2025

We are pleased to announce the 6th edition of the McGill Engine's Summer Startup Internship Award Program (SSIAP) which provides McGill undergraduate students with an experiential learning opportunity within our startup ventures over the summer. They have the opportunity to collaborate with both the startup venture and a mentor at the McGill Engine Centre to ensure they have a well-rounded learning experience.

This year the SSIAP is supporting 10 summer startup internship awards. Two are made available through the Jim Nicell Startup Internship Award supported by endowed gifts from several members of the Faculty of Engineering Advancement Board and friends of the Faculty in honour of the past dean, Professor Jim Nicell. The remaining internship awards are funded through the support of other generous donors, namely, John D. Thompson and Stephen Hamelin.

The SSIAP stipend is valued at up to $6,750 per award.

Intern Profiles

Startup Profiles

DRIVE-TECH

DRIVE-TECH is a cutting-edge platform designed to orchestrate the transition, operation, and energy market integration of electric vehicle fleets. By combining advanced AI, optimization techniques, and data-driven insights, we empower fleet operators to adopt sustainable and efficient transportation systems easily. This platform simplifies fleet electrification, optimizes operations, and enables vehicle-to-grid integration, maximizing environmental and economic benefits. Recognized by McGill’s Invention to Impact program and highlighted in leading academic journals, DRIVE-TECH is the culmination of years of rigorous research and development. We are now scaling our innovative solutions to empower fleet operators with the tools to embrace the future of sustainable and electrified transportation systems. Join us in driving the shift towards a greener, smarter future.

Flotation Metrics 

Flotation Metrics is innovative startup transforming how minerals are processed in the mining industry. We combine cutting-edge technology and real-time analytics to help mines achieve greater efficiency and reduce costs. Our vision is to redefine how industries operate by driving a shift toward data-driven decision-making and big data solutions. Join us as we build the future of mining technology and shape the next generation of smarter, more data-driven operations.

Foursight Medical

Foursight Medical is pioneering a new approach to glaucoma treatment through innovative surgical solutions. With millions affected by this condition globally, we're developing a revolutionary device aimed at effectively halting disease progression and improving patient outcomes. Our mission is to redefine the standard of care for glaucoma patients worldwide, offering hope and a better quality of life.

Kuiper AutonomI Inc.

Kuiper AutonomI Inc. is a spinoff out of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University. Our product is the Kuiper platform which we are looking to commercialize.
Kuiper is a human-robot-AI interaction platform to deliver enhanced shared autonomy solutions for safe integration of advanced AI, smart robots, and humans in real-life industrial settings. Kuiper platform is designed to integrate into an existing host robot/machine automation system and bring an AI-enabled, human-in-the-loop, supervised sliding level of autonomy with an intuitive human interface design.
We are currently focusing on the deployment of our first tier (i.e., co-planner or operator-assist) of the shared autonomy framework. Our target market entry is machines used in the forestry industry, in particular log-loading machines and tree harvesting machines. The co-planner is intended to serve in a suggestive role to the operator to help with the high-level, demanding decision-making involved in log-loading and tree harvesting tasks. Over the next 6-12 months, we will be working on framework and software development, integration with necessary perception and edge-computing hardware and deployment in the field. On the business side, we are looking to grow the company through bringing in investors, strategic partnerships with other companies working on AI for forestry, and early adopters of the technology. Our core team is the co-founders Dr. Ehsan Yousefi and Professor Inna Sharf and we are actively looking to expand the team.

LiveGuard

LiveGuard is a cutting-edge AI-powered cloud service designed to revolutionize real-time video and audio editing for live streams. Our solution empowers content creators by primarily ensuring seamless protection against platform sanctions and demonetization, allowing them to stream confidently while promoting audience and sponsor growth. With effortless integration into your favourite tools and platforms, our service simplifies the live streaming pipeline, enabling creators to focus on delivering exceptional and fun content. Founded at McGill University as a hackathon project, LiveGuard is built on a mission to protect, empower, and inspire streamers in today’s competitive landscape. With roots from McGill’s TechAccel program and NEXT AI, our team is guided by values of innovation, community, and accessibility. As we continue to grow, we’re preparing for our next round of seed funding to expand our growth in the North American market.

OPSIS

OPSIS is an early-stage MedTech venture developing a low-cost and occlusion-robust optical tracking system for use in image-guided neurosurgery. The system enables surgeons to see in real time where their tools are in relation to critical structures in the brain, such as blood vessels and tumors. Our solution simplifies surgical navigation without compromising accuracy, making it accessible to a broad range of healthcare facilities. We are McGill Engineering graduates with experience in robotics and computer vision, committed to accelerating tech integration in healthcare.

ReSciCler

ReSciCler (Recovery by Environmental Social-licensed Cost-effective Innovation for Circular Economy of Raw materials) is an innovative for-profit startup dedicated to recovering valuable metals and critical raw materials (CRMs) from a range of solutions, such as waters, brines, wastewaters, mining tailings, and acid mine drainage (AMD) by using novel cutting-edge technologies such as nano-adsorbents and hydrogels. In doing so, we also produce eco-friendly, low-carbon footprint products, including zero-cement (unfrozen or frozen) backfill, from the residuals of the recovery process. Our mission is to help mining companies—whether active or in the closure stage—transform waste into wealth, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to a circular economy, all while ensuring affordability. The global mining industry generates billions of tons of tailings and wastewater each year, much of which remains untapped and poses significant environmental risks. ReSciCler’s technology provides an efficient, cost-effective solution to reclaim CRMs, reduce operational costs, and minimize environmental footprints.
We are a small but passionate team, supported by academic advisors, and are actively forging partnerships with mining companies to bring our technology to market. We have already collaborated with mines across Europe and Asia, as well as organizations like EIT RawMaterials. Focused on sustainability and innovation, ReSciCler is committed to making a meaningful impact on both the mining sector and the environment.

TerraTech

TerraTech is an innovative, student-run startup that leverages AI-driven geospatial data analysis to predict climate change impacts on soil stability. Our mission is to empower sustainable infrastructure development and risk management by providing accurate, actionable insights derived from satellite data, machine learning models, and climate science. With a diverse team of three passionate civil engineers and data scientists and a MBA consultant, we value innovation, precision, and environmental responsibility. We aim to build cutting-edge solutions that help construction firms, insurance companies, and other industries make informed decisions. Join us to develop groundbreaking software that makes a real-world impact!

The Air Keeper

The Air Keeper is a low-cost methane detection device designed for home use. It offers individuals who rely on natural gas an easy-to-use and reliable solution to monitor potentially dangerous gas leaks, providing peace of mind and enhancing home safety.

VoltLeaf Energy Inc.

VoltLeaf Energy Inc. aims to develop a nanocarbon-based technology that can store as much energy as lithium-ion phosphate batteries while all its other properties resemble ultracapacitors, including the ability to be charged more than a million cycles at very high rates of charge (up to 100 C). This remarkable performance is due to its construction that is physically similar to a conventional capacitor with a key difference: the carbon storage media is arranged so that charges can be distributed throughout the material's volume without any chemical reaction. This charge storage mechanism, differing from mere surface charge storage in conventional capacitors, allows an order of magnitude greater energy density than the best commercial ultracapacitor today. With its superior storage capacity and high charge-discharge rates, VoltLeaf battery has the potential to enter a wide array of markets ranging from niche sectors served by ultracapacitors (attenuating power surges, bridging short-term power losses, or transferring very large amounts of energy in a very short time) to the markets currently served by batteries (power a phone, cordless tool, and more recently electric cars).