Two game-changing startups gearing up to face the world’s best student-led ventures in Houston

Two transformative ventures from Velocity and the University of Waterloo set to compete against the world's most promising student-led startups at the 25th Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC).

The University of Waterloo's entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to demonstrate its global impact as CELLECT. and ArcticEdge compete on the world stage. The top collegiate startup competition, awards more than $1 million USD in prizes to innovative student entrepreneurs.

CELLECT. is innovating for women’s health

Waterloo Engineering alum CT Murphy (BASc ’23, Nanotechnology Engineering) and current master’s student is developing the IP for CELLECT. alongside co-founder Ibukun Elebute, who holds a bachelor’s and master’s in Biomedical Engineering and is currently in the MBET program at Waterloo. Together, they are working on a breakthrough initiative to enhance women’s access to cervical cancer and HPV screening.

“We’re making cervical cancer screening truly accessible — no speculum, no swabs, just a seamless, non-invasive solution. Our goal is to bring life-saving screening to women and people with a cervix worldwide, removing barriers like discomfort, stigma, and access,” Elebute says.

Their innovative technology incorporates nanomaterials into menstrual products to passively collect and stabilize high-quality cervical cells, offering a non-invasive, lab-efficient alternative to traditional Pap smears and self-swabs.

ArcticEdge Technologies is protecting firefighters from cancer with a new material

Cancer is the number one cause of death for firefighters, and their gear — meant to protect them — is putting them at risk.

“Firefighters risk their lives to save ours,” says Drew Davidson (BASc '11, nanotechnology and MEng '16, chemical engineering) co-founder of ArcticEdge. Davidson along with co-founder Kade Truman (BSc '22, Science and Business and MBET ‘23), have developed a new material that offers high-quality protection without cancer causing chemicals, allowing firefighters to perform their best work.

“We’re innovating to ensure their gear protects them as well as they protect us. With our material, we’re working toward a future where every firefighter comes home safe,” Truman says.

Arcticedge and CELLECT. join 42 of the very best student-led startups to compete on April 10 - April 11 at Rice Business in Houston, Texas. Watch the official RBPC 2025 announcement

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