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It's September, and we’re here to keep your momentum strong with inspiring events, valuable resources and exciting new opportunities.

And because we know every founder needs a good laugh along the way...

Why did the founder bring a sweater to their pitch meeting this September?

Because the VC market was giving them the cold shoulder.

Explore resources, connect with our innovation community, and take your next step forward by visiting our website.

Startup Showcase

Underserved women and caregivers are too often dismissed or rushed through appointments, without the language or tools to advocate for themselves when it matters most. This same time pressure strains clinics too, where overwhelmed staff and unprepared patients turn short visits into extended, costly ones.

Med Melanin’s platform, Mela, closes that gap through AI-powered symptom tracking and nurse-supported coaching that prepares patients to speak up and be heard, while giving clinics the context they need to make every visit count. This Brampton-based startup recently launched their first disorder-specific advocacy program focused on maternal hypertension, helping pregnant and postpartum patients walk into appointments informed and confident.

This milestone follows our recognition as Early Stage Innovator at Startupfest, affirming our mission to make self-advocacy a skill every woman has access to, not just those the system was built for. 

Are you a Brampton-based tech startup with a story to share?

Click here to apply to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Brampton Innovation Newsletter.

District Wins

Celebrating HealthTech Innovation at the BVZ Health Showcase

Ten healthcare startups from the BVZ Launch Cohort pitched at the TMU School of Medicine during the BVZ Health Innovation Showcase, supported by ecosystem leaders and Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh.

Brampton’s tech momentum was also featured on CP24, where BVZ Senior Director Zied Etleb and LBX Bio Founder Mussab Tauseef highlighted the district's growth and startup support. Check it out

Top 5 Finalists Advancing to BVX 2026 (Competing for $70k):

• Athel AI (Alex Arrazaghi): AI clinical intelligence for specialty medicine
• NewGen Health (Mazhar Shahen): Prenatal & chronic disease monitoring devices
• DIA Labs Canada (Sahil M.): Point-of-care asthma biomarker monitoring
• LOCVM (Angélique Bernabé, Ph.D.): Physician-to-clinic matching platform
• LBx Bio (Mussab Tauseef): Point-of-care liquid biopsy for cancer detection

Catch these founders on the main stage at Brampton Venture Expo!

Celebrating Black Innovation: Nobellum Summit 2026 Recap

The Brampton Innovation District was proud to sponsor and serve as a pitch judge at the inaugural Nobellum Summit on August 14 at The Globe and Mail Centre, celebrating expanded capital access for Black STEMM entrepreneurs.

Key highlights:

• Pitch & Milestones: The evening featured the $20,000 Founder Pitch & Expo, the launch of Canada’s first STEM Facility Database, and the announcement of the Top 10 Melamoon finalists competing for $200,000 in non-dilutive funding this October.

• Local Spotlight: A special congratulations to Brampton-based founder Faith Oloruntoba, founder of Cotriply, on being recognized in the Nobellum Growth Stream 2026 Cohort!

We congratulate Nobellum and all participating founders on a successful event and look forward to their continued impact across the ecosystem.

Driving Canada's Aerospace Future: Highlights from Launch Canada

Invest Brampton and the Brampton Innovation District recently joined industry leaders, researchers, and student rocketry teams at Launch Canada 2026 in Timmins, Ontario.

Key Highlights:



• Funding Boost for Youth: Launch Canada secured $1.2M from the Department of National Defence (IDEaS) to scale up hands-on training for student aerospace programs.

• Industry Collaboration: Engaged aerospace and defense stakeholders to build regional partnerships and promote Brampton’s advanced manufacturing sector.

• Student Innovation: Connected with nationwide university teams and local Brampton talent like the Turner Fenton Rocketry Association.

• Rocket Launches: Watched student-designed rockets take flight on the launch pad after months of engineering and testing. Check out the launch.

These connections reinforce Brampton’s role as an emerging hub for aerospace talent, innovation, and industry growth.

District Updates

Shaping Brampton's AI Future: Summer Partner Connect

On August 11, leaders from across the Brampton Innovation District gathered to align on regional technology, AI adoption, and founder support.

Key takeaways from the session:

• Coordinated Founder Support: Ecosystem partners, including BVZ, BHive, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, BEC, Altitude Accelerator, Sheridan Generator, and Algoma who shared upcoming programs spanning AI upskilling, cyber security, and investor readiness.

• Municipal AI Leadership: The City of Brampton highlighted its newly launched AI Proof of Concept (POC) Program, piloting real-world AI applications focused on security, efficiency, and digital sovereignty.

Local tech founders will soon have another opportunity to test and deploy real-world AI solutions directly within the city. Learn more and register for the AI Proof of Concept (POC) Program.

Together, our ecosystem continues to build Brampton into a premier hub for technology and entrepreneurship.

Brampton Venture Expo (BVX) 2026: Experience the Keynotes & Innovation Zone

Brampton’s flagship tech gathering returns to The Rose Theatre on Thursday, September 10 (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM)

Powered by the Brampton Innovation District and organized by Brampton Venture Zone by TMU (BVZ), BVX 2026 brings together startups, investors and industry leaders across HealthTech, Robotics & AI and Cybersecurity for keynotes, live pitches and networking.

