November 20, 2025 – FACIT is pleased to announce the launch of Feather to Flight (‘F2F”), a competition for Ontario oncology scientists to gain exposure to entrepreneurial skills needed to advance their innovations towards research impact and patient benefit. F2F expands FACIT’s continuum of Ontario First commercialization support programs, including Falcons’ Fortunes, WeSEED, Prospects Oncology Fund, and Compass Rose Oncology Fund, which provide training and critical capital to advance the most promising cancer breakthroughs into Ontario-made solutions for patients.

Together, FACIT’s integrated programs, along with the network of complementary support in the province help drive Ontario’s oncology research pipeline to commercialization. To date, FACIT’s growing portfolio of assets has attracted over $1.7 billion in follow-on investment and has led to the creation of local high skilled jobs, expanding research facilities, and company scale-up in Ontario.

Today’s launch of F2F aligns with Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 17-21, 2025), recognizing the important contributions of entrepreneurs in improving our lives. Working collaboratively with its strategic partner, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), FACIT’s vision for F2F is to strengthen pre-commercialization support including business and entrepreneurship skills within the research community. Increasing talent development is key to unlocking more economic value and accelerating translation of research excellence into patient impact. The poster-format pitch competition provides an accessible opportunity to explore entrepreneurship and is open to all OICR-funded researchers and their labs.

The winner of the inaugural poster competition in 2024 was Ms. Amal Aziz, a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Aaron Fenster at Robarts Research Institute in London, Ontario. Her project developing a 3D-automated breast ultrasound system for breast cancer screening at the point-of-care subsequently secured an investment from FACIT’s Prospects Oncology Fund, illustrating the connectivity of the programs.

“I am glad I took the chance to try being an entrepreneur for the first time and with minimal risks. Thinking about my project from a commercialization perspective was invaluable and continues to motivate my research”, said Ms. Aziz.

FACIT looks forward to continuing to provide hands-on support for oncology entrepreneurs, connecting them with business expertise, translational research tools and funding opportunities in Ontario.

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Contact
Ricky Chan, PhD | Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs, FACIT | rchan@facit.ca

About FACIT        
FACIT is an award-winning commercialization venture firm that builds companies with entrepreneurs to accelerate oncology innovation, with a portfolio that has attracted more than $1.7 billion in investment to Ontario. Blending industry experience, capital and the unsurpassed clinician-scientist network of its strategic partner the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), FACIT capitalizes on the province’s investment in research and healthcare to the benefit of the local economy and patients worldwide. Cancer Breakthroughs. Realized. facit.ca