WEtech Alliance welcomes Cohort 9 of ScaleUP Accelerator
WEtech Alliance is thrilled to announce the launch of Cohort 9 of the award-winning ScaleUP Accelerator, an ambitious program designed to help the region’s most promising entrepreneurs and businesses scale faster, smarter, and stronger.
Since its inception, ScaleUP has been one of WEtech’s most transformative programs, helping founders sharpen their strategies, accelerate growth, and make a lasting impact in their industries and communities. Now, as we welcome the newest cohort of 10 incredible companies, we’re proud to continue building on that momentum.
Expanding the ScaleUP vision
This year, ScaleUP is evolving again. Thanks to renewed support from Libro Credit Union and new partnerships with Communitech and FedDev Ontario, we’ve opened the doors to entrepreneurs beyond our borders, welcoming three founders from outside Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent to join our local companies. Because we know innovation doesn’t stop at the edge of a map and great companies aren’t bound by postal codes.
That said, ScaleUP remains firmly rooted in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent. Built here, grown here, and sustained by a deep commitment to fueling economic impact in our community.
“With the help of Libro and Communitech, we are excited to open the ScaleUP Accelerator program to founders across more of Southwestern Ontario than ever before,” says Adam Castle, Director of Venture Services and Partnership at WEtech Alliance. “The Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent regions offer incredible value to innovators building products for the municipal, industrial, logistics, and agricultural sectors. Beyond that, we serve as a connection hub to the rest of North America. This is an opportunity to support companies who are proactive in creating meaningful, long-term impact in our region.”
“This partnership with WEtech is about giving founders more ways to grow across regions and across sectors at the foundational stage of company growth. By opening new doors between Waterloo Region and Windsor-Essex, we’re helping founders access the coaching, community, and support that move them forward,” says Christina Wood, Vice President, Founder Programs at Communitech. “As a proud partner, Communitech is excited to support the expansion of the ScaleUP Accelerator and help more early-stage companies take their next steps with confidence.”
A proven track record of impact
The results of ScaleUP speak volumes. Since launch, participating companies have:
- Brought 170 new products and services to market
- Created over 200 jobs
- Generated more than $39 million in revenue
And these numbers are only growing. With each new cohort, ScaleUP delivers not just coaching and capital, but measurable impact.
What participants can expect
Valued at up to $85,000 per participant, ScaleUP provides intensive growth coaching, expert mentorship, curated programming, and strategic connections designed to help founders achieve sustainable success. Participants will also gain access to unique opportunities to showcase their businesses, culminating in the ScaleUP Showcase pitch competition and a $20,000 prize.
“We’re so excited to see ScaleUP growing! At Libro, we know that when regional businesses thrive, our communities thrive,” says Lori Atkinson, Regional Manager, Libro Credit Union. “This expansion means more entrepreneurs will get the support they need to reach their potential, and with that comes greater economic and social impact across Ontario. The ScaleUP Accelerator program continues to spark bold, creative problem solving, and we’re proud to support it. We can’t wait to see what exciting solutions emerge next.”
Meet the 10 innovative companies selected for Cohort 9
Adopli AI transforms how businesses handle customer interactions through intelligent automation that drives real growth. Their multilingual AI agents seamlessly manage email, chat, and voice communications—from initial inquiries to follow-ups and appointment scheduling. Built specifically for growing small-to-mid-sized businesses, they eliminate operational bottlenecks that consume valuable time and resources. Through their blend of strategic automation and personalized multilingual support, they enable businesses to scale efficiently while reducing costs and maintaining exceptional customer experiences at every touchpoint.
“Being selected for ScaleUP Cohort 9 is a pivotal milestone for both myself as a founder and for Adopli AI. Our vision is to redefine how businesses communicate with their customers through intelligent, multilingual automation, and this program provides the strategic mentorship, resources, and network to make that vision scale faster. ScaleUP will help us sharpen our go-to-market strategy, strengthen our operations, and position Adopli AI as a growth partner for companies across Canada and beyond.”
