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What is the Ignition Program:
The Ignition Program offers post-secondary students a 10-week program that gives access to training, mentorship, resources, ecosystem connections; and honorariums to support personal and business development. Students will be awarded $10 for each session they engage with!
What’s in this session:
Scientific discoveries don’t just shape our understanding of the world — they drive the creation of new industries, startups, and solutions that transform society. This session explores how scientific innovation and entrepreneurship fuel each other to turn ideas into impact.
Participants will dive into how breakthrough research becomes market-ready ventures, the role of scientists as founders, and how entrepreneurial thinking accelerates innovation. Through real-world examples and discussions, we’ll uncover what it takes to move from lab to launch — from identifying commercial potential in research to navigating funding, partnerships, and scalability.
Whether you’re a student, researcher, or aspiring entrepreneur, this session will help you see science not just as discovery, but as a foundation for enterprise and sustainable change.
Speaker's Bio:
Diana is the founder and CEO of Xatoms, an award-winning water deep-tech company that leverages patented quantum chemistry and AI technology to discover new materials capable of using sunlight to eliminate some of the toughest contaminants from water.
At 14, she backpacked through Asia with her mother. It was during this trip that she witnessed black rivers and decided to find a solution. At 17, Diana discovered her first material, winning the world’s most prestigious water award directly from the Swedish Royal Family. This achievement was followed by a fully funded Lester B. Pearson Scholarship to study computer engineering at the University of Toronto.
In 2023, Diana was named Canada's Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, and Xatoms received its first funding from Alexis Ohanian, the founder of Reddit. Xatoms is currently executing three pilots in Kenya and South Africa and collaborating with filtration companies across the U.S. to ensure more people have access to clean water. These pilots are currently providing clean water to more than 106,000 people.
Diana was the historic winner at the recent Startupfest, taking home $500K after winning in three categories. She is the youngest Emerging Leader in Canada’s Clean50 for 2025 and has spoken at over 20 global conferences, including the UN, G20, and the World Water Forum in Bali. Diana was also named to Forbes 30 Under 30 North America in the Manufacturing & New Materials category and was recognized as the Enactus Entrepreneur of the Year.
Zoom link will be provided after registration to the Ignition Program
