Annual UPstart challenge “detects” a winner

Emerging Queen’s startups pitched their businesses to a jury of angel investors during the third annual UPstart Venture Challenge, held in Toronto in December.

The winning team — and winner of the $30,000 prize — was Spectra Plasmonics, co-founded by Tyler Whitney, BCom’17 and ArtSci’18; Yusuf Ahmed, Sc’18; Malcolm Eade, ArtSci’18; Christian Baldwin, Sc’18; and Ryan Picard, Sc’17.

Launched as part of the 2017 Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Initiative, Spectra Plasmonics created a technology that can detect trace amounts of substances faster and more effectively than current methods.

“The judges liked Spectra because the technology has many applications — from accurately detecting trace amounts of fentanyl to peanuts. Ultimately, the technology can make a big difference in everything from law enforcement to food safety,” said Elspeth Murray, Associate Dean and Director of the Centre for Business Venturing.