That’s exactly what unfolded at The Chrysalis Innovation Challenge, where innovators pitched their bold solutions and big ideas to tackle the question: What does it mean for older adults to thrive in the community?
The event was a resounding success with over 100 attendees, 2,000+ People’s Choice votes, and inspiring pitches judged by experts like Ricky Mehra, Sherry Larjani, and Nancy Dudgeon. John Yip, President and CEO of SE Health, captured the spirit of the evening: "The vibe in the room [is electric]— people are connecting, investors, entrepreneurs, creating a healthy dialogue for innovation."
This Challenge was more than an event—it was a celebration of community, collaboration, and innovation. One finalist shared: “This experience has shown me how I can expand my idea to help seniors who feel isolated and lonely. It’s been incredible to connect with others and learn from their innovations.”
And what groundbreaking ideas emerged from this exciting event? Read on to discover the winners and the incredible ideas driving the future of aging.
What we have been up to...
Our innovators’ solutions reflected one of the following themes:
- How can we enable older adults to age in the place of their choosing?
- How can we reimagine how older adults can contribute their skills, talents, and years of experience towards a new purpose?
- How can we support the people who provide health, social, physical and mental support to older adults and their families?
Congratulations to Steadiwear for winning the $30,000 Grand Prize. A special thank you to The Peterson Foundation for sponsoring the Grand Prize. about all the finalists who are shaping healthier, more connected communities.
Tune into the latest season of podcast! Join host Zannat Reza as she explores topics such as women’s health, designing longevity communities, caregiving, exciting new health innovations and the benefits of collaboration across generations. Listen here.
Explore our vision to create vibrant communities that promote well-being, embrace nature, and support healthy living. .
What's inspiring us...
Join Tazim Virani, SE Health’s Senior VP of Social Impact and Global Affairs, on her five-day Canadian Delegation Fact-Finding Trip focused on Innovation. Read her daily reflections:
Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5.
In October, SE Health attended SOCAP24, the leading impact investing conference in San Francisco. We hosted over 50 purpose-driven leaders from Canada for a special meet and greet to discuss strengthening connections, driving innovation, and fostering impact. Madonna Gallo, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, shared her insights. .
Celebrating our friends...
The Chrysalis Innovation Challenge was a collective effort and could not have been achieved without the support of our sponsors. A special thank you to The Peterson Foundation, our leading sponsor, whose generosity made the Grand Prize possible. A big thank you to our returning partners, Spotlight Development Inc. and the Ontario Brain Institute, for their continued support of innovation. We’re also grateful to our new partners, GreenShield, who is driven by a strong social mission to improve our communities, and Caribou, dedicated to helping our Impact Ideators bring their ideas to life. Additionally, we appreciate the CAN Health Network for offering our Impact Builders the opportunity to connect with Canadian health tech companies.