H2i Ventures in the News: Oculum, Vrit, Re:Pair Genomics, Bobo App, Toothpod, CELLET Laboratories & Xatoms

Canada’s next generation of health founders are building solutions, landing funding and making waves on global stages. From surgical bioprinters and AI-powered gene therapies to clean water innovation, startups emerging from H2i continue to gain impressive traction. In recent weeks, these ventures have won major pitch competitions, secured strategic investments and earned national recognition for leadership and execution. The stories that follow are not just about early success. They are signals of what happens when bold ideas meet relentless execution in one of the most important sectors of our time…

H2i Startups Awarded Tech@RBC Momentum Grants 

Three rising ventures from U of T’s Health Innovation Hub, Vrit, Re:Pair Genomics and Oculum, were awarded the highly competitive $25,000 Tech@RBC Momentum Grants. These grants are a powerful boost for early-stage startups, providing not only critical non-dilutive funding but also direct access to RBCx mentorship and the U of T Entrepreneurship network, designed to help scale high-impact technologies faster. Vrit is transforming surgical care with a handheld bioprinter that eliminates the need for tissue grafts, while Re:Pair Genomics is using AI to design synthetic DNA promoters in just one day, unlocking a faster, more precise path to gene therapy development. Oculum is equipping eye surgeons with real-time visualization of invisible tissues, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in ophthalmic surgery. On top of their grant wins, both Vrit and Re:Pair Genomics also came out on top at the Desjardins Pitch Contest, cementing their position as ventures to watch. With funding, mentorship, and major validation under their belts, these startups are charging ahead, building the future of health tech at U of T. 

Re:Pair Genomics Lands CABHI Investment to Tackle Neurodegeneration with AI  

Re:Pair Genomics just locked in a strategic investment from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), marking a major leap forward in its mission to transform gene therapy for brain health. Selected as one of only 23 ventures in CABHI’s inaugural Ignite cohort, Re:Pair is building an AI-driven platform that designs compact, brain-targeting DNA promoters in a day, a process that typically takes months. With CABHI’s support, the team now has the funding, validation and access to clinical networks needed to bring its technology closer to patients battling Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Coming off back-to-back wins with the RBC Momentum Grant and Desjardins Pitch Contest, Re:Pair is moving fast, scaling smart and making serious noise in the future of precision neuroscience. 

Powerhouse Women Founders Making Waves in Canadian Tech

Klaudia McDonald, founder of Bobo App, and Vishar Yaghoubiian, founder of Toothpod, have been named to GRIT Magazine’s “Top 10 Founders to Watch” in 2025, a list curated by NEXT Canada to spotlight women-led ventures transforming industries at scale. This recognition is more than just a badge of honor. It is a signal to investors, operators, and tech leaders that these founders are building category-defining companies. Bobo App is reshaping early childhood mental health with a digital-first approach, while Toothpod is pushing boundaries in oral health innovation. Both founders are driving impact in underserved sectors, making their inclusion in this list a sign of the next wave of purpose-driven tech. Klaudia’s momentum does not stop there. She also received the prestigious Woman in Tech Award at Manitoba Tech Week, a celebration of women innovators making bold moves in Canadian tech. With ventures rooted in purpose and clarity of execution, these founders are redefining what tech leadership looks like and setting a new pace for inclusive innovation at scale. 

CELLECT Laboratories Takes Home Two Awards in One Afternoon

CELLECT Laboratories is making serious moves in women’s health innovation, taking home second place at not one but two major competitions in a single day. The team placed second at the 2025 Synapse Life Science Competition, winning $15,000 in cash for their breakthrough in non-invasive, accessible diagnostics that aim to revolutionize how reproductive health is assessed and monitored. That same day, CELLECT also secured second place at FemSTEM, H2i’s pitch event spotlighting top women-led biotech and health ventures. With recognition from both leading accelerators and women-in-tech platforms, CELLECT is proving that its vision for better, more inclusive diagnostic tools is resonating across the health innovation ecosystem. These wins validate the urgent need for disruption in women’s health and position CELLECT as a key player to watch in the next wave of life science breakthroughs. 

Xatoms Wins Big at SXSW with Game-Changing Water Purification Tech

Recent FemSTEM Grand Prize winner Xatoms has taken home top honours in the Innovative World Tech category at this year’s SXSW Pitch competition, one of the most prestigious stages for emerging startups globally. Led by CEO Diana Virgovicova, Xatoms is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence and quantum chemistry to tackle one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: access to clean water. Their win is no small feat. They were selected from hundreds of applicants globally to pitch in the finals at SXSW, and from there, chosen as a winner out of 70 startups across nine categories in the Innovative World Tech category. Xatoms stood out for its groundbreaking approach, real-world impact and global scalability. The SXSW recognition follows a streak of accolades, including top prizes at Startupfest and support from high-profile backers like Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. This latest milestone puts Xatoms on the international map and signals a serious leap forward for Canadian climate and deep tech innovation.