Praxis SCI Accelerator Program
Accelerate your innovation with targeted mentorship, PLEX engagement, research validation, and commercialization support designed to bring transformative SCI solutions closer to market.
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Program Description
Praxis Spinal Cord Institute is proud to launch SCI Accelerator program 2026, a 6-month, virtual acceleration program for health start-ups developing solutions that improve care, advance cure-related innovations, and enhance quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Based in Vancouver, Canada, this program is designed for prototype and post-prototype companies ready to de-risk quickly. Participants gain access to Praxis’ expertise in SCI research, knowledge translation, commercialization, and direct engagement with people with lived experience (PLEX). You’ll also received specialized coaching in regulatory and reimbursement pathways, plus support to sharpen market validation, refine your sales strategy, and strengthen your go-to-market plan.
Over six months, our hand-picked mentors and Praxis innovation team will work closely with you to prepare for pitching to Canadian and US buyers, including hospital systems, investors, and other vendors—through tailored 1:1 matchmaking and a culminating Demo Day.
Praxis Spinal Cord Institute’s SCI Accelerator is made possible through support from the Government of Canada through the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) program.
→ Download the Program one-pager (pdf)
→ Meet the Praxis Innovation Team
4 – 6
Start-ups
Up to $30K
Non-Diluted Support
160 – 200+ Hours
Hours of 1:1 Mentorship
Meet the Mentors
Meet the hand-picked experts that make up the team of SCI Accelerate mentors.
Learn More about Praxis SCI Accelerator
“Praxis SCI Accelerate has done a great job tailoring their programming to our business needs and connecting us with a fantastic PLEX and research team that is helping accelerate the evaluation of our technology for the different SCI conditions. we look forward to having the technology tested soon.”
— Lukas-Karim Merhi, CEO of BioInteractive Technologies, SCI Accelerate 2020 Cohort
Hear from the Praxis SCI Accelerator inaugural 2020 cohort
as they reflect on their experiences with the program in the Cohort Testimonials video.
Program Highlights
- Program runs from September 2026 to March 2027 (6 months).
- Virtual program based in Vancouver, BC.
- Up to $30K (CAD) in non-dilutive support (will be provided in two tranches to all entry companies).
- Cohort of maximum six companies accepted.
- Companies with a clear medical application to SCI care- or cure-related treatments required, but not limited to only SCI.
Key Dates
Applications Open: June 1, 2026
Applications Closed: July 8, 2026
Interviews: July 2026 – August 2026
Notice of Decision: August 2026
Program Runs: September 2026 to March 2027
Criteria
Our criteria for accepting start-ups/projects for this program includes:
- Demonstrated application that impacts SCI outcomes (functional mobility, neuro-restoration, secondary complications (i.e bladder and bowel complications, neuropathic pain, pressure injuries) or overall quality of life)
- MVP completed, TRL 7 (TRL 5+ considered)
- 1 minimum full-time founder
- Existing traction or target to reach traction in the next 12 months (e.g. planned pilots or sales pipeline)
- Business plan which includes the following:
- Intended impact on SCI patients (# patients served, type of impact, significance of impact)
- Description of the solution
- Competitor analysis (what is unique about your solution)
- Financial statement and sales forecast
- Marketing/customer acquisition strategy
- Exit strategy
- Product roadmap
- Capital plan and raise
- Company team
Application & Selection Process
- Applications for this year close on July 8, 2026 and finalists will be notified by August 2026 of their selection.
- 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 innovation@praxisinstitute.org. Should you have any issues uploading the correct files, you may attach your files and send directly to innovation@praxisinstitute.org, as long as the files follow the size limits and are not provided as links (except for the video).
Applications will be reviewed by a(n):
- SCI researcher
- Clinical lead
- Persons with Lived Experience (PLEX) and expertise in the SCI PLEX market
- Commercial lead (entrepreneur with a track record of successful company scaling)
- Network of mentor-advisors with an experience in healthcare investments.
Shortlisted applications will participate in a 1-hour interview with our panel of experts and given scheduling, this interview may occur in two parts to make sure all members of our panel have reviewed your program.
Application Disclosure
If you apply to the Praxis SCI Accelerate Program, we will collect personal information about you, information relating to your company, and why you are applying for the program. We use this information for the purposes of processing and responding to your application, including assessing the suitability of your company for acceptance into the program. If you provide us with personal information about any other individual (such as your co-founder(s) or partner(s)), you confirm that you have obtained the consent of such individual(s) prior to providing any personal information to us.
If you have any questions about our privacy policy, the personal information we hold on you, or you would like to exercise one of your privacy rights, please do not hesitate to contact us at innovation@praxisinstitute.org.
For general questions pertaining to the Praxis SCI Accelerator, please email innovation@praxisinstitute.org.
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