Praxis SCI Incubate Program

A four-month program geared towards prototype stage projects with an innovation to transform the lives of people living with SCI. The program provides targeted persons with lived experience (PLEX) and research validation and mentorship, as well as access to our commercialization network. Applications Now Open!

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Commercialization  |  Praxis Incubate 2024 Program

Program Description

Praxis SCI Incubate is a four month program designed for early-stage innovation projects that address care- and cure-related treatments and quality of life for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

The virtual program, based in Vancouver, Canada, is designed for prototype stage ventures to scale their innovations rapidly. SCI Incubate builds targeted support into the design and prototyping process through weekly mentorship from our in-house persons with lived experience (PLEX), research and commercialization experts. Through the 4 months program, running from April to July 2024, our world-leading team will work closely with you to validate and scale your technology to help shorten your time to market. Praxis may contribute up to $20K CAD in targeted funding to assist you with key objectives and deliverables set during the program, pending Praxis receiving funding for these purposes.

SCI Incubate provides connections to Praxis’ global network of leading SCI researchers, experienced MedTech entrepreneurs, investment firms to help build your international market strategy across developing and developed markets.

For general questions pertaining to the Praxis SCI Incubate Program, please email SCI_Incubate@praxisinstitute.org

The Praxis Spinal Cord Institute’s SCI Incubate program is made possible through support from the Government of Canada.

→ Download program one-pager (pdf)

→ Meet the Praxis Commercialization Team

Meet The Mentors

Meet the hand-picked experts that make up the team of SCI Accelerate mentors.

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Program Highlights

  • Program runs from April to July 2024 (4 months)
  • Requires 1 day/week mandatory commitment
  • Virtual program, based in Vancouver, BC
  • Up to $20K CAD per research project in targeted support, pending Praxis receiving funding for these purposes
  • Cohort of maximum five research projects accepted in 2023
  • Early stage ventures with a clear medical application to SCI care- or cure-related treatments required

Key Dates

Application open: December 7, 2023
Final Deadline to apply: February 28, 2024 at 11:59 PT
Interviews: March 5 to March 18, 2024 
Program runs: April 8, 2024 to July 26, 2024
A cohort of a maximum of five research projects will be accepted in 2024

Submission Requirements

  • Presentation/pitch of product (5-10 slide overview of product and progress to date)
  • Video describing the product (2 min+), informal video of founder describing product is sufficient
  • Business Plan (5-10 page) submitted, including the following:
    • Intended impact on people with SCI (number of people with SCI served, type of impact, significance of impact)
    • Overall market of product
    • Description of product/service
    • Competitor analysis (what is unique about the product)
    • Brief description on financials/funding to date and plans to raise future funding
    • Next steps for project, including funding, product development and research goals
    • Company team (full-time and part-time members, advisors)

Application Process

All applications will need to be submitted using the survey application link. All files (business plans and pitches) will need to be under 15MB and uploaded on the site. Video links (with secure YouTube links) should be provided. Should you have any concerns regarding the receipt of your application, please email SCI_Incubate@praxisinstitute.org. Should you have any issues uploading the correct files, you may attach your files and send directly to SCI_Incubate@praxisinstitute.org, as long as the files follow the size limits and are not provided as links (except for the video).

Application review and selection process:

Applications will be reviewed by an expert panel, which includes: an individual with lived experience of SCI, the Praxis Research team, and seasoned healthcare commercialization mentors.

Shortlisted applicants will take part in a one-hour interview with our panel of experts. Semi-finalist applicants will then move on a 2nd round of interviews.

The five selected finalists will be informed by the date indicated 

The Praxis Spinal Cord Institute’s SCI Incubate program is made possible through support from the Government of Canada.

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