This year marked a significant milestone for the Brock LINC as we celebrated our five-year anniversary—a moment to reflect on our journey, celebrate the progress we’ve made, and look ahead to the future of innovation at Brock.
Innovation is about moving knowledge to create value. That value can take many forms: a groundbreaking scientific discovery, a new product or service, or a tool that improves lives and strengthens communities. At a university, innovation is a broad and collaborative pursuit, drawing together researchers, students, industry, and community partners to bring knowledge to society in transformative ways.
Since its inception, the Brock LINC has been a hub for that kind of transformation. What started as an idea has evolved into a thriving community—one that supports cutting-edge research, nurtures startups, and builds bridges between academia and industry.
This past year was especially momentous. We launched the firstever Brock Innovation Showcase, spotlighting the remarkable work of Brock’s researchers and entrepreneurs. We celebrated the development of five research-based technologies moving toward commercialization, supported nine startups in our LINCubator, and distributed over $125,000 in funding to student entrepreneurs and local SMEs—the largest amount we’ve ever awarded in a single year.
We also proudly introduced the Brock Entrepreneur of the Year and Brock Innovator of the Year awards, honouring excellence in research innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact.
One of the most inspiring trends over these five years has been the growth of entrepreneurial spirit within our community. When I first joined Brock, we were supporting around 50 aspiring entrepreneurs each year. Today, that number has grown closer to 500 annually. These individuals are creating products, services, technologies, and experiences that make a difference.
By making innovation and entrepreneurship more accessible and inclusive, we’ve opened the door for more students, faculty, staff, and community members to explore their ideas and bring them to life.
As our mandate has evolved, so too has our focus. We’ve asked important questions:
How do we support researchers in maximizing the impact of their work? How do we translate discoveries into tools, services, and solutions for real-world challenges? How do we connect researchers with industry and community to co-create a better future?
Our work has become about more than just entrepreneurship— it’s about building the skills, infrastructure, and networks that empower people to learn, experiment, and innovate.
Looking ahead to the next five years, my vision is simple but powerful: to continue building Brock’s innovation ecosystem. We will keep growing our community, expanding our resources, and amplifying the incredible work taking shape across campus. Innovation at Brock will continue to be about providing the platform for bold ideas—moving them from our classrooms, labs, and co-working spaces into the world.
The Brock LINC is here to be a catalyst. We are here to support students, researchers, and entrepreneurs as they imagine, create, and lead. As we look to the future, I’m filled with optimism for what we will build together.
Here’s to the next five years of innovation at Brock.
The Brock LINC is Brock University’s innovation centre & incubator with a focus on connecting Brock research, ideas and technology to the market. We support this in three ways: commercializing research at Brock, developing research and industry partnerships, and supporting a robust culture of entrepreneurship.
Research Commercialization:
We help researchers to commercialize and license their work while protecting their interests and priorities. The team supports Intellectual Property (IP) education, IP evaluation, IP protection, market assessments, research technology development, licensing technology, and more.
15
Research-Industry Partnerships:
1
25
10 28%
$2.2 new patent filed million in research partnership revenue patent families research partnerships research invention disclosures increase in research partnership revenue YOY
The Brock LINC helps companies connect and collaborate with our researchers to solve industry problems. The team identifies and assists with funding opportunities to support research-industry partnerships and facilitates the relationship between the researcher and industry partner.
Entrepreneurship:
We support the growth of entrepreneurship at Brock through the development of research spin-offs, student entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial skills. Our entrepreneurship programs are designed to support early-stage entrepreneurship from ideation, discovery, and launch.
