LimbRise, a mobility aid for knee injuries from the University of Prince Edward Island, is the winner of the Early-Stage Summer Sprint National Final. The team will represent Canada at the Early-Stage competition final at the Enactus World Cup, in São Paulo, Brazil this November.
LimbRise, co-founded by Noor Mazhar and Richard Hetherington, impressed judges during their final pitch, presenting compelling research and development behind a “third-leg” mobility device designed to speed up recovery from knee injuries and eliminate the need for traditional crutches. Supported by clinical testing, consultations from physiotherapists and orthopedists, and a clear fundraising strategy, LimbRise demonstrated a clear path to market over the next couple of years.
Five finalists competed in the final round with Runner-up recognition going to:
Runner-Up: ClinIQ, University of British Columbia – Vancouver – A healthcare platform designed to accelerate patient triage while reducing the administrative load on physicians by integrating with existing clinic tools.
Second Runner-Up: ForeSite, SAIT – Tech-driven solution to help predict and manage environmental risk, combining established science with modern data tools on a clear path from prototype to scale.
Over the six-week sprint, 65 ventures from 27 Canadian postsecondary schools participated in weekly workshops to support the development of their impact-driven ventures, from ideation to investment-ready pitches.
“I’ve always wanted to build a social venture but didn’t know how to transform my idea into something tangible. The Early-Stage Summer Sprint helped me clarify my vision, identify critical gaps in my business model, and develop a realistic roadmap for moving forward. I left the program with far more confidence in both my venture and my ability to build it,” commented Ronardy Abellard, Novere, McGill University.
We extend our thanks to mentors, guest speakers, and final-round judges for their commitment to supporting these student-led ventures. Special thanks to the John Dobson Foundation for providing the funding support for LimbRise to showcase Canadian student innovation on the global stage at the Enactus World Cup.
Congratulations to all the teams for their commitment throughout the summer to build these entrepreneurial ventures. We can’t wait to see how these ventures evolve.
