The i2I Final Pitch is where scientists and engineers display their entrepreneurial mindset, the necessary trait to commercialize their innovation. Six Finalists selected from the most recent i2I Skills Training cohort prepare a five-minute pitch and then face sharp, insightful questions from a panel of industry and academic judges.
What does it look like when world-class science meets entrepreneurial ambition? On April 29, 2026, the i2I Final Pitch gave us a front-row seat to exactly that.
Six researchers stepped up, pitched their innovations, and reminded everyone in the (virtual) room why translating science into real-world impact is one of the most exciting and challenging endeavours a researcher can undertake. The energy was electric, the ideas were bold, and the talent on display was nothing short of extraordinary. Read on to learn about each Finalist and discover who took home first place.
The Final Pitch is the signature culminating event of i2I Skills Training: a rigorous, nationally recognized program designed to help scientists and engineers develop the entrepreneurial mindset needed to commercialize their innovations. Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Mitacs, the program equips researchers to address the complex marketplace challenges that are unique to science-based ventures.
The 2026 Final Pitch Finalists
This year’s six finalists represented a remarkable cross-section of scientific disciplines and entrepreneurial visions. Each brought a distinct innovation rooted in deep expertise.
🥇 Winner — Dr. Zohreh Sharafian
Dr. Sharafian holds a Master’s in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Simon Fraser University and a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia, where her research focused on neonatal immunology, CD4 T cell development, and mucosal immune system development using human intestinal organoids. Since 2023, she has worked at STEMCELL Technologies as a Scientific Support Specialist, helping researchers navigate complex challenges in cell culture, immunology, and organoid systems.
Through her academic and professional experience, Dr. Sharafian identified a critical gap: the limitations of existing models in pediatric research. That insight inspired the founding of the Pediatric Organoid Hub — developing more relevant, human-based models to improve outcomes for children. Her winning pitch demonstrated both scientific rigour and a clear vision for real-world impact.
Prize: $2,500
🥈 Runner-up — Dr. Maria Cleveland
Dr. Cleveland completed her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University in Biology and Chemistry, followed by a PhD in Chemistry at UBC under Dr. Harry Brumer, focusing on biomass valorization using copper radical oxidases. Her postdoctoral work at Queen’s spanned marine natural products discovery and enzymatic plastic degradation.
She is currently working to launch Nylzyme, a company advancing biotechnological solutions for plastic recycling. Maria’s work sits at the intersection of environmental urgency and scientific innovation, making her pitch both timely and compelling.
Prize: $1,250
🥉 Second Runner-up — Dr. Vienna Lam
Dr. Lam is an aquatic death and injury prevention researcher at the SFU Centre for Forensic Research and a Senior Crime Analyst with municipal police. Her recently defended PhD included the first nation-wide study on paediatric water-related deaths, alongside pioneering work using GIS and cell tower data to assess EMS access at water-based critical incident locations.
Through the i2I Skills Training program, Dr. Lam translated the pain points of forensic practitioners into a practical product line: improved body and evidence collection bags for aquatic environments. She hopes to continue applying her i2I learnings as Co-Director of the Canadian Research Institute of Pacific Taphonomy, where she is actively working toward building North America’s first human decomposition facility in the Western Hemlock Zone.
Dr. Eduardo Gonzalez Martinez
Dr. Gonzalez Martinez is a chemist and emerging entrepreneur specializing in biomaterials, nanoscience, and 3D bioprinting. He completed his PhD in Chemistry at McMaster University and has since contributed to more than eighteen peer-reviewed publications, patents, and technology development projects, including innovations in bioink formulation and bioprinting workflows. Currently a postdoctoral fellow and startup contributor at McMaster, Eduardo is working to translate laboratory technologies into scalable, commercializable products at the frontier of life sciences.
Séverin Lontsi
Mr. Lontsi is a Certified Management Consultant (C.M.C.) and PhD candidate in Industrial Relations at the Université du Québec en Outaouais. Drawing on over 15 years in process optimization, contract governance, and digital transformation, including senior roles across Québec government organizations, Séverin developed OptiContrat Québec, a GovTech solution dedicated to contractual compliance in the public sector. His work is a powerful example of how entrepreneurial thinking extends well beyond the lab.
Dr. Martin Angerer
Dr. Angerer is a postdoctoral researcher at UBC specializing in advanced sensing systems, particularly ultrasound-based technologies. His work focuses on ultra-low-power and multimodal ultrasound sensing platforms for continuous monitoring of biomarkers, material properties, and industrial processes. With a rare combination of hands-on mechatronics training and deep expertise in acoustics and sensor design, Dr. Angerer is translating scalable sensing technologies for use across industry, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Want to Pitch Your Research?
Applications for the next i2I Skills Training cohort have been extended to May 15, 2026. If you’re a researcher or engineer with an innovation idea ready to be shaped into something real, this is your moment.
Know someone this program is perfect for? Share this article and help spread the word. The next great breakthrough could be sitting in a lab right now, waiting for exactly this opportunity.
🔗 Apply now at the i2I website (https://beedie.sfu.ca/ee-applications/i2i/skills-training/)
The i2I Research and Innovation Institute is dedicated to empowering scientists and engineers to translate their research into meaningful, lasting impact.