From paying for a purchase with the palm of your hand to cutting-edge rehabilitation tech used in the home, McMaster entrepreneurs are making an impact in the world. 

Find out about these innovations and more at the 2nd annual Made at Mac celebration, where some of McMaster’s brightest entrepreneurs, mentors and investors will showcase startups and share insights.  

Register here for the event on Monday, March 31 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

“This year’s event is another opportunity for our campus community and external partners to discover McMaster’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says Leyla Soleymani, associate vice-president, Research (Commercialization & Entrepreneurship)  

“It’s exciting to see our researchers build companies to move their discoveries out of the lab and into the world.” 

The event kicks off with a showcase of startups and a welcome from Soleymani and Sean Van Koughnett, associate vice-president, Students.  

Provost and vice-president (Academic) Susan Tighe will moderate a panel discussion and then the winners of the latest round of McMaster Student Seed Fund investment will be announced.  

McMaster is committed to creating a supportive environment “where entrepreneurship is a path that is available to everybody,” says Van Koughnett, who is also special advisor to the president on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  

“By working together, we are driving innovation forward and achieving success as a community.”  

Meet the panelists 

• Eric Brown, a professor of biochemistry and biomedical sciences, will share how his company, Kapoose Creek Bio, is using artificial intelligence to revolutionize the discovery of medicines from natural sources. 

• Silvio Rotilli Filho, co-founder of Auper Motorcycles, graduated from McMaster with a PhD in electrical engineering. He was motivated by a childhood injury to create an affordable electric motorcycle that uses intelligent hardware and encryption technology to ensure the bikes are safe, comfortable and secure. 

• McMaster graduate Damian Lamb will share his experience in co-founding Genesys Capital, a firm that invests in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, including McMaster spinoff Fusion Pharmaceuticals. 

• Deena Al-Sammak, a biomedical engineering and health sciences student and co-founder of Power of Play Innovations, has created a child-friendly tool that accurately measures grip and pinch strength in young patients. Her startup won first place in the Forge’s Startup Survivor competition. 

Entrepreneurship showcase 

Attendees can also learn about other Forge success stories at the Made at Mac 2025 showcase: 

• Trst Innovations, which uses biometrics to enable shoppers to pay by scanning a hand 

• Saucy Protein, a tomato basil sauce that packs as much nutritional value as a protein shake 

• Staccato AI, an easy-to-use AI music generator that produces studio-quality music (think of it as Canva meets ChatGPT, but for music) 

• Prova Innovations, smart insoles for non-invasive in-home gait training and neuromuscular rehabilitation (also supported through the McMaster Seed Fund). 

The showcase will also include entrepreneurs supported by the Clinic @ Mac, McMaster’s health innovation hub: 

• NEMU, a medical device for mothers undergoing chemotherapy 

• Kendra, a portable air quality monitor for outdoor use.