The Queen's Innovation Centre Summer Initiative (QICSI) is a 16-week summer incubator program for aspiring entrepreneurs to receive the training, mentorship, funding, and resources to launch a business venture. Build2Scale Health is a health-sector specific stream of the program that enables solutions to unmet needs in healthcare.
The 2023 cohort started May 2023. Here's a look at what some of the ventures in the program are building!
IceX is pursuing the Foundry stream of QICSI, a program to connect entrepreneurial individuals with Queen's research that has the potential to be commercialized through a startup venture. With backgrounds in chemical engineering, micro-biology, and business operations, the 4-person team is exploring the potential to commercialize a chemical coating technology developed by Dr. Liu's lab at the Department of Chemistry at Queen's. The coating has multiple identified applications in the cellphone, automotive, and anti-graffiti industries.
Neuma, The Centre for Social Wellness, is a part of the Build2Scale cohort. They are an experiential learning center dedicated to empowering individuals through the advancement of their emotional well-being. They utilize psychedelics and integrative living practices to guide and support those on their self-discovery, leadership, personal development, or overall well-being journey. They recently launched a new program, The Foundations for Psychedelic Exploration, in collaboration with St. Lawrence College. Learn more about Neuma on their official website!
"Our goal with Neuma is to create a more empowered mental health system for those that may have been labelled as clinically well but feel as though there is something missing in order for them to truly feel well. This is a population of individuals who have outgrown existing mental health options or are looking for a more natural way to nurture their mental-emotional help."
- Cory Firth, Co-Founder and CEO of Neuma