Guest speakers for the CRAFT ice cream social left to right: Sushant Singh, PhD student in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, founder of VRiT, Alexandros Sklavounos, CEO and founder of Blue Ocean Technologies and Tom Ewart, Biomedical Engineer and longtime supporter of CRAFT. Photo by Dan Voicu.
Sweet Science & Bold Ideas: Highlights from the CRAFT Ice Cream Social
On August 21, the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT) turned up the cool factor with its annual Ice Cream Social: a refreshing mix of innovation, entrepreneurship, and summer fun. The Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Toronto served up an ideal setting as guests enjoyed handcrafted scoops from Booyah Ice Cream while connecting with researchers, students, startup founders and microfluidics enthusiasts.
A Fireside Chat with Innovators.
The event kicked-off with longtime CRAFT supporter and event sponsor Tom Ewart, who offered a few words of encouragement for students and entrepreneurs alike, reminding the audience that today’s collaborations can become tomorrow’s breakthroughs. His reflections on the history of Canadian innovation, including the importance of perseverance, set the stage for the fireside chat that followed. Addressing graduate students in the audience, Tom added:
“I think for students that have ambitions of graduating, leading a company, The University of Toronto is one of the best places to have come to because they have lots of powerful launch pads.”
At the heart of the program were two inspiring founders who began their journeys as University of Toronto trainees and are now leading ventures poised to transform healthcare.
Alexandros Sklavounos, CEO and founder of Blue Ocean Technologies, shared the story behind their company’s mission to revolutionize digital microfluidics. Their flagship Class II medical device: a portable blood analyzer designed for emergency settings, promises to deliver rapid, point-of-care diagnostics when every second counts. This innovation was developed while Alexandros was a graduate student in Aaron Wheeler’s lab at the University of Toronto. It was officially commercialized through his spinoff company in 2022. Alexandros shared his unique perspective, as his company offers both its own product portfolio, but also has additional operations to assist external partners in developing their own digital microfluidics-based products.
You can find out more about Blue Ocean Technologies here.
Equally compelling was the story of Sushant Singh, PhD Candidate in Axel Guenther’s lab and founder of VRiT Inc., a company developing a handheld bioprinter and therapeutics that eliminate the need for autografts in treating severe skin injuries. By combining novel bioinks with a portable device, VRiT empowers surgeons to perform advanced, minimally invasive procedures with improved patient outcomes.
Photo by Dan Voicu.
Themes That Stood Out
The discussion explored the realities of building a health tech startup, from navigating regulatory pathways to securing funding and finding the right team. Both speakers underscored the importance of early engagement with incubators and accelerators, which provided not only financial support but also mentorship and strategic guidance. They also spoke candidly about the personal sacrifices involved including long hours, sleepless nights, and the constant balancing act between science and business. Sushant emphasized the importance of product-market fit and customer discovery during the early stages of technology commercialization, which he facilitated through his participation in the Lab2Market program.
“…You may think you know who will purchase your product, but that’s often not the case. It’s not actually the surgeon, it’s the hospital that pays. And that means you have to switch gears and rethink your entire sales strategy…”
Networking emerged as another key theme. Entrepreneurship, the panelists agreed, thrives on connections. Whether through incubator programs, demo days, or community events like this one, building relationships opens doors to opportunities that can shape the trajectory of a venture. Alexandros spoke to the importance of networking for students, no matter what their ambitions:
“Networking is important for every aspect of your life. Whether you are looking for a dog, working for a company, or developing something for yourself… I urge you to go out there, and start talking to people, go talk, start with your neighbour lab… and from then on keep going, because that’s definitely a skill you’re going to need.”
More Than Just Ice Cream
The CRAFT Ice Cream Social wasn’t just a summer gathering; it was a celebration of bold ideas, collaborative spirit, and the entrepreneurial drive that fuels progress in research.
Our two speakers mentioned accessing UTEST, H2i, Lab2Market, Creative Destruction Lab and others. For more information and resources about entrepreneurship on campus, check out University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (UTE):
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