{"id":107963,"date":"2026-02-26T14:33:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=107963"},"modified":"2026-02-26T14:33:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:33:15","slug":"innovation-showcase-highlights-entrepreneurial-research-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2026\/02\/innovation-showcase-highlights-entrepreneurial-research-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovation Showcase highlights entrepreneurial, research talent"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Maheen Rajani launched her startup with help from Brock LINC<\/a>, her goal went far beyond helping men care for their skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe brand is a memorial to my late father who passed away in 2020 due to mental health reasons,\u201d she says. \u201cI created Axis Homme Skin as an opportunity to support men\u2019s mental health by engaging in self-care, which may help them to feel better about themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drawing on her family\u2019s business background and her long-term interest in cosmetics, Rajani started exploring the skin-care market soon after moving to Canada from Pakistan in 2023<\/p>\n

She quickly noticed the industry is largely geared towards women and their skin, which can differ from men\u2019s in thickness, collagen content, oil production and sensitivity. That insight helped her formulate a cleanser and moisturizer tailored to the needs of men’s skin.<\/p>\n

When Rajani began her Political Science studies in 2024, she also launched her entrepreneurial journey by enrolling in Brock LINC\u2019s NAVIGATE program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just over a year later, she displayed Axis Homme Skin\u2019s prototype products at Brock LINC\u2019s 2026 Innovation Showcase.<\/p>\n

The annual event, which took place Tuesday, Feb. 24, brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, students and community partners to highlight innovative Brock ideas and startups.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrock LINC’s focus is on getting Brock ideas and technologies to market, and what we saw at the event reflects just how many different ways that can happen \u2014 from student entrepreneurs launching their first ventures to researchers collaborating with industry, or commercializing years of discovery,\u201d says Brock LINC Executive Director Farzana Crocco.<\/p>\n

Rajani\u2019s display was one of 31 booths exhibiting Brock LINC start-ups, technologies and industry partnerships.<\/p>\n

Other exhibits included startups Rowing Precision<\/a>, Purvivino<\/a> and Kactis.AI; industry partnerships with Wandler Probiotics<\/a>, Kevares Autonomous Services<\/a> and Destiny Copper<\/a>; and technologies such as high-speed photodetector material<\/a> and immunotherapy for age-related chronic diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are just the tip of the iceberg and this event shines a spotlight on the tremendous work coming out of the University,\u201d says Crocco. \u201cWhen you add the impacts of partnering with industry, and how research is being commercialized, the potential for real-world change is truly exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event also celebrated recipients of four entrepreneurship awards.<\/p>\n

The Brock Entrepreneur of the Year Award<\/a> was given to Milad Nourvand for his company LingUp Education Inc., an app that helps users practice speaking English, Spanish, Turkish, French, and German through real-life, interactive conversations.<\/p>\n

Brock Innovator of the Year Award<\/a> recipients:<\/p>\n