TORONTO, September 16, 2025 — Leads & Copy — The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) has announced $500,000 in funding for neurotechnology innovation through the Neurotech Entrepreneurship to Validate Emerging Innovations (NERVE) program.
Five Canadian entrepreneurs will each receive $100,000 in non-dilutive funding to advance their neurotech ventures. The 12-month NERVE program offers mentorship, training, and business support. This year’s cohort will address challenges in concussion detection, surgical safety, neurosurgery, neurodegenerative disease treatment, and pain management.
According to Dr. Tom Mikkelsen, President and Scientific Director of OBI, this year’s cohort shows the potential of Canadian innovation to transform the brain health sector.
The Honourable Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, said the Ontario government supports OBI’s NERVE program to drive commercialization of research and solidify the province as a leader in brain health innovation.
The 2025 NERVE recipients include Andrew Cordssen-David (HeadFirst), Mann Parikh (NerView), Michael Tessier (Cohesys), Marc Shenouda (Neuropeutics), and Stevie Foglia (Neuro-Mod).
OBI has invested over $5 million in neurotechnology entrepreneurship to date, supporting more than 100 entrepreneurs and helping bring 25 brain-health products to market.
The Ontario Brain Institute is a provincially funded, not-for-profit organization that accelerates discovery and innovation.
Contact: Ontario Brain Institute,
Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
Source: Ontario Brain Institute
