From urgent healthcare challenges to advancements in agriculture, this year’s student entrepreneurs are redefining what impact can look like in Canada! After a rigorous selection process, we’re thrilled to announce the three finalists advancing to the final stage of the Enactus Canada Student Entrepreneur National Competition.
Selected from over 100 entries, three entrepreneurial ventures stood out, demonstrating exceptional innovation. These entrepreneurs will take the main stage at the 2026 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Montreal, Quebec, May 6-8.
Mandel Diagnostics – Connor Kapahi, University of Waterloo
Every year, 1 in 5 adults over 60 face vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in aging populations. Recognizing the urgency for early detection, Connor Kapahi and his team at Mandel Diagnostics are addressing this challenge with an innovative diagnostic device that empowers optometrists to detect the condition earlier than ever before. By enabling timely, non-invasive intervention, their solution helps preserve patients’ ability to read, drive, and recognize faces, all while reducing healthcare costs by up to $8,000 per patient annually.
Pathoscan – Ethan Done, University of Saskatchewan
For many producers, crop loss doesn’t begin with a visible problem. It starts with unseen pathogens spreading through the fields, often detected only after it’s too late. Nearly 25% of crops are destroyed every year due to plant pathogens, putting livelihoods and local food systems at risk.
Motivated to find a solution, Ethan Done introduced Pathoscan, a portable device that allows producers to detect pathogens directly in their fields in just two hours. In one case, a producer was able to detect a pathogen early enough to treat it, preventing $240,000 in yield losses, ensuring the food made it from the field to the local grocery store and into its community.
Sielo Robotics – Laila Burns, University of Ottawa
After meeting two young wheelchair users searching for greater independence, Laila Burns set out to address a critical gap faced by the 4.5 million people worldwide with upper – and –lower-limb impairments. Through Sielo Robotics, she’s developing affordable, AI-powered robotic arms that mount to power wheelchairs, using computer vision and voice control to help users perform everyday tasks independently. What began as a student project quickly evolved into a mission-driven startup.
These three finalists will present their ventures to a panel of esteemed judges at the Enactus Canada National Exposition, vying for national recognition, invaluable mentorship opportunities, and $16,000 in prize money to fuel the continued growth of their businesses.
We congratulate these entrepreneurs on their remarkable achievements and eagerly anticipate the final round of the competition in Montreal!
