Waterloo startup secures funding for innovative women's health device

A capstone project becomes a movement to #ScrapthePap

Founded by CT Murphy, a nanotechnology engineering alumna from the University of Waterloo, CELLECT emerged from a fourth-year capstone project. The idea? Replace the uncomfortable, often invasive Pap test with something women already use every month, a pad.

By embedding nanomaterials onto a commercial sanitary pad, CELLECT’s innovation allows for the collection of cervical and bacterial cells from menstrual blood. Women can simply wear the pad, send it to a lab and receive their results, with no speculum required.

"I didn't realize how underserved and under-researched women's health care was," CELLECT co-founder and COO Ibukun Elebute, who joined the team with a background in biomedical engineering and a decade of experience in health tech, told CBC News. "I was very infuriated and became very passionate about it because I realized that what we're inventing at CELLECT could really be a game-changer."

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Validation, funding and what's next

The $44,420 prize from The Forum’s pitch competition, which had over 800 attendees at its finale in Vancouver, will help CELLECT complete prototype validation and move into pre-clinical trials. Elebute described the pitch event as “electrifying,” not just for the recognition, but for the overwhelmingly positive response from women who approached her after the presentation.

“That's huge validation for what we're doing,” she said. “The speculum that we all know and that's used to access the cervix was invented over 50 years ago… everything we've built and all of our knowledge and medicines and devices were all on the basis of men.”

Murphy previously secured early-stage support through Velocity’s Up Start and Cornerstone programs in March 2024. With a waitlist already building on their website, CELLECT is preparing for clinical trials and, eventually, a full-scale product launch.

More funding options are out there — if you know where to look

CELLECT’s success offers a roadmap for other Canadian entrepreneurs looking to turn innovative ideas into funded ventures, particularly in women’s health, a sector long overlooked by traditional investment channels.

Canada is stepping up. Programs like the Odlum Brown Forum Pitch specifically support women entrepreneurs with funding and mentorship. Similarly, the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Thrive Venture Fund earmarks $500 million for women-led companies.

Early-stage founders can also tap into:

• University-based incubators, such as Velocity at the University of Waterloo
• Government grants, including IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program) and SR&ED tax credits
• Nonprofit accelerators, such as the Women’s Health Innovation Network
• Private funding, through pitch competitions, angel investor groups, and venture capital firms focused on healthcare and biotech

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Financial advice for future founders

Bringing a product to market takes more than a great idea — it takes planning, resilience, and smart financial management. Here’s how aspiring entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success:

• Build a financial runway: Keep personal and business budgets separate. Aim to save at least six months’ worth of operating expenses before launching full-time
• Get early feedback: Use grants and competitions to validate your product without giving up equity too soon
• Track every dollar: Invest in basic accounting tools or apps, and consider a financial advisor experienced with startups
• Protect your intellectual property: Budget for legal fees related to patents, trademarks, or regulatory approvals early in the process
• Apply often: You’ll hear “no” more than “yes” — and that’s okay. CELLECT applied to multiple funding streams before hitting their stride

Canada is ready — are you?

Women’s health innovation is finally getting the attention and investment it deserves, and CELLECT Laboratories is helping lead the charge. For Canadians with bold ideas and the passion to solve real-world problems, now is the time to build. With smart financial planning, the right support network and a little grit, your idea could be next to make headlines, and even change lives.

Sources

1. CBC News: Waterloo startup wins money for invention that is a 'game-changer' for women's health (May 12, 2025)