Mann Parikh, a student at McMaster University, has achieved the runner-up position in a national student entrepreneur contest for his innovative technology designed to prevent nerve injuries during surgical procedures.
Parikh, the founder of NerView Surgical, secured second place out of over 100 student entrepreneurs at the 2024 Enactus Canada National Student Entrepreneur Competition. His groundbreaking tool aims to assist surgeons in accurately identifying nerves during patient surgeries, ultimately aiming to reduce the risk of nerve damage and subsequent pain and disability for patients.
While aspiring to become a surgeon, Parikh has realized that there are alternative ways, beyond pursuing medicine, to make a positive impact on the lives of others. He believes that health innovation and entrepreneurship are avenues through which individuals can contribute to the betterment of human health.
NerView Surgical utilises advanced technologies such as computer vision, artificial intelligence, and optical imaging to aid doctors in avoiding nerve injuries. Parikh emphasizes that the platform empowers surgeons to conduct procedures more swiftly, accurately, and with patients’ well-being at the forefront. The technology eliminates the need for dye injections or electrodes to identify nerves, subsequently minimizing the need for post-operative care due to nerve-related injuries.
The undergraduate student, enrolled in McMaster’s Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) program, conceived the idea for his startup during a Health Ventures course, where students are trained to define problems and devise effective solutions. Parikh expressed his keen interest in the integration of science, business, engineering, and research, particularly within the realm of health innovation.
Having received a £4,000 award from Enactus Canada, a non-profit organisation that provides support to post-secondary students through experiential education and entrepreneurial programming, Parikh’s NerView Surgical has garnered attention from several prestigious entities within the healthcare sector. The startup was selected from a pool of 1,400 applicants to present at the MedTech Innovator 2024 Road Tour in Washington, D.C., and also was among the top seven from 300 applicants and 40 international teams at a TCU Values and Ventures Pitch Competition in Fort Worth, Texas.
Moreover, the company achieved first place at the University of Waterloo’s BioTEC 2023 Pitch Competition and secured a finalist position in the 2024 Synapse Life Science Competition. In tandem with his academic pursuits, Parikh has actively engaged with McMaster’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, achieving second place at the university’s Forge Startup Survivor pitch competition after participating in the Startup Survivor Program for four months.
Furthermore, Parikh has benefited from McMaster’s Clinic @ MAC Residency program, which offers health innovators nine months of one-on-one coaching, pitching support, monthly residency rounds, and a demo day for the presentation and pitching of their ventures. As a program participant, Parikh has since returned as a panelist.
Mann Parikh’s achievement is a testament to the potential of student entrepreneurs in contributing innovative solutions to real-world problems. The success of NerView Surgical serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and underscores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurial initiatives within educational institutions.