— Abdulkafi Ghalion, Co-Founder & CEO, Adopli AI
Chocovate Labs is pioneering the world’s first scalable, cocoa-free chocolate alternative, an innovative, plant-based ingredient that looks, melts, and tastes just like traditional chocolate without the ethical, environmental, or supply chain challenges tied to cocoa. Positioned as a B2B ingredient platform, Chocovate Labs sells in bulk to food manufacturers, bakeries, and foodservice operators.
Decades Development’s MyProjectWorld revolutionizes industrial project management with the Project Wheel, an AI-driven execution and cost management framework tackling the $12T construction industry’s chronic delays and overruns. The Canadian-based company converts estimates into precise, schedule-driven tasks using proven project intelligence. Project Wheel’s proprietary AI delivers real-time optimization, what-if planning, and unmatched procurement intelligence with AI enhanced Canada Buys API integration and 30+ industrial apps.
“Being selected for ScaleUP Cohort 9 proves our vision: Canada can lead the world in construction tech innovation. I’ve spent 25 years managing project controls on $25B+ worth of mega-projects—from advanced drilling platforms, advanced silicon chip manufacturing to international bridges. I’ve seen how schedule failures stall nations for years and waste billions. Project Wheel changes that. It’s not just software—it’s battle-tested project intelligence, enhanced with AI to prevent the overruns that cripple infrastructure. With $1T in Canadian investment on the horizon, ScaleUP gives us the platform to deliver the tools that build the future.”
— Tony Gale, PTech, PMP | Founder & CEO, My ProjectWorld.ca
Estare is a Canadian advanced materials company redefining how packaging and manufacturing are done. Through its flagship product, PackSeries+, Estare delivers high-performance fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) solutions that are lightweight, durable, and environmentally responsible. Designed to replace traditional materials like metal and plastic, PackSeries+ empowers manufacturers to reduce waste, lower emissions, and improve efficiency—without compromising strength or scalability. With a growing footprint across North America and a commitment to Sustainable Capitalism, Estare is building the future of industrial design, one smart material at a time.
“Being selected for ScaleUP Cohort 9 is a huge milestone for Estare. It’s an incredible opportunity to accelerate our growth, connect with visionary leaders, and showcase how Canadian innovation—like our PackSeries+ FRP technology—can drive sustainable change across industries. We’re excited to learn, collaborate, and scale with WEtech Alliance’s support.”
— Vedagya Bakshi, Chief Executive Officer, Estare
JSB Innovations specializes in AI-powered smart wearable sensors designed to deliver clinical-grade data and actionable insights into patient health. Their patented technologies combine advanced materials with artificial intelligence to create comfortable, non-invasive, and scalable solutions for monitoring a range of health conditions, including sleep disorders. Beyond sleep medicine, their platform technology can be adapted to monitor additional respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic conditions, offering broad potential to transform remote patient care and expand access to preventative healthcare worldwide.
“JSB Innovations is excited to be part of the ScaleUP program and is looking forward to accelerating the business development while learning through the program. While coming from the research background, my team and I feel like being part of the ScaleUp program would be life changing for us. We are looking forward to connecting with growth coaches and learning as much as we can during the duration of the program, while working simultaneously to commercialize our product.”
— Bhawya, CEO of JSB Innovations
Quotograph is a construction technology company transforming how general contractors manage progress tracking, safety reporting, and permitting. With their construction analysis technology, contractors simply upload site videos of their construction sites to receive detailed reports highlighting project progress, risks, and actionable insights, or upload floorplans to generate digital measurements and automated takeoffs. By reducing the need for frequent on-site visits, eliminating manual reporting, and preventing blueprints from being printed, Quotograph helps contractors save valuable time, lower costs, and achieve meaningful CO2 reductions across projects.
“Being selected for ScaleUP Cohort 9 is an incredible milestone for Quotograph. We are looking forward to the transformative one-on-one coaching that will help us rigorously test, refine, and accelerate our growth strategy. This opportunity is about more than scaling our business; it is about sharpening our vision, strengthening our execution, and positioning Quotograph to redefine how construction companies operate. I am grateful for the chance to learn from world class mentors and apply those insights directly to building our future.”
