Ekidna Sensing Joins The First Fund Portfolio

First Fund is delighted to announce the latest entrant to its burgeoning portfolio, Ekidna Sensing. Ekidna was founded by three University of Ottawa professors (Dr. Benoit Lessard, Dr. Adam Shuhendler, and Dr. Cory Harris) and Nic Boileau (CEO). These four individuals have experience spanning biotech, electronic chips, cannabis, and rapid chemical diagnostics. This unique combination led them to create the world's first lab-on-a-chip cannabis sensor to help support this rapidly growing industry. The team brings extremely strong technical expertise, but also biotech commercialization and business development experience.

Ekidna has developed a rapid, accurate, and decentralized cannabis testing solution to help licensed cannabis producers eliminate production bottlenecks, reduce operational costs, and bring their products to market faster. This lab-on-a-chip device rapidly tests cannabis samples for key potency markers, and allows producers to make informed and quick decisions about their processes. Delivering THC/THCa and CBD/CBDa results in 5 minutes, it can be used by anyone with a few minutes of training, and can be transported throughout production facilities or greenhouses.

"Ekidna is excited to have the support of such experienced entrepreneurs such as Sam and his team at First Fund. Their expertise in, and drive to support pre-seed Canadian tech startups brings them to offer tremendous value to our rapidly growing business", commented Nic Boileau, President and CEO of Ekidna.

“Ekidna offers growers rapid and on-site testing for their GrowOps, as compared to the slow and off-site testing that the industry currently has” said First Fund founder, Samarth Chandola. “Cannabis went through a bit of a boom, but as the dust has now settled, it is time for the more viable businesses and business modes to grow. This is an excellent, first-of-its-kind infrastructure play within the cannabis sector, and something every cannabis grower needs.”