechMedical Devices
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
MycoFoundry develops mycelium-based materials for architectural and interior applications, combining biotechnology and design.
BiotechNew Materials
NanoVation Therapeutics develops lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and mRNA delivery technologies for gene therapies, supporting drug development partners across mRNA synthesis, LNP formulation, and preclinical delivery optimization.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechHealthtechVancouver, CA
Pieter CullisDominik WitzigmannJayesh KulkarniZach JonassonDavid Main
Hardware and manufacturing spin-off based in British Columbia, Canada.
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Climate and sustainability spin-off based in British Columbia, Canada.
nPhyla is a biotechnology company that uses environmental DNA (eDNA) and analytics to provide site-level biodiversity assessments, microbial screening, and reporting tools for mining companies.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningBiotechClimate TechData & Infrastructure
Offshore Designs develops industrial robotic systems for in-water ship hull cleaning to reduce fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and maintenance costs while preventing invasive species spread.
CleantechRobotics
Human health spin-off based in British Columbia, Canada.
Spin-off based in British Columbia, Canada.
ReAct Materials develops catalyst-based water purification technology designed to remove PFAS (forever chemicals) from water systems.
CleantechClimate TechNew Materials
Resolve Nanotherapeutics is developing RNA drugs delivered via lipid nanoparticles that amplify the body's toxin-clearance pathway to treat severe acute bacterial infections and their chronic complications.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
EnergyCambridge, US
Gareth Ross(Executive Officer, Director)Curtis Belinguete(Director)
BoardPatrick Sarver(Director)Marc Tarpenning(Director)Michael Kearney(Director)
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Human health supported venture.
ViroCarb is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Bharat Tewarie(CEO & Chairman of the Board)Mario Huesca(President, COO & Board Director)Clifford Lingwood(CSO & Board Director)Daniel Mamelak(Board Director)Michael Ling(Board Director)
Human health supported venture based in British Columbia, Canada.
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioConexeu Sciences Inc.NASDAQ: CNXU
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Innovation UBC invest at?
- Innovation UBC invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What sectors does Innovation UBC focus on?
- Innovation UBC focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AgTech, Biotech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Consumer, Deep Tech, EdTech, Fintech, FoodTech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Media & Entertainment, Mobility & Transportation, New Materials, Retail Tech.
- Where is Innovation UBC located?
- Innovation UBC is headquartered in Vancouver, CA.
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