Prosthetic innovation gets a funding boost

Vessl Prosthetics announced it had secured an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round to support its mission of helping people with amputated limbs. Co-founded by Sydney Robinson and Oleksiy Zaik, Vessl Prosthetics is a medtech startup focused on solving the issue of poor prosthetic socket fit. 

The startup has worked closely with amputees and prosthetists to identify gaps in the market. The investment will help Vessl scale production of its Isoform™ prosthetic system to market, and expand its reach to more amputees and prosthetists across the U.S.

“This fundraise lets us ramp up our scale and move onto things like hiring, buying, expanding operations and marketing. The fundraise ultimately brings us to market to expand our manufacturing team, sales team and everything we need to do for that,” said Robinson.

Supporting mental health beyond Blue Monday

January can be a tough month for mental health, and one local startup is stepping up to offer support. Through innovative tools and community-driven initiatives, Layla Care is making it easier for people to navigate mental health challenges year-round. Its digital platform provides personalized mental wellness plans, connecting users with therapists, support groups, and mindfulness exercises to combat seasonal and long-term struggles with mental health.

“Practically speaking, routine, connection and activity all contribute to one’s well-being and these things tend to be more difficult to engage in during the winter,” said Charan Litt, VP of Operations at Layla Care. “Looking for help can be exhausting. We want to ensure people find the right care when they are ready.”

With support from Communitech programs, Layla Care has been able to refine its go-to-market strategy and connect with health-tech-focused investors. The company has also tapped into the Communitech network to collaborate with other startups and mental health professionals, ensuring their platform is backed by the latest research and user insights. 

Mentoring, magic, and meat processing: A chat with Dan Silivestru and Heather Galt

Dan Silivestru, CEO of Chocolate Soup, and Heather Galt, Chief Customer Officer of P&P Optica join us on the Tech About Town podcast for a conversation on everything from tacos to tech, with plenty of surprises along the way.

Dan shares the origins of Chocolate Soup, a startup that helps companies deliver meaningful employee recognition to their teams and its impact on workplace culture and retention. Heather provides insights into P&P Optica's cutting-edge use of AI and hyperspectral imaging to revolutionize the food processing industry. Both guests reflect on their roles as Communitech growth coaches, highlighting the importance of mentorship and community in the startup world.

Uvaro scales up with Lighthouse Labs acquisition

Uvaro, a career transformation company based in Waterloo, announced it acquired Lighthouse Labs to help make the path to a tech career easier. Uvaro focuses on closing the digital skills gap. This acquisition expands Uvaro’s reach, providing even more opportunities for people looking to break into tech. 

Founded in 2013, Lighthouse Labs has trained more than 40,000 students through its full-time and part-time programs in cybersecurity, data science, data analytics, and web development. The company says it has an 80 per cent job placement rate.

Uvaro says the acquisition will allow it to reach a broader range of Canadians, including underrepresented groups, mature workers, and others who may feel left behind in today’s tech-driven job market.

“The last few years we’ve seen so much exciting stuff with regards to workforce development,” said Joseph Fung, co-founder and CEO of Uvaro. “I hope we can continue that momentum.”

Next-gen founders step into the spotlight

The energy was high as early-stage founders pitched their startups at the Communitech Startup Bootcamp Showcase, sponsored by the City of Kitchener. Investors, industry leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs gathered to watch the next wave of innovators share their visions for the future. 

The event highlighted startups tackling a range of industries, from AI-powered automation to sustainable consumer products, reinforcing the diverse talent emerging in the Canadian tech scene.

The City of Kitchener announced an annual $500,000 investment in downtown innovation through a renewed funding partnership with Communitech last April. The Make It Kitchener program supports startups in all areas of their business journey with a portion of funding dedicated to supporting underrepresented groups and with a focus on in-person programming. 

“This event is a testament to the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines Kitchener,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “Since 1999, Kitchener has had a longstanding partnership with Communitech, championing our local tech ecosystem.”

Founders first: A conversation with Ruth Casselman and Jennifer Gruber

On a very special episode of Tech About Town, we spoke with two powerhouse leaders in Waterloo Region's tech ecosystem: ⁠Ruth Casselman⁠, CEO of the Accelerator Center, and ⁠Jennifer Gruber⁠, Interim CEO of Communitech.

They shared insights on the challenges and opportunities around supporting founders, encouraging collaboration, and building a community in one of Canada’s top innovation hubs. Jenn also shared her love for quarterly fiscal planning, which is something only a true finance expert would say.

VueReal raises US$40.5M to push microLED innovation forward

Waterloo’s VueReal secured a massive US$40.5-million Series C round, setting the stage for further advancements in microLED display technology. VueReal’s patented process is used in the development of high-resolution, energy-efficient displays with applications ranging from consumer electronics to automotive and medical imaging. The company’s latest funding helps scale production and accelerate its market expansion efforts.

“This is a pretty exciting time for us,” said Rick Coccimiglio, CFO at VueReal. “This funding is really going to help us scale our microLED production.”

Other news


This edition of the Roundup was compiled by the Communitech News Team. Sign up to receive the Roundup each month by visiting communitech.ca/technews and scrolling to the bottom of the page.