Calgary, AB – Kids Brain Health Innovation Fund (KBH-IF), Canada’s first investment and venture philanthropy initiative in pediatric neurodevelopmental disability, is dedicated to scaling and advancing proven, evidence-based solutions for children and their families.

As the latest growth strategy to be added to the Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN), KBH-IF applies the tools of venture capital—rigorous vetting, business modelling, and scalability—to achieve the goal of expanding access to supports for every child and family in Canada who needs them.

The fund will attract investment capital that accelerates the growth of innovations that have demonstrated real-world impact, while reinvesting returns to build a growing fund capable of exponentially scaling and expanding programs and services into the future.

A timely example that underscores the need for KBH-IF comes from our recent study involving 499 parents and caregivers in Canada.

They identified long waitlists, staff shortages and complex application processes that prevented access to timely support. One parent in Manitoba said, “The waitlists are way too long… By the time we get to the top of the list, either the support is no longer needed or the situation has gotten worse.”

Families in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick echoed similar challenges. In Ontario, they described complex and time-consuming application processes, staff shortages and long wait times, issues mirrored in Quebec. One parent shared that although their daughter was diagnosed with autism at two and a half years, she didn’t receive funding for support until age five. In New Brunswick, a shortage of healthcare providers caused significant delays in obtaining a diagnosis and accessing essential programs.

“Traditional funding models to meet the growing needs of families will never be sufficient,” said KBH CEO Geoff Pradella. “After extensive market research, and in consultation with experts in the start-up, investment, venture capital and business development sectors, we determined that creating a third KBH entity as an evergreen venture capital investment arm would be both a feasible and necessary vehicle.”

 

Opportunity to rethink funding in Canada

Many parents pay out of pocket for services, simply because income cut-offs for programs fail to adequately factor in the true cost of expenses associated with their child’s disability. Waiting three years for support can mean a child falls three years further behind, a deeply concerning reality when developmental delays are already present.

KBH-IF is the first initiative in Canada to apply a direct investment model to the field of pediatric neurodevelopmental disability. The evergreen structure ensures that any returns are mission and purpose-driven, reinvested to fund a growing list of future innovations.

The KBH-IF approach aligns strongly with community values, offering investors an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. It’s a model built for purpose and designed to accelerate access to supports for children, when they need them most.

“As a parent of a child with autism and an angel investor, I’ve seen first-hand the need to make more programs available for families,” said David Kuik, KBHN Board Director and CEO of Norima Consulting Inc. “What excites me most about KBH-IF is the potential to back solutions that are both scientifically validated and financially sustainable.”

KBH-IF will source investment opportunities from KBHN’s own portfolio of funded programs and from partners and innovators across Canada and around the world whose work meets the same scientific and evidence-based standards, has strong potential for sustainability, and has strong potential for impact.

For internationally developed innovations, KBH-IF will require a clear plan to implement them in Canada to ensure Canadian children benefit directly from every investment.

 

What comes next for KBH-IF

Positioned as a national first, KBH-IF will scale evidence-based programs with the guidance of an Investment Advisory Committee made up of successful entrepreneurs, analysts, impact investors, strategic partners and fund managers. This expert group will evaluate and recommend high-potential innovations that align with the fund’s mission: expanding timely, proven supports for children and families across Canada.

Together, the three Kids Brain Health entities—the Network, the Foundation, and now the Innovation Fund—create a powerful, integrated platform for impact. By aligning public, philanthropic, and private investment, “KBH+” is creating a powerful engine to mobilize and advance real-world solutions, making measurable progress toward expanding access and helping more children receive the care they need during the most critical years of development.

“We’ve done the science, and we know that early intervention and support works, but too often, these innovations don’t realize their potential, and families wait for access to traditionally funded programs,” said Dr. Elina Birmingham, co-lead of a KBH-funded project developing an AI-powered app for individuals with autism and sound sensitivity. Dr. Siamak Arzanpour, co-lead of the project, added: “The combined organizations of Kids Brain Health change the game. It’s a bold move that brings research to life and helps families access solutions faster and more effectively.”

 

About Kids Brain Health (KBH+)

KBH+ is a national platform advancing real-world solutions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. By uniting the Kids Brain Health Network, Foundation, and Innovation Fund, KBH+ mobilizes programs, training, and investment to improve early diagnosis, effective interventions, and access to family supports across Canada.

For media inquiries, contact:
Geil Astorga, Communications Manager
Email: communications@kidsbrainhealth.ca
Mobile: 289-210-6794