A student startup that helps educate children and their families about health and medicine when they’re in the emergency room took home the top prize at Forge business incubator’s Startup Survivor pitch competition.
TechMedic, founded by Global Health PhD student Shania Bhopa, claimed the $15,000 first prize at the Startup Survivor competition Thursday, Oct. 5 in CIBC Hall in the McMaster University Student Centre, marking the culmination of a months-long journey for the finalists.
TechMedic
TechMedic is a patient-physician tool to streamline emergency room bedside education to reduce touchpoint time.
Bhopa’s interactive app includes animations to promote health literacy amongst children and their families in hospital settings. Current solutions include handouts, brochures and a physicians verbal storytelling ability to educate patients.
TechMedic aims to reduce wait times, enhance patient experience, and increase the number of patients that are seen on shift.
From left: TechMedic founder Shania Bhopa won the $15,000 top prize in Startup Survivor, Ibrahim Iftikhar from CrowdVision came in third, and Mann Parikh from Nerview finished in second place.
“We are thrilled to see the remarkable achievements of these innovative student startups at The Forge’s Startup Survivor pitch competition,” said Gay Yuyitung, acting director of the Forge.
“Tonight, TechMedic, ChloroGrow, Cloak The Poke, CrowdVision and NerView Surgical have showcased their dedication and talent, exemplifying the spirit of entrepreneurship.”
“At The Forge, we believe in their potential to make a significant impact, and we look forward to supporting them on their entrepreneurial journey.”
Here’s a look at the other finalists:
Second place: NerView Surgical
Founder: Mann Parikh
Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization, 2025
NerView Surgical is developing a patent-pending, non-invasive, optical system with the goal of revolutionizing how surgeons identify and protect nerves during surgeries. Using computer vision with polarized light, it highlights nerves in real time for surgeons, improving safety and efficiency. “With NerView, surgeons can reduce the incidence of nerve injuries, resulting in better patient outcomes and improved quality of life.”
Third place: CrowdVision
Founder: Ibrahim Iftikhar
Integrated Biomedical Engineering (Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship Stream), 2025.
CrowdVision’s app provides personalized and enhanced event videos, allowing viewers to pick which moments they want to see and how they want them to look. If you miss a highlight or had blurry footage, “Our custom AI model improves your clips and uses crowdsourcing to ensure you won’t miss any moment.”
Judges pay close attention to the finalists’ five-minute pitches, which are a culmination of months of work, mentorship and business development.
People’s choice winner: Cloak The Poke
Founders: Julia Ungureanu, Fatima Gafoor, Rabbea Sidhu, Warisha Rehman
Integrated Biomedical Engineering (Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship Stream), 2024
Cloak The Poke is a novel and friendly solution for clinicians and parents of children who fear needles. This non-medical device transforms the physical appearance of the needle into a fun and friendly companion. Cloak the Poke’s mission “is to change vaccinations into a comfortable experience through innovative toys that securely clip onto vaccine syringes” so children can fearlessly face vaccinations with confidence and ease.
The five startups that made it to the Startup Survivor finals.
ChloroGrow
Founder: Jiayi Deng, MSc eHealth, 2022
ChloroGrow is revolutionizing the houseplant repotting process. Presenting the first of its kind, commercial expandable plant pot that expands to accommodate large, fast-growing plants. ChloroGrow’s expandable plant pot allows users the luxury of having a seamless plant repotting experience without the excessive labour, time, and mess associated with traditional plant repotting.