Brock LINC is hosting its fifth annual Innovation Showcase to highlight Brock’s researchers and entrepreneurs’ achievements.
The Brock Innovation Showcase is an annual event run by Brock LINC (Learn, Innovate, Network and Collaborate) that celebrates Brock University researchers and entrepreneurs who are developing new research-based technologies, startups and partnerships with industry or community organizations. The event will take place at the Rankin Family Pavilion Atrium on March 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. and present students with the opportunity to network with investors, business leaders and industry professionals. Attendees will also be supporting some of Brock’s most driven students, alumni and faculty.
The Showcase will present several startup companies and technological advances accomplished by Brock students and alumni.
Brock startups
Co-founded by Brock alumni Agusia Krzywinska and Adam Henderson, Adjective Noun Studios is a St. Catharines-based interactive media and game development company. They focus on transforming creative visions into engaging interactive experiences, including games, interactive storytelling and VR projects, while also developing their own original IPs for mobile and PC platforms. Their portfolio includes collaborations with CBC Kids, Groupe Media TFO and Huckleberry Films.
Startup company Fawkes Consulting Inc. tackles the challenges of understaffing and inefficient recruiting methods in 911 dispatch telecommunication centres by offering research-driven candidate selection services. Founder Matthew Cary, who spent 10 years as an ambulance dispatcher, is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing/Master of Nursing degree at Brock University.
Healthy Habits Coaches equips health professionals with evidence-based tools to support behavioural change. The company provides two key services: personalized health coaching and a globally recognized certification program for health coaches. Co-founders Dr. Sean Locke and PhD student Isabelle Hill have transformed their behavioural research into this innovative venture.
MosoPlay Games is creating a free-to-play game that blends elements of racing and fighting genres. The studio was co-founded by Cole Bereskin, a fourth-year GAME student, and Alex Fischer, a recent GAME program graduate.
OBN is transforming DIY estate sales by making the process of decluttering and estate clearance more manageable. Their A.I.-powered, human-supported software enables users to effortlessly photograph, categorize and organize belongings with ease. Leveraging advanced image-recognition technology, OBN swiftly sorts items into categories like Keep, Sell, Donate or Dispose, simplifying decision-making and giving users greater clarity and control over their possessions. Founder Graham McMillan is a LINCubator alumni.
FrostFit is a wearable cooling device designed to support individuals with thermoregulatory deficiencies. The innovation is led by founder Matt Hodgkinson, an MSc student in Kinesiology and a researcher with Brock’s Exercise and Thermal Physiology labs. Committed to improving heat management, Matt focuses on creating accessible and effective solutions for those in need.
Technological advances
Associate Chemistry professor Dr. Jianbo Gao led the Brock University research which has developed new photodetector materials using Silver Selenium and Silver Sulfite quantum dots. Conventional photodetectors often suffer from limited signal efficiency and slow response time, but Dr. Gao’s innovation doubles signal efficiency and responds in picoseconds. This advancement enhances cameras, solar panels and infrared sensors, significantly improving applications in communications, medical imaging and LiDAR technology.
Dr. Newman Sze, Health Sciences & Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Health and Disease, led the development of a new type of immunotherapy for age-related chronic diseases. Aging causes damaged isoDGR-modified proteins to accumulate, leading to inflammation and afflictions like cardiovascular disease, dementia and lung disease. Brock researchers have developed an antibody therapy to remove these harmful proteins, which reduces inflammation and potentially extends one’s healthy lifespan by addressing its root cause.
Chemistry associate Dr. Tony Yan leads research into the mucosal vaccines Brock researchers are developing by using fluorinated cyclic dinucleotides (FCDs) as adjuvants in oral vaccines, making them safer, more effective and easier for patients. This approach has a broad potential for treating gastrointestinal, respiratory and sexually transmitted infections.
Dr. Paul Zelisko led researchers in the development of self-healing silicones that repair damage at ambient temperatures, enhancing the durability and extending the lifespans of numerous products. This innovation provides a sustainable, cost-efficient solution for industries like automotive, electronics, and healthcare, enhancing performance and lowering maintenance costs in seals, electronics, and consumer products.
Brock University researchers have also created a vessel that enhances the sensory experience of alcoholic beverages like wine when paired with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets. Unlike current solutions that use straws, which limit the sensory experience, this vessel preserves aroma and flavor while integrating wearable technology. It is ideal for the VR/AR industry, tourism and hospitality, consumer testing, sensory training and assistive technologies.
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There will be two awards given out at the Innovation Showcase. The Brock Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates and recognizes the most promising entrepreneurs developing their businesses at Brock, highlighting the innovative startups that are shaping the world and inspiring action. The Brock Innovator of the Year Award honours Brock faculty and staff who have demonstrated excellent innovation or commercialization and have successfully translated their research into social or economic impacts.
The 2025 Innovation Showcase marks the five-year anniversary of the Brock LINC and will feature opening remarks from Brock University President Dr. Lesley Rigg. The event provides an opportunity for the Brock community, industry professionals, investors and community partners to celebrate Brock’s research and commercialization successes.
Complimentary refreshments and snacks will be provided at the event, along with a cash bar. Registration for this event is required and parking is free.
The Brock Innovation Showcase is more than just an event — it is a testament to Brock University’s growing reputation as a hub for research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Through the Brock LINC and other initiatives, Brock is fostering a thriving ecosystem of discovery and commercialization, where researchers and entrepreneurs can develop, test and launch their ideas into the marketplace.