705
participants across all Brock LINC programs and events
461
$115,000 entrepreneurs supported at Brock
64
student entrepreneurship awards business ideas developed programs, events and workshops offered in 2024-2025
21
51
$100,000
Innovation & Creativity Domain Completions in the Campus-Wide Co-Curriculum in external grants and funding for Brock entrepreneurs in Brock student entrepreneurship awards
34
Innovation Facility
The Brock LINC is located in a 41,000-square-foot innovation facility in the Rankin Family Pavilion dedicated to inspiring new ideas, using new technologies and nurturing growth. This multi-use space is the front entrance to the University, and spans two floors. The Brock LINC manages the innovation facility, including:
• open spaces for networking and collaboration
• entrepreneurial space for early-stage business ideas and start-ups
• multi-purpose rooms and meeting spaces for learning, events, and sharing
The partners in the innovation facility include:
• the Library Makerspace, which houses technology available to design, build and prototype
• the Research Impact Hub, a collaboration space for researchers, run by the Office of Research Services
• the R3 Wine Consumer Lab, one of the first virtual reality, augmented reality and physical reality labs dedicated to wine research, run by the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute
Innovation Showcase Highlights
The Brock Innovation Showcase celebrated 5 years of the Brock LINC, and put the spotlight on the cuttingedge work of Brock researchers and entrepreneurs showcasing:
• five research-based technologies that are being developed for commercialization
• nine startups that have been incubated in the LINCubator, and
• $125,000 in funding for student entrepreneurs and community-based SME’s affiliated with Brock
This event launched the Brock Innovation Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievements in research innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship.
Brock Innovator of the Year Award
The Brock Innovator of the Year Award honors Brock faculty and staff who have demonstrated exemplary innovation or commercialization and have successfully translated their research and ideas into social or economic impact.
Dr. Sean Locke
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
Dr. Sean Locke has pioneered innovations in health coaching, focusing on behavior change to prevent non-communicable diseases. As a Co-founder of Healthy Habits Coaches and the Behavioral Science Officer for Healthifi, Dr. Locke has developed an innovative curriculum integrating psychology-based strategies. His research, coupled with community partnerships, is transforming healthcare practices by addressing behavioral factors in disease prevention.
Brock Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The Brock Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates and recognizes the most promising entrepreneurs developing their businesses at Brock. The award highlights the innovative startups that are shaping the world and inspiring action.
Matthew Cary
Matthew Cary is the founder of Fawkes, which provides research-backed candidate selection and services for emergency dispatch communication centres. Matthew has advanced his business from concept to a beta product in 2024. After winning the Navigate Pitch award, he generated strong industry interest at IAED conferences in the US and UK and secured collaboration opportunities. He has recently established a research partnership with Brock psychology professors, enabling access to MITACs grants for research validation, and has been active in product development and testing.
Laura Sabia Entrepreneurial Awards
The Laura Sabia Entrepreneurial Awards are funded through a generous donation by Hilary Pearson and Michael Sabia. The award provides $10,000 for women-identifying students enrolled in undergraduate and/ or graduate studies at Brock University and are actively working on developing a business idea, developing products/prototypes, or running a registered/incorporated business.
Temilade Adesina, $10,000
Temilade Adesina founded Eriworld Linens, a business specializing in high-quality, eco-friendly bed linens. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Applied Disability Studies at Brock University and participates in the Navigate program.
Maheen Rajani, $10,000
Maheen Rajani is the founder of Épanouir Beauty, a skincare brand created to challenge societal stigmas around men’s use of cosmetics. Maheen recently developed her product through the Navigate program.
Stuti Patel, $10,000
Stuti Patel is an Entrepreneurship Co-op student, and founder of Taal by Stuti, a business venture focused on providing affordable and enriching Indian folk and classical dance lessons for youth.
Isabelle Hill, $10,000
Isabelle Hill is co-founder of Healthy Habits Coaches, a business offering virtual, research-based health coaching and certification programs. Isabelle is pursuing a PhD in Behavioral and Population Health.
Trinity Samarita, $10,000
Trinity Samarita, founder of Oopsie Daisy Apparel, creates unique, hand-crafted screen-printed clothing with a focus on creativity and self-expression. Trinity is a former participant in the LINCubator program.
Tiffany Muhindi, $10,000
Tiffany Muhindi is the founder of Dawa & Co., a health focused beverage brand inspired by the traditional Kenyan Dawa drink, known for its immune-boosting properties. Tiffany is developing her idea through the Navigate program.
Abbie Burchell, $10,000
Abbie Burchell, a third-year Medical Sciences student at Brock University, founded pHer Health Inc., a medical device company focusing on non-invasive methods for early vaginal infection detection and menstrual cycle prediction.
Eva McDonnell, $10,000
Eva McDonnell is the founder of Rev’d Business Consulting, a social media management company. Eva is a Business and Administration Dual Degree Co-op student in the Goodman School of Business who participated in the Entrepreneurship Co-op.
Veronika Adamczyk, $10,000
Veronika Adamczyk is the co-founder of Lawn Masters Property Services, which specializes in landscaping services that caters to a diverse clientele ranging from rental property maintenance to senior clients and corporate businesses. Veronika is a BBA student in the Goodman School of Business.