• This year, don't miss the BVX Innovation Zone, featuring practical workshops designed to scale your business which includes BDC’s Financing Your Growth session, SR&ED tax credit guides and federal procurement insights.

Explore the Full Innovation Zone Line Up

Road to Summit Edge Pitch Competition at BVX 2026

Altitude Accelerator has partnered with Brampton Venture Zone for the Road to Summit Edge Pitch Competition, taking place on the Main Stage at BVX on September 10 (2:30 PM - 3:30 PM)

Are you a founder with an innovative, tech-driven solution who is commercial-ready and has under $250K in lifetime revenue?

Compete for a fast pass into the Summit Edge Investor Readiness Cohort, featuring hands-on workshops, pitch rehearsals and the chance to pitch for up to $300,000 in funding to scale your business.

Navigating AI Tools, Threats & the Future of Work at BVX 2026

Join us at the Brampton Venture Expo on September 10 for an interactive session hosted in partnership with Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst. Designed for founders, SMEs, students and leaders, this hub offers practical strategies to adopt AI safely and prepare for the evolving workforce.

Guided Discussion Topics:

• Enterprise AI & Data Security: Safe integration of tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, data privacy and governance (Lester Chng, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst).

• AI Deception & Threat Detection: Defending against deepfakes, AI phishing and cognitive manipulation (Sumona Banerji, MindShield).

• AI Talent & Workforce Skills: Navigating prompt engineering, AI literacy and emerging career paths (Katrina Lawrence, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst & Cohere Labs).

EDGE Ecosystem Venture Experience Program

Work with Talented Sheridan Students

Have a project that needs fresh ideas or extra hands? Sheridan Edge Ecosystem Venture Experience Program is inviting entrepreneurs and small businesses to partner with skilled post‑secondary students for up to 190 hours of free support.

Students work on real business challenges, from marketing and research to operations and strategy, under your guidance. You get meaningful progress on a defined project and students gain hands‑on experience.

Submit your project idea before September 06, 2026 and help shape the next generation of talent.

Have questions or want to learn more? Reach out to the Sheridan Edge team today!

Upcoming Events/Programming

Ready to Scale? Join the Startup Canada Tour & Apply to Pitch!

The Startup Canada Tour is coming to Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre on October 29, 2026!

Join fellow founders, experts and industry leaders for a full day of high-impact workshops, keynotes and networking designed to help you scale through today’s business challenges.

Ready to showcase your startup? If you’re generating revenue and looking to export internationally, don't miss out on the Startup Global National Pitch Competition.

When you sign up, select the Startup Pass + Pitch Application to get full-day event access (lunch included) plus your chance to pitch live to expert judges!

Brampton SecOps Hackathon 2026

Protect Canada's Critical Infrastructure

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is bringing together advanced undergrads, postgrads, and recent graduates (ages 20–26) with technical experience for the Brampton SecOps Hackathon 2026.

Taking place in person from September 25–27 in Downtown Brampton, this high-stakes event challenges teams to build real-world cybersecurity solutions for Canada’s most vital supply chains.

• The Challenge: Over three dynamic days, participants will collaborate alongside industry experts and mentors to tackle complex security threats facing essential sectors like agri-food and multimodal logistics.

• Why Join: Showcase your security skills, gain hands-on experience and network with top industry leaders while protecting critical infrastructure.

Applications close on September 20th. Apply now to secure your spot!

 New This Fall: Secure AI with Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is launching two brand-new Secure AI courses this fall to help leaders, decision-makers and technical professionals navigate AI adoption with confidence.

Through expert-led learning, real-world case studies and practical frameworks, participants will gain actionable strategies for AI governance, risk management and responsible implementation.

Neither course is a prerequisite for the other, enroll in the track that best aligns with your goals, or complete both for a comprehensive experience.

Registrations close September 13th

Cyber for Startups: Secure Your Product & Scale with Confidence

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is hosting a free, full-day program on October 20, 2026 (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM) at Brampton City Hall to help local tech startups embed cybersecurity into their core operations.

Designed for early- to mid-stage startups preparing for enterprise growth, participants will engage in interactive workshops and work with expert mentors to secure their products, reduce risk, and build confident go-to-market strategies.

Space is limited and applications close on October 10th.

Apply now to secure your spot

Perks and Opportunities

Dealroom: Claim Your Profile and Get Discovered

Looking to boost your startup's visibility and attract capital? The City of Brampton has launched an open-access ecosystem platform powered by Dealroom, a real-time data platform connecting local founders, investors and ecosystem partners.


Whether you are seeking seed funding or preparing to scale, having an active profile ensures global investors, corporates and collaborators can find you.

Brampton-Based Startups: Claim or Create Your Dealroom Profile Today to showcase your venture and get discovered.

Brampton Startups: Founders Helping Founders

Brampton Startups is a founder-led community based in the City of Brampton. It's not an incubator, accelerator or program; it's founders helping founders build real Canadian technology and impactful companies.

Become a member and join us at the BHive, where members meet every week in the heart of the Brampton Innovation District.

Learn More

Want to Grow Your Startup? BReady is Here!

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Our Partners

Get Connected with the Team

Tara Hunter



Manager, Innovation & Technology

Suvid Ajmera

Coordinator, Innovation & Technology

Uche Okugo

Coordinator, Innovation & Technology

Manav Sidhu

Programmer, Innovation & Technology

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