Registration is now open
The 2024 CHEO Bears’ Den was a roaring success, with the winning pitch securing a $25,000 investment and we are back again this year.
Date: November 28, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Desmarais Hall, University of Ottawa
Reserve your spot today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of health care.
The Bears’ Den is an opportunity for innovators and start-ups to:
- pitch their health care innovations to an audience of industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem collaborators,
- discuss opportunities to collaborate and partner, and
- network with like-minded individuals within the entrepreneurial, healthcare, and business sectors.
Interested in pitching? Applications are open from September 19 to October 24
2024 Bears’ Den Winner:
Leynek Medical’s Renecare Platform
Selected by the judges, Leynek Medical ReneCare Platform was the winner of the 2024 CHEO Bears’ Den. ReneCare supports cancer patients, caregivers, and health care providers by integrating into clinical workflows and offering between-appointment care. Through a user-friendly app, patients can track symptoms, mood, and journal entries, with access to symptom-specific medical guidance. Hospitals benefit from enhanced patient monitoring, allowing for proactive care and improved patient engagement, ultimately fostering better outcomes in the cancer journey.
“Being part of the CHEO Bears’ Den event has been phenomenal,” said William Jones, Leynek Medical, CEO. “From being coached by industry leaders, connecting with investors, to winning $25,000 towards the acceleration of my company, I can now get the technology in front of those who need it the most.”
2024 Bears’ Den Fan Favourite:
AIhearu
Everyone attending the CHEO Bears’ Den, both in-person at the uOttawa Desmarais Hall and online, showed tremendous support for all four companies pitching, but only one was named the Fan Favourite. AIHearu won over the crowd with their voice recognition software tailored for individuals with speech impairments. The software learns users’ unique speech patterns, enabling clearer communication by reproducing their intended words. Initially created by two technologists for their sibling with cerebral palsy, AIHearu is now being expanded for broader accessibility.
2024 Participating Companies:
Dicerra Safety Reporting Platform
Dicerra’s safety reporting platform emphasizes anonymity, non-punitive measures, and de-siloed data. Drawing from aviation’s safe reporting culture, Dicerra is designed to engage clinicians conveniently and anonymously while aggregating data across hospitals. It provides insights into deficiencies, root causes, preventive actions, and system improvements, representing a forward thinking approach to safety reporting.
miRoncol
miRoncol offers a blood-based test that detects over 12 cancer types using PCR and miRNA technology. This non invasive test is designed for early cancer detection, providing high accuracy, sensitivity, and scalability at an affordable price. Utilizing miRNA biomarkers—a Nobel-recognized discovery—miRoncol presents a promising advancement in accessible cancer screening.
Unlocking innovation’s potential to improve health and health care
“Health care is often seen as a risk-averse industry, which can make it challenging to bring innovative technologies to market. At the CHEO Research Institute, we are committed to changing that mindset and believe that by bringing the right people together, we can play a vital role in sparking health innovation that makes a real impact,” Dr. Jason Berman, CEO and Scientific Director, CHEO Research Institute, Vice-President Research, CHEO.
“Core Innovation brings together, health care, research and business to enable us to collaboratively build the future of Canadian health-tech and support high paying jobs and keep entrepreneurs in Canada,” said Dr. Matthew Bromwich, Director, Core Innovation
2022 Bears’ Den Pitch Companies:
The following companies participated in the 2022 CHEO Bears’ Den, pitching their innovations to a panel of industry leaders. HyliDx was the highest scoring start-up and received $10,000 of in-kind support from the CHEO Research Institute for research and product validation work.