Brock SME IP Support Program Awards
The Brock SME IP Support Program is funded through Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), an Ontario government agency program designed to support innovation and IP commercialization in post-secondary education. The award is designed to support Brock's valued research partners and Brock LINC members in protecting and developing their innovative ideas.
Arbor Life Labs, $10,000
Arbor Life Labs is a leader in medical research and development for healthy tissue regeneration. They develop therapeutics to address a range of degenerative diseases, immune conditions and regenerative medicines.
Bornea Dynamics, $10,000
Bornea Dynamics is a defense & space firm specializing in R&D, training programs, and cyber/information capabilities.
Cluō, $10,000
Cluō provides consumers with accurate, expanded information about the labels and logos on packaged foods and other products. The app empowers you to make better, more informed choices about your diet, lifestyle and health.
Destiny Copper, $10,000
Destiny Copper has an innovative clean technology that recovers high purity copper directly from mining and manufacturing waste streams. Their technology, developed from research at Brock University, remediates hazardous waste and supplies critical copper with ultra-low energy usage.
Neotrust, $10,000
Neotrust leverages blockchain technology to provide secure, immutable verification for digital assets, identity, and ownership. Secure your data, protect your creations, and ensure authenticity.
Dobson Entrepreneurial Excellence Prize
The Dobson Entrepreneurial Excellence Prize is funded by the John Dobson Foundation. It is designed to support a Brock University student participating in the LINCubator program at the Brock LINC. The top three finalists were invited to pitch at the Innovation Showcase.
Cole Bereskin – MosoPlay Games
MosoPlay Games is developing a free-toplay game that combines aspects of popular racing and fighting genres. MosoPlay Games co-founders are fourth-year GAME student Cole Bereskin and recent GAME graduate Alex Fischer.
The Year in Review
Brock LINC highlights
Commercialization
Overview
The goal of research commercialization is to help new research discoveries at Brock develop into marketable products, services, and technologies. This process involves identifying the commercial potential of academic research, protecting intellectual property, and developing strategies to bring innovations to market. It not only drives economic growth but also ensures that research has a tangible societal impact.
Commercialization Highlights
Mucosal Vaccine Adjuvants
Dr. Tony Yan
Researchers at Brock University are revolutionizing vaccines utilizing fluorinated cyclic dinucleotides (FCDs) as adjuvants for oral vaccines. This has widespread applications for gastrointestinal, respiratory, and sexually transmitted infections, but is also safer, more effective, and patient friendly.
Dr. Yan’s technology was pitched at OCI’s DiscoveryX Conference in April 2025, representing one of the top 10 emerging technologies being developed out of university IP in Ontario.
High-Speed Photodetector Material
Dr. Jianbo Gao
Brock University researchers have developed new photodetector materials using silver selenium and silver sulfite quantum dots that doubles signal efficiency and responds in picoseconds. This breakthrough enhances technologies such as cameras, solar panels, and infrared sensors, offering superior performance for communication, medical imaging, and LiDAR.
Immunotherapy for Age-Related Chronic Diseases
Dr. Newman Sze
Brock researchers developed a first-inclass monoclonal antibody therapy to reduce chronic inflammation, extend a healthy lifespan, and offer a promising solution to age-related diseases. Their approach uniquely targets the root cause of chronic inflammation by removing the accumulation of damaged proteins.
Self-Healing Silicones
Dr. Paul Zelisko
Brock University researchers have developed self-healing silicones that repair damage at ambient temperatures, enhancing durability and extending product lifespans. This technology offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution for industries such as automotive, electronics, and healthcare, reducing maintenance costs and improving performance in seals, electronics, and consumer goods.
VR Wine Glass
Dr. Debbie Inglis
Brock University researchers have created a vessel that enhances the sensory experience of drinks like wine, beer, and coffee while using virtual-reality and/ or augmented reality head-mounted displays. By optimizing surface area, it improves aroma release and taste, bridging sensory evaluation with wearable tech. This innovation is perfect for virtual reality for gaming, at home use, or tourism. It can be also used for consumer testing and assistive technologies to enhance accessibility.
Research-Industry Partnerships
Overview
Research and industry partnerships are a key component of the innovation activity at Brock. These collaborations are not just beneficial, they are essential in solving real-world challenges and creating meaningful economic and social impact. These opportunities provide valuable training opportunities for our students, and enable our researchers to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.
Partnership Highlights
Dr. Shengrong Bu, Dr. Shahryar Rahnamayan and Kevares Autonomous Services
This project explored the opportunity to apply robotics in greenhouse operations to optimize logistics.
Dr. Bu and Rahnamayan developed an obstacle detection system that provides a comprehensive understanding of the robot’s surroundings.
Funded by:
Dr. Nicole Luke, Applied Disability Studies, Pathstone Mental Health and XpertVR
Pathstone Mental Health is offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy using a virtual reality mode of delivery to children and young people with anxiety. Unlike typical modes of distance delivery, virtual reality facilitates the important social connection between therapists and clients. While virtual reality has been used to deliver CBT, it has not been used on children, young people, or in Ontario.
Funded by:
Dr. Leila Tahmooresnejad and Rel8ed
Rel8ed has been a long-standing partner with Brock researchers. This project with Dr. Tahmooresnejad developed a proof-of-concept and prototype for machine learning models to analyze corporate documents for ESG indicators. This analytics framework aims to help stakeholders – such as investors, regulators, and supply chain partners – assess risk, ensure compliance and benchmark ESG performance.
Funded by:
Entrepreneurship
Overview
The Brock LINC supports the growth of entrepreneurship at Brock and in the Niagara community through the development of research spin-offs, student entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial skills. The Brock LINC provides a range of entrepreneurship events, workshops and programs and houses the university’s business incubator, the LINCubator. Additional services offered include mentorship, workshops, events, co-working space, and one-on-one support.
Kick-Starting Entrepreneurship
Kick-Starting Entrepreneurship is a set of introductory workshops co-delivered with regional innovation partners, and focused on different elements of starting a small business. Workshops include:
• The Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Market Research
• Business Plan Basics
• Steps to Starting a Small Business
• Pitching Your Business
• Sales & Marketing for your Business
• What Lenders are Looking For
• Canadian Entrepreneurship for International Students Entrepreneurship Programs
176 participants
16 workshops
“ As someone with
50% attend multiple workshops
a computer science background, Kick-Starting Entrepreneurship introduced me to essential startup and business terminologies through its workshops and helped me to expand my network.”
– Amir Tabrizi, GeeksLab
NAVIGATE
Navigate is Brock’s ideation stage program. Over 11-weeks, participants work on developing a business idea using the Lean Startup methodology, and with a focus on customer discovery. This includes small group work and weekly mentorship. By the end of the program, participants should have 100 customer interviews and a prototype or minimum viable product for their business idea.
Pitch Winners:
• Ebad Khan, MedBot AI
• Matthew Hodgkinson, FrostFit
• Cole Bereskin & Alex Fischer, MosoPlay Games
• Navun Razdan, unVRap
• Abhilesh Gaikwad, Chain Financial
• Muskaan Waraich, EmpowerUp
$15,000 in funding through 6 pitch awards
participants
13 mentors
“
Navigate has been a great help to validate my hypothesis for my business. It gave me a guided approach to take one step at a time and focus on what’s important. The mentorship and guidance received has been extraordinary. It also helped my business build trust with my customers by being part of a recognized university like Brock.”
– Abhilesh Gaikwad, Chain Financial
Blueprint
Blueprint is designed to help entrepreneurs manage the confusing and expensive process required to develop an interactive, physical, or digital prototype for their product or service business. This program is generously funded by the John Dobson Foundation to fund the vendors providing prototyping production support. The businesses in first iteration of the program were:
CNTRL Golf
Brandon Bedminster
Fawkes
Matthew Cary FrostFit
Matt Hodgkinson
nehdeen Nadine Bongers
Oopsie Daisy Apparel
Trinity Samarita
pHer Health
Abbie Burchell
Thrival App Neelam Bector
7 businesses supported
8 vendors and mentors for production support
The Blueprint Program is a groundbreaking model for guiding entrepreneurs with developing a physical or service-based product. Its schedule and curriculum keeps entrepreneurs on track, helping them to achieve tangible outcomes every week. This program is unlike any other small business innovation program in Ontario. Entrepreneurs can look forward to being surrounded by teams of like-minded individuals, experts in product development and mentors who pour their wealth of time and information into your business every week to support your product and branding. If you want help with building a solid foundation for your business, there is no better way to do it than with the Blueprint Program.”
– Neelam Bector, Thrival App
LINCubator
The LINCubator is Brock LINC’s business incubation program, focused on getting earlystage businesses to launch. This program includes customized growth plans, workshops, mentorship from entrepreneurial leaders, peer to peer learning and a dedicated desk in our co-working space. The businesses in the 2025 incubation program were:
Fawkes
Matthew Cary
FrostFit
Matt Hodgkinson
Healthy Habits Coaches
Sean Locke & Isabelle Hill
Med-Bot AI
Ebad Khan
MosoPlay Games
Cole Bereskin & Alex Fischer
pHer Health
Abbie Burchell
Villagely
Zohra Sheikh
$33,500 in funding from Brock awards
7 businesses supported
12 mentors
If you’re a woman looking for a network to help you develop your identity as a founder, and a community that genuinely cares about your journey, LINCubator is the place. The staff are phenomenal, and I always felt supported by the community as I navigated the challenges of building my business. My confidence has grown tremendously—I’ve gone from struggling to describe my business to telling its story like an experienced founder. The program has been invaluable in laying out the operational foundations of starting a business, and I’m grateful that being part of the 2025 cohort is now part of our origin story.”
– Zohra Sheikh, Villagely
Entrepreneurship Co-op
The Entrepreneurship Co-op program provides co-op students with the opportunity to dedicate a co-op work term to developing and launching their business idea with the support of Brock’s Co-op, Career & Experiential Education department, and the Brock LINC.
Students are supported over a work-term through coaching and mentorship provided by the Brock LINC. Students also participate in monthly check-in meetings and work toward goals and milestones that they set out for their business venture. This co-op opportunity provides students with the time to further develop their business ideas and explore if entrepreneurship is a viable career path.
The Entrepreneurship Co-op Awards were developed with the help of PenFinancial Credit Union, Venture Niagara and the Brock LINC. Two awards of $1,000 each are awarded each semester, for up to 6 awards annually. 4 awards were awarded in 2024-2025:
Jordan Wallace
Computer Science Student, Retro Dreams
Owen Sartor
Business Administration Student, Lawn Masters Property Service
Sahibjot Sekhon
Business Administration Student, Car Detailing Business
Ebad Khan
Computer Science Student, Med-Bot AI
$34,000 in funding from co-op awards
“
participants
My experience with the Entrepreneurship Co-op program has been incredibly rewarding. It provided me with the unique opportunity to build and manage my own social media management business, where I gained invaluable hands-on experience in client management, content creation, and strategic planning. The program allowed me to develop a wide range of skills while working independently, and the support I received through regular check-ins was instrumental in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to gain real-world experience and grow both personally and professionally in a dynamic and supportive environment.”
– Eva McDonnell, Laura Sabia Entrepreneurship AwardRecipient, Entrepreneurship Co-op Participant
Brock LINC Holiday Market
The Brock LINC Holiday Market supports hidden entrepreneurs on campus – makers and creators. The market provides a free platform for students, faculty and staff creators to sell their handmade goods.
I really liked and appreciated the fact that information and workshops were given in a very approachable and organized way. As someone with no business background, I was intimidated before starting the program. I found it easy to navigate and understand. I felt supported and I knew I could reach out to LINC staff or mentors at any time.
“
My experience with the Brock LINC Holiday Market was a great one! It was such an eye-opening experience being able to interact with neighbouring vendors, students, faculty, and market attendees. The conversations I had with explaining my business, how I source my products, and if I do other markets was also something I appreciated and gained knowledge from. Overall, the exposure the market gave both me and my business were a valuable experience that helped me learn and grow with my business.”
– Agusia Krzywinska, Adjective Noun Studios
– Kalissa De La Cruz, Brock University student
LINC Up! Networking Events
LINC Up! twice a year with Brock LINC members, entrepreneurs in our programs, and our Niagara Innovation ecosystem. This year we did a LINC Up! mash-up with the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce’s Business After 5 Networking Event, bringing the Niagara business community to Brock. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to make connections with entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators!
“
I've been attending LINC Up! events for years, and they have always been a great chance to stay up to date on the amazing things happening at the LINC and meet remarkable entrepreneurs from all across Niagara Region.”
– Agusia Krzywinska, President of Adjective Noun Studios & LINCubator Alum
