Innovation Boost Zone

Have you ever wondered how computer chips are made? Are you interested in learning about the basics of circuiting? Look no further than the IBZ for an evening of computing and layout design. Join us on Wednesday, August 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM for a hands-on workshop, Basics of Semiconductors: Inverter Workshop! With visual presentations, interactive demonstrations, and a stimulating talk from Alphawave co-op student Chi Ta, dive into the essential layers found in our computing devices. After this step-by-step lesson, you’ll walk away with an inverter of your own design Click the link and sign up today! https://lu.ma/cl4k3lw0

EXCITING NEWS ‼️ The deadline for The Runway Ready Innovation Challenge has been extended to August 8! ✈️ Are you an Ontario-based innovator up for a real-life innovation challenge? This is your opportunity to co-develop a solution in collaboration with Dexterra Group, a national leader in facilities management and validate it at enterprise scale! Airports struggle with inefficient workforce management schedules, driven by unpredictable passenger volumes tied to flight arrivals and departures. There’s a clear need for data-informed tools that can use flight and traffic data to optimize operations. Your innovation could be the one that solves this! What’s in it for you? 💡$5K to co-develop your solution with Dexterra’s innovation team 💡$25K to pilot your solution at Pearson Airport 💡The chance to collaborate with a National Scale partner 💡Fast track to enterprise validation and real-world impact Applications close Friday, August 8. Don’t miss out - apply today: https://lnkd.in/gnxB7YPm Zone Learning at Toronto Metropolitan University

Premier League is back and better than ever! Applications are now OPEN for 20 multidisciplinary teams to collaborate, build, and play. The application form closes on July 30 or once all spots are filled, so hurry and sign up today as an individual or a team! Interested in seeing how everything comes together and wanna play a key role in making the big game happen? We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bring the Premier League to life. Apply Here! Register as a Member: https://lnkd.in/e5GdFThK Become a Volunteer: https://lnkd.in/e9pM_59M Learn More: https://lnkd.in/e5MXsC3A

🚨 Calling Canadian startups & innovators! Got a tech solution that could transform airport operations? This is your chance to prove it and get paid to build it! Join the Runway Ready Innovation Challenge, in partnership with Dexterra Group and The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA). Apply for the opportunity to partner with a national-scale facilities management leader and pilot your solution at one of Canada’s busiest airports, making operations cleaner, smarter, and more efficient. What’s in it for you? 💡$5K to co-develop your solution with Dexterra’s innovation team 💡$25K to pilot your solution at Pearson Airport, Canada’s busiest airport 💡The chance to collaborate with a National Scale partner 💡Fast track to enterprise validation and real-world impact Limited spaces remaining - submit your application by July 25! torontomu.ca/runwayready Zone Learning at Toronto Metropolitan University

Curious about how we can reuse plastic waste instead of just throwing it away? In collaboration with Frontier | Student Space Society, the Student Space Society at TMU, we’re kicking off a hands-on project where we’ll build a plastic filament extruder using the open-source ARTME3D 2.5 plans! That means learning the basics of mechanical engineering while also diving into how circular systems work and learning about how materials can be reused instead of ending up in the trash. This is our first step in a longer journey to explore projects that deal with waste, sustainability, and smart resource use. You don’t need to be an expert, just bring your interest in sustainability, design, or building stuff, and we’ll figure it out together! Sign-Up Now Using the Link: https://lnkd.in/e6cfNPgK

Founded by Amir Fard and Ali Ghobadzadeh, CityOptima is a web-based platform created to track, model, and optimize municipal asset management to enhance urban and rural planning in Canada and beyond. Amir and Ali brought their idea to the Hack the World: Analyze & Design hackathon hosted by the Innovation Boost Zone and developed a fully functioning prototype to tackle a global challenge through the lens of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more about CityOptima and the team’s experience with Hack the World by visiting our website: https://lnkd.in/g_4CJhCf. And be sure to stay tuned for more spotlights on Hack the World: Analyze & Design teams from IBZ!

Intrigued by the idea of applying chemistry to the spirits industry, Toronto Metropolitan University graduate David Raveenthrarajan and his supervisor Professor Marc Adler recognized that conventional whisky maturation—which traditionally takes around three years—could be dramatically accelerated. Leveraging scientific insights from Adler’s lab and TMU’s Innovation Boost Zone, Raveenthrarajan and Adler co-founded VI SIX. Through participation in Lab2Market, a nationwide program that helps STEM students turn their passions into viable ventures, they launched several pilot programs with partner distilleries and struck a deal with Elora Distilling Company to produce both whisky and rum products. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g4xbqRH8 #torontostartups #Startups #toronto #canada #researchcommercialization Ontario Research and Commercialization Alliance (ORCA)

Picnic season is officially on 🧺🍕 Join IBZ for a laid-back afternoon of sunshine, snacks, and startup bonding at Riverdale Park on Thursday, July 3, from 2 to 4 PM! This is your chance to connect outside the workspace, meet new people, and build community in a casual, low-pressure setting. We’ll have: • Pizza and refreshments • Casual team sports like frisbee, soccer, and badminton • Optional team-building games and icebreakers • Plenty of space to sit, chat, and unwind Bring your blanket, bring your team, and let’s hang out! Sign up for free ✨ https://lu.ma/kydq1p2s

🚀 MedTech founders, researchers, clinicians, and innovators! We've got two essential workshops coming up to help you navigate regulatory and quality pathways with confidence. Whether you're building your first device or scaling to market, these sessions are designed to equip you with the fundamentals that matter most. 🎯 What you’ll learn across both sessions: ✅ How FDA & Health Canada regulatory pathways differ and how to align your strategy ✅ Risk classification for devices and SaMD ✅ The pros and cons of MDSAP certification ✅ How to prepare for pre-submission meetings ✅ What ISO 13485 is and how to implement a QMS early ✅ Why quality is a continuous process and not a checkbox 🧠 Both workshops are led by Daniella Marx, PhD, a Regulatory Affairs & Quality Management Consultant with deep experience guiding medtech teams through FDA, Health Canada, and ISO compliance. Event Details 🔹 MedTech Regulatory Strategy: Navigating Canada & US Markets 📅 June 25, 2025 ⏰ 1:30–3:00 PM EST 🔗 Register here: https://lu.ma/px3qunh1 🔹 Build a Solid Foundation: The Critical Role of ISO 13485 for MedTech Startups 📅 July 8, 2025 ⏰ 1:30–3:00 PM EST 🔗 Register here: https://lu.ma/7uxp9tnh 💡 These sessions are ideal for anyone working on a solution — or supporting medtech innovation — who needs a clear grasp of regulatory and quality essentials to advance their work. 📢 Spread the word and register now. Let’s build smarter, safer health tech together.

Think you’ve got what it takes to revolutionize the airport experience? Applications are now open for the Runway Ready Innovation Challenge, powered by Zone Learning, in partnership with Dexterra Group and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)! We’re inviting Canadian startups and innovators with early-stage tech-driven ideas to tackle a real-world challenge—using flight and traffic data to help create cleaner, smarter, and more efficient airport environments for travellers from around the world. What’s in it for you? 👉 $5,000 grants for up to 3 teams to build a proof of concept 👉$25,000 grand prize for the winning solution + an opportunity to pilot your research at Toronto Pearson International Airport Applications are open from June 1 - July 25, 2025. Ready for takeoff? Apply now at torontomu.ca/runwayready ✈️