— Taj Brah, Founder & CEO, Quotograph
Storefront Stays is a platform designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners grow through flexible, low-risk connections. By linking storefront owners with makers, artists, and entrepreneurs, they make it simple to share space, showcase products, and create collaborations that drive revenue and visibility. This also breathes new life into a challenge many Canadian communities face – vacant storefronts that could otherwise be opportunities. Empty spaces aren’t just idle real estate; they’re missed chances for local economies. When activated by small businesses testing ideas and building momentum, they transform into vibrant hubs of community life.
“Being selected for ScaleUP is an incredible opportunity for Storefront Stays. We’re eager to learn from accomplished growth coaches and peers, gaining new skills and insights that will help us strengthen our platform by integrating smarter digital tools and AI. This program will give us the tools and network to better support entrepreneurs and small businesses, while helping communities across Canada thrive. We’re thrilled to be part of Cohort 9 and excited for the journey ahead.”
— Kyla Bardwell, Co-Founder, Storefront Stays
ThermaRoot, developed by Stratus Plastics International’s Agri Division, is an innovative root-zone heating and cooling technology designed for commercial greenhouses. By delivering precise climate control directly to the plant’s root system, ThermaRoot helps growers reduce energy costs, improve yields, and protect crops from extreme weather. With successful pilot trials in Ontario’s greenhouse cluster and collaborations with leading research institutions and technology partners, ThermaRoot is redefining sustainable climate control for high-value crops.
“We’re thrilled to have ThermaRoot selected as part of ScaleUP Cohort 9. This opportunity allows us to accelerate our mission of bringing energy-efficient, climate-smart technology to greenhouse growers, while strengthening collaborations with industry and research partners. Being part of this program is a key step in scaling our impact both locally and globally.”
— Colby Wu, Program Manager, Business Development, Stratus Plastics
TransitRewards.ca is an innovative digital platform that helps public transit agencies and their rider communities turn everyday commuting into real value. By rewarding frequent riders with points, discounts, and local offers, TransitRewards.ca strengthens rider loyalty, increases engagement, and encourages more people to choose sustainable, low-carbon mobility — all while helping transit systems boost ridership and deepen connections with their communities. The company is closely aligned with cutting-edge work in zero-emissions transit technologies, electrification, hydrogen fuel cell systems, autonomous shuttle deployment and broader clean transportation and mobility innovation.
“With ScaleUP’s backing, TransitRewards.ca is accelerating the rollout of new features, expanding our partner network across Ontario, and scaling our capacity to serve more transit agencies and riders. This investment affirms the potential and momentum behind our mission: making transit more rewarding, resilient, and sustainable. We are deeply grateful to the ScaleUP partners for believing in our vision and supporting our next stage of growth. Together, we’ll bring more value to transit riders and accelerate the shift to low-emission mobility across Canada.”
— Josipa Petrunic, Owner and Founder, Transit Rewards
USpeak is a cross-platform mobile app that solves the biggest hurdle for high-stakes English exam candidates: the speaking test. They instantly connect learners from around the world for live video and audio practice, providing exam-specific topics and a safe environment to build real confidence. After launching in August, their community grew to over 5,000 users in the first week, proving a massive market need for a dedicated, specialized practice tool.
“We joined ScaleUP to turn our explosive early traction into a sustainable, high-growth company right here in Windsor-Essex. As a solo founder, I’m looking forward to the mentorship and structured support needed to scale our technology, build a team with local talent, and solidify our monetization strategy. We’re ready to take USpeak to the global stage.”
— Shayan Shaygani, Founder, USpeak
Looking ahead
With the backing of strong community partners, ScaleUP continues to push boundaries; empowering founders to take bold steps toward growth while keeping our region at the forefront of Canadian innovation.
Stay tuned as we share the journeys of these 10 companies over the next four months and join us at the ScaleUP Showcase this spring to see their progress live on stage.
Questions about ScaleUP?
Connect with our Manager of Programs and Client Experience, Susy Kustra
