(L to R: Varun Chandak (judge), Jennifer Moles, Cheryl Holden (judge), Sarah Lambert, Geoff Pradella, Deena Al Sammak, Mohamed Ali, and judges Luke J. Sheen and Chetan Srivastava)

On October 20, ten high-potential Canadian innovations took the stage at the KBH+ Pitch Competition, part of the KBH+ Conference 2026. Each innovation aims to improve outcomes for children and youth (ages 0 to 25) with neurodisabilities and their families. The finalists competed for $50,000 across three prizes, pitching live to a panel of four judges and their peers.  

The Pitch Review Committee chose the top 10 from more than 50 high-quality applicants. As a national showcase for entrepreneurship in the neurodisability sector, the competition awards promising ideas creating real-world impact. 

The Pitch Competition featured three categories:  

  • Scaling Innovations: Designed for companies or innovations that are already operating in-market or in-system, demonstrating implementation success, and are positioned for broader scale and adoption.  
  • Emerging Innovations: Designed for earlier-stage innovations that are implementation-ready, pilot-tested, or near-commercial while still building validation, adoption, or operational maturity. 
  • People’s Choice: Voted by the live audience. 

Meet the winners 

Scaling Innovation Stream: Ora Medical 

Sarah Lambert, CEO & Co-Founder, Ora Medical

Ora Medical designs inclusive medical devices that help people with mobility challenges explore the world with confidence. Ora’s flagship Levity Gait Trainer brings quality, functionality, and compassion to pediatric care, reflecting the company’s focus on building mobility technology around the children who use it.  

Emerging Innovations Stream: Power of Play 

Deena Al Sammak, Co-founder, Power of Play

Power of Play brings a child-friendly tool to pediatric rehabilitation, capturing accurate, objective measures of grip and pinch strength. By tracking fine motor development precisely, it supports better therapy decisions — aiming to improve rehabilitation outcomes and set new standards in pediatric care worldwide. 

People’s Choice Award: MORO 

MORO helps caregivers understand and respond to a loved one’s unique way of communicating, capturing subtle cues, routines, and personal expressions. By passing that knowledge on, it keeps care consistent across families, schools, and healthcare settings. Available on Google Play and the App Store, MORO grows through partnerships with the people it serves. 

The finalists

The Emerging Innovations Stream featured earlier-stage innovations that are implementation-ready, pilot-tested, or near-commercial: 

  • Anttara: AI-powered tools for earlier identification of developmental concerns 
  • HoloBoard: an augmented-reality communication tool for nonspeaking autistic people 
  • MORO: a caregiver app that preserves a loved one’s unique communication cues 
  • NeuroAI: BRIDGES OS, a clinician-designed platform supporting families from the point of referral 
  • Power of Play: objective grip and pinch strength measures for pediatric rehabilitation 
  • PROVA Innovations: wearable technology for in-home gait training and neuromuscular rehabilitation 

The Scaling Innovation Stream featured innovations already in market or in system and positioned for broader adoption: 

  • Fledge: a wellbeing education platform building emotional skills for children ages 3 to 12 
  • Jooay: a free app helping children with disabilities find accessible leisure activities 
  • Ora Medical: inclusive mobility devices for children 
  • Possibility Neurotechnologies: Think2Switch™, co-designed with the families it serves 

Learn more about all the finalists for the KBH+ Pitch Competition.

Congratulations to all ten finalists. Innovation only changes lives when it reaches the children and families who need it, and this group is helping make that happen. 

The judges

The finalists were evaluated by a panel of four judges: 

  • Varun Chandak, Founder and Executive Director, Access to Success
  • Cheryl Holden, Vice President, Health Innovation, Alberta Innovates
  • Luke J. Sheen, Founding Executive Director of HaloHealth and Venture Partner at Spring Impact Capital
  • Chetan Srivastava, Principal at TELUS Global Ventures 

Thank you to our sponsors

The KBH+ Pitch Competition was made possible by our Pitch sponsors: Access to Success, Alberta Innovates, the Azrieli Foundation, Blue Rock Law, BuilderBase, Claret Asset Management, David & Tracey Kuik in Honour of Paige Kuik, and the Ontario Brain Institute. 

View the KBH+ Pitch Competition photo gallery