A satellite network that is modernizing space communications. An AI platform that powers safe autonomous trucks and taxis. An injectable hydrogel that can improve post-operative pain relief for patients.
These are some of the cutting-edge products and solutions being developed and commercialized by members of the entrepreneurship community at the University of Toronto, Canada's top university for producing venture-backed entrepreneurs .
U of T Entrepreneurship is gearing up to celebrate these and other startups during the ninth annual Entrepreneurship Week , which will be held from March 2 to 7 and comprises more than 15 events - from pitch competitions and startup showcases to inspiring speakers, workshops and more.
Here are 10 exciting U of T-affiliated startups to keep an eye on in 2026:
Kepler Communications
A satellite telecommunications company founded by U of T alumni Mina Mitry, Jeffrey Osborne, Mark Michael and Wen Cheng Chong, Kepler Communications has developed a space-based network that uses lasers to communicate between satellites.
The company recently launched 10 optical relay satellites via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket . With 33 satellites now in orbit, Kepler Communications can lay claim to operating the largest fleet of Canadian-built satellites.
Founded in 2015, Kepler Communications received early support from several U of T accelerators including Start@UTIAS , the Entrepreneurship Hatchery and the Creative Destruction Lab at the Rotman School of Management. The company has since raised more than $200 million in equity funding.
TransCrypts
Co-founded by cousins Zain Zaidi and Ali Zaheer, TransCrypts is using technology to strengthen digital identity verification and tackle AI-driven fraud.
Since securing second place at the pitch competition during Entrepreneurship Week 2022, the company has gone from strength to strength, raising $20 million in seed funding from investors including Mark Cuban.
Its platform - which combines blockchain, cryptographic security and military-grade encryption - has attracted more than 450 enterprise customers in industries ranging from health care to real estate.
TransCrypts received early support from The Hub - a U of T Scarborough accelerator that has been succeeded by the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Leadership .
AmacaThera
AmacaThera Inc. is a biotech company that has developed a novel injectable hydrogel platform that enables precise and sustained release of therapeutics.
Co-founded by Molly Shoichet , a University Professor of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and Pamela and Paul Austin Chair in Precision and Regenerative Medicine, and Mike Cooke, a former postdoctoral fellow in the Shoichet Lab, AmacaThera recently secured a licensing agreement worth over $300 million to investigate a non-opioid anesthetic, based on its hydrogel platform, that could revolutionize pain management. The company is also collaborating with Merck Animal Health to develop formulations for use in veterinary medicine.
AmacaThera Inc.'s growth and potential impact garnered it the honour of 2026 Emerging Company of the Year from Life Sciences Ontario.
Waabi
Founded by Raquel Urtasun, a professor of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and co-founder of the Vector Institute, Waabi is advancing AI-driven autonomous transportation in areas ranging from long-haul trucking to taxis.
The company recently raised $1 billion to boost the commercialization of its Physical AI platform in addition to more than $300 million in conditional funding from Uber to expand into robotaxis - among the largest venture capital financings in Canadian history, according to the Globe and Mail .
Urtasun previously headed Uber's self-driving car division in Toronto prior to founding Waabi in 2021.
Kiwi Charge
Kiwi Charge has developed robotic electric vehicle (EV) chargers that can autonomously navigate to parking spots and deliver on-demand charging - enabling more convenient charging for EV owners in high-rise buildings and dense urban neighbourhoods.
The company recently unveiled a $1.7-million pilot project with General Motors Canada and Pfaff Automotive to prototype and test its charging robot, which it showcased at the Canadian International Auto Show in February.
Founded by Abdel Ali, Kiwi Charge was part of the 2023 cohort of the Nobellum Innovator Program and the 2024 cohort of the Black Founders Network (BFN) Accelerate program.
NordSpace
Aerospace startup NordSpace is on a mission to revolutionize Canada's space sector by developing a comprehensive space launch system that comprises launch vehicles, 3D-printed engines, a spaceport and more.
Founded by Rahul Goel , a PhD candidate at the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), NordSpace is planning to carry out Canada's first commercial rocket launch by launching its "Taiga" rocket from its Atlantic Spaceport Complex this spring.
The company recently received support from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to pursue a research and development project with Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and technology company SWMS.
Goel previously founded events software startup Pheedloop as an undergraduate student, with support from the Entrepreneurship Hatchery
Xatoms
Xatoms uses AI and quantum chemistry to discover materials that can purify contaminated water.
Co-founded by Diana Virgovicova, who came to U of T with the support of a Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, Xatoms' partners range from textile manufacturers to mine operators and NGOs.
Since taking home the top prizes for early-stage startups at the Desjardins Startup Prize at Entrepreneurship Week two years ago, Xatoms has continued its upward trajectory, raising $3 million in pre-seed funding in 2025. In January, Virgovicova was invited to speak about Xatoms at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
ALT TEX
ALT TEX is developing a method to convert food waste into biodegradable and sustainable polyester alternatives, with the goal of boosting sustainability in the fashion industry.
Co-founded by U of T alum Avneet Ghotra and Myra Arshad, ALT TEX received early support from the ICUBE accelerator and SpinUp wet lab incubator at U of T Mississauga, and has since raised more than $4.5 million from investors.
The startup's co-founders were named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2025 in recognition of their contributions to manufacturing and industry.
MedEssist
MedEssist has developed an AI platform that helps pharmacies improve patient care and streamline their operations.
Co-founded by U of T alumni Joella Almeida and Michael Do, the company received early support from the Health Innovation Hub (H2i) accelerator at U of T, and has gone on to raise $6.5 million in funding.
More than 700 pharmacies across Canada and the U.S. are using MedEssist's software, with 100 of them using the comprehensive MedEssist Access to Care platform to transform from pharmacies into health clinics that can diagnose conditions and provide immediate care to patients.
Cohere
Cohere provides cutting-edge large language models and AI products that allow companies across industries to integrate AI solutions into their workflow to boost productivity.
Co-founded by U of T alumni Aidan Gomez and Nick Frosst - both of whom worked with U of T Nobel Prize-winner and "godfather of AI" Geoffrey Hinton - and former U of T computer science student Ivan Zhang, Cohere was valued at more than $9 billion in its most recent fundraising round in June 2025.
With roots in Toronto, Cohere has a global presence, with headquarters in Toronto and San Francisco along with offices in New York, London, Montreal, Paris and Seoul.
