Sweet BioPharma Day

** Applications are now closed

Companies were required to submit a two-page executive summary and a short presentation (a maximum of five slides) describing their cutting-edge technology, therapeutic targets, and unique selling points. Applications had to be submitted via the online form by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The participating pharmaceutical companies selected the 16 companies chosen to participate.

To be eligible for the 2026 Sweet Sixteen cohort, each applicant startup had to:

• Be a Canadian biotechnology company (therapeutic, diagnostic, biotools, or other biotechnology application).
• Demonstrate strong commercial potential and stand out through innovation or a promising project.
• Being in the early stages of development, i.e., “pre-Series A.”
• Be prepared to collaborate with industrial partners.
• Not have previously won a Sweet BioPharma Day award.

The selected start-ups had to comply with the following rules:

• One representative per company: In-person attendance is mandatory and at the company’s expense.
• Preparation and active participation: Sweet 16 contestants must prepare their presentation as an 8-minute pitch followed by a 3-minute question and answer period.
• Comply with the schedule of deliverables once selected
• Presentation in English