Opportunity for Ontario Cancer Researchers to vie for the $100,000 “Ernsting Entrepreneurship Award”
Hosted by FACIT, the annual Falcons’ Fortunes pitch competition invites Ontario-based entrepreneurs working in the oncology space to pitch innovative research ideas to an external panel of judges.
While the research idea must be novel and sound (and is subject to further due diligence after the event), the competition is for the best pitch i.e. the presentation that best convinces the investor judging panel on the value of the idea and how $100,000 would improve and/or better illustrate the potential, and if possible commercial, value of the innovative idea itself.
The Falcons’ Fortunes event endeavours to enhance, support and celebrate a culture of commercialization in Ontario, such as the cultivation of skill sets that enable ideas to be successfully pitched to investors and promotion of entrepreneurial spirit.
“Thank you so much and the whole FACIT team, along with the judges, for organizing such a fantastic event. Every pitch was unique and very impactful, and I felt they all deserve to win. I am honoured and ecstatic to receive this award…. I am so proud to be a Canadian citizen (since 2012) living in Ontario. The support and the environment for innovation are amazing, so thank you and FACIT for this opportunity. It is a dream come true for me.”
Run Ze Gao, Co-founder of Air Microfluidic Systems Inc, 2021 Falcons’ Fortunes Winner
Falcons’ Fortunes 10th Anniversary Pitch Competition is on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
Register to be part of the audience:
The event will take place at Vantage Venues, 150 King Street West, Toronto, ON.
To attend, please register here.
Eligibility:
Ontario-based academic researchers and start-ups with a cancer-related research idea or innovation.
Format:
Selected participants will give 10-minute pitch presentations to the panel of investors, followed by 5-minutes of Q&A. The objective is to share your big picture idea and convince the panel that an investment of Prospects funding will contribute to moving the idea forward. The pitch should tell a story and highlight (at minimum):
- The research idea and associated technology (what is it, what does it do)
- The need or issue addressed (what is the problem)
- The target audience/customer (addressable market)
- What the investment will do to advance the idea (use of proceeds)
- Commercial relevance of project (why is it commercially suited/important)
- Any supporting data or relevant demo
Other additional considerations for the presentation (i.e. preparation for the Q&A) include an understanding of the market potential, IP position or challenges, and what areas of expertise are being sought that members of the investment panel may possess and could provide.
Support Available:
The FACIT team will provide pitch preparation resources leading up to the event.
Summary of Timeline:
Deadline to submit pitch abstracts | by Friday, January 27, 2023 |
Announcement of selected pitch candidates | by Friday, February 17, 2023 |
Pitch preparation webinar | Tuesday, March 7, 2023 |
1:1 coaching sessions for finalists | Monday, March 20, 2023 |
Falcons’ Fortunes event | Thursday, March 30, 2023 |
Projects Recently Funded By Falcons’ Fortunes
Expand your search and review with the Open Search Tool or learn more about the examples of recent Falcon’s Fortunes funded projects below.
SEARCH FILTERS:
Innovation Type
Cancer Type
Current Funding Stage
FACIT Fund
SEARCH BY KEYWORD(S)
SEARCH RESULTS:
Xpan Inc
Polumiros
Point Surgical Inc.
OICR
OICR
Hyivy Health
HDAX Therapeutics
Air Microfluidic Systems Inc.
Western University (Tenomix)
Sunnybrook Research Institute
doctalk

Bridge7 Oncology
Replica Analytics (Aetion)
Multimagnetics Inc.
University of Toronto
Radiant Biotherapeutics
CTRL Therapeutics
OICR
Sunnybrook Research Institute
University of Toronto (Perturba)
Talon Pharma
CCRM (Notch Therapeutics)
OICR
QurCan Therapeutics (formerly known as Nanology Labs)
16-Bit
DNAStack
Dalriada Therapeutics
KA Imaging
Radialis Medical
University of Ottawa
OICR
Propellon Therapeutics Inc. (Triphase Accelerator)
Talon Pharma
Queens University
Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc
Novera Therapeutics Inc.

FocusOnCare

Capnostics
Sunnybrook Research Institute
OICR
Sunnybrook Research Institute
Ziliomics
Sunnybrook Research Institute
OICR
Turnstone Biologics Inc
Fluorinov Pharma (Trillium)
OICR (Cellax)

XLV Diagnostics
Privacy Analytics (IQVIA)
Harmonic Medical
McMaster University
Triphase Accelerator Corporation
Univeristy of Toronto (Kapplex)
Xagenic
DLVR Therapeutics
University of Toronto (Receptor-OncoTek)
DVS Sciences (Fluidigm)
UHN (TorCell Therapeutics)
UHN
Sunnybrook Research Institute
UHN
ArcticDx
Robarts Research Institute
Sunnybrook Research Institute (Profound Medical)
Naming of the Ernsting Entrepreneurship Award
In 2016, the Falcons’ Fortunes prize was named the “Ernsting Entrepreneurship Award” in honour of Dr. Mark Ernsting, Senior Biomedical Engineer at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research whose life was tragically cut short in December 2015. Mark exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit that FACIT strives to build and support within Ontario.