02/12/2025
Ottawa, Ontario — Tuesday December 2, 2025
The 2025 CHEO Bears’ Den brought four visionary Canadian start-ups to the stage as they pitched their health-tech solutions to a panel of judges – highlighting how innovation can help address challenges in health care, while strengthening Canada’s economy.
Presented by the CHEO Research Institute’s Core Innovation program, the CHEO Bears’ Den is an annual event that serves as a showcase for Canadian-made health innovation. But it’s more than an event – it’s a catalyst for connection. By bringing together business, research and health care leaders, CHEO is breaking down silos to help transform ideas into impact.
“Health care is often seen as risk-averse, which can make it challenging to bring innovative technologies to market. But the greatest risk to health care is standing still and continuing to do things the way we always have. At the CHEO Research Institute, we are committed to changing that mindset and fostering an environment where bold, new ideas can thrive,” said Dr. Jason Berman, CEO and Scientific Director, CHEO Research Institute, and Vice-President Research, CHEO
Hyivy wins the 2025 CHEO Bears’ Den
Four founders pitched their solutions to a panel of judges, who brought expertise in health care, venture development, and economic growth. The 2025 CHEO Bears’ Den judges were:
- Jean Ngoie (Chief Clinical Engineering Officer, CHEO)
- Kathleen McGarvey (Venture Development Lead, Tandem Launch)
- Tim Tierney (Councillor, Beacon Hill-Cyrville, City of Ottawa)
- MPP Tyler Allsopp (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade)
The judges selected Hyivy, a smart pelvic health rehabilitation system, as the winner of the 2025 CHEO Bears’ Den for its innovative solution that combines therapeutic hardware with connect software and biosensors to deliver thermal therapy, auto dilation, and real-time monitoring for pelvic pain and dysfunction. As the winner of the CHEO Bears’ Den, Hyivy secured a $25,000 investment.
“The CHEO Bears’ Den is a great validation of the Hyivy health-tech product and will help us on our journey to get it to more women. The whole interconnected ecosystem the CHEO Research Institute has built through Core Innovation is incredible. Being in a room full of all different kinds of people invested in health innovation, and having real discussions on how we can advance the conversation around adoption and deployment of Canadian innovation and technology in health care is really special,” said Rachel Bartholomew, CEO and Founder of Hyivy.
The other companies who pitched in the 2025 CHEO Bears’ Den were:
Neuralign
Neuroscience-based cognitive training programs
Designed to improve reading and learning skills, particularly for individuals with dyslexia. Their platform uses gamified, multi-sensory exercises grounded in neuroplasticity principles to strengthen neural pathways for reading and comprehension. Neuroscience-based cognitive training programs to improve reading and learning skills, especially for individuals with dyslexia.
Modulate
AI-driven, 3D-printed orthopedic devices, primarily custom scoliosis braces.
They use digital twin modeling, finite element simulations, and generative algorithms to design braces optimized for spinal correction, comfort, and growth modulation.
Paperplane Therapeutics
Their VR experiences are clinically validated and tailored for procedures like dental care, MRI preparation, and pediatric treatments, offering non-pharmacological cognitive-behavioral therapy through immersive environments.
Core Innovation: Bridging gaps in Canadian health-tech innovation
Core Innovation, powered by the CHEO Research Institute, helps innovators tackle the daunting task of bringing health-tech solutions from invention to adoption.
“As a surgeon and entrepreneur, I know firsthand the hurdles innovators face when bringing health-tech solutions to life. And when start-up companies typically receive 80% of their investment from American sources, it’s even harder to keep those innovations in Canada. During the Bears’ Den, it was very clear that we all need to work together to support Canadian health innovations and keep them here,” said Dr. Matthew Bromwich, Director of Core Innovation, CHEO Research Institute, and ENT surgeon, CHEO.
To learn more about Core Innovation, including its 2026 Call for Innovation now open, visit coreinnovation.ca.
About the CHEO Research Institute
The CHEO Research Institute is a global centre of excellence in pediatric research that connects talent and technology in pursuit of life-changing research for every child, youth, and family in the CHEO community and beyond. The CHEO Research Institute coordinates the research activities of CHEO and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa. At the CHEO Research Institute, discoveries inspire the best life for every child and youth. For more information, visit cheoresearch.ca.