Among TechAlliance’s third cohort of the i.d.e.a. Fund™ was Deep Breathe Inc., a MedTech startup founded by physician and medical imaging expert Dr. Rob Arntfield. After 15 years of training physicians in hand-carried ultrasound, Arntfield recognized the limitations of traditional education. He had reached a few thousand practitioners, but hundreds of thousands remained unsupported.
His solution? Transform personal expertise into scalable AI systems. By embedding his clinical knowledge directly into diagnostic equipment, Arntfield created advanced AI technology that helps make radiation-free lung imaging more accessible, requiring less training and enabling broader use in hospitals, rural clinics, and even military field conditions.
Notably, ultrasound offers an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional X-ray imaging. By using sound waves instead of ionizing radiation, ultrasound systems consume less energy, generate less waste, and eliminate the need for hazardous materials, aligning with a greener, more sustainable healthcare model.
What started as a traditional path in medical innovation evolved into the realization that actual impact can come from transforming personal expertise into systems that empower others. Arntfield described himself as a “failed innovator” who found a better way to reach his goal, turning limitations into a product with the potential to reshape frontline diagnostics.
Accelerating with Strategic Support
The i.d.e.a. Fund™ provided Deep Breathe Inc. with more than capital, it created momentum. Arntfield and his team used the funding to bring in expert consultants who refined the company’s internal alignment and guided product development.
“The funding gave us breathing room to pursue things we might have delayed,” said Arntfield. “It accelerated our development across both product and strategy.”
With this boost, Deep Breathe Inc. achieved a major milestone: the final testing of its AI model, which was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The team also explored new applications for their technology, including military use where medics could perform diagnostic imaging directly in the field.
Mentorship through the program also proved essential, helping the team focus, refine, and scale their vision.
Innovation Under Pressure
Deep Breathe Inc.’s evolution reflects the broader transformation unfolding across Ontario’s innovation ecosystem. Founