HAMILTON & HALTON, ON – September 25, 2026 – Innovation Factory is pleased to announce the winners of the 16th Annual LiONS LAIR pitch competition and awards gala, held yesterday at the Oakville Conference Centre. The event attracted over 350 attendees from the business and innovation community, highlighting some of the region’s most promising start-ups as they competed for over $55,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.
This year’s event was supported by key sponsors, including Deloitte and Marks & Clerk, whose contributions were invaluable in supporting the finalists and the success of the gala event.
The 2026 judging panel of “LiONS” included Mark McQueen, Director at Deloitte Burlington Gi3; Kevin Shipley, Patent Agent, Lawyer and Head of Mechanical & Industrial Processes (Canada), Marks & Clerk; and Emily Porta, Executive Director, Maple Leaf Angels.
NewGen Health impressed the judges and took the top prize of $30,000 for their accessible urine-based screening device, paired with software, that enables rapid, early detection of kidney disease and helps clinicians optimize patient care.
“It’s been quite a journey, starting with Founders Fast Track, where the coaching and support from the Innovation Factory team helped us make it to the top ten,” shared Mazhar Shahen, co-founder of NewGen Health. “LiONS LAIR is a hard competition, and you have to be ready to put in the work, but it’s absolutely worth it. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone on the team who supported us along the way.”
Second place was awarded to Sensible Vascular, earning $15,000 for their fully integrated thrombectomy system designed to remove the entire stroke-causing clot in a single pass, improving first-pass success and protecting brain function in stroke patients.
Coming in third, TOMI Nutrition was recognized with a $7,500 cash prize for their clean, plant-based beverages designed to improve nutrition for toddlers and kids.
The audience voted for the People’s Choice Award, and Tiny Tube Bio earned $2,500 for their standout pitch on a next-generation micropipette with a novel auto-calibrating sensor that delivers far greater precision than industry-standard devices.
The 16th annual gala also honoured Geotab with the Pillar of Innovation Award, recognizing the company’s collaboration, visionary leadership, and commitment to advancing innovation and technology across the Hamilton, Halton, Brant and Norfolk region.
Founded in Oakville in 2000, Geotab has grown from a small family business into a global leader in connected vehicle and fleet management solutions, serving customers around the world while remaining headquartered in the region.
“This year’s LiONS LAIR competition showcased an incredible array of talent and ideas that are ready to take off,” said David Carter, CEO of Innovation Factory. “It also marked a new tradition for Innovation Factory – the Pillar of Innovation Award, recognizing an organization like Geotab, which not only understands the journey of scaling a business, but has been engaged by sharing its knowledge, expertise, and resources to support start-ups across the innovation ecosystem.”
Since the inaugural LiONS LAIR in 2010, Innovation Factory has worked with more than 180 companies and awarded over $1-million CAD in cash and in-kind resources, all made possible through the support of dedicated partners and sponsors. Special thank you to Deloitte, Marks & Clerk, Matrix Venture Studio, McMaster University, McMaster Innovation Park, Invest in Hamilton, Mohawk College, the Town of Oakville, the Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Brantford-Brant, Flamborough, Stoney Creek and Halton Hills Chambers of Commerce, the Oakville Conference Centre, Cable 14, and Soundbox Productions.
About Innovation Factory
Innovation Factory is a not-for-profit business accelerator, serving as the catalyst for technology innovation in the Brant, Halton, Hamilton and Norfolk regions since 2010. Innovation Factory provides business services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections to drive market adoption, leverage intellectual property, and increase revenues, investment, and jobs. Innovators can also access sector-specific resources including exclusive smart transportation test environments and data; and a formal life science and health innovation ecosystem.
For media inquiries, please contact marketing@innovationfactory.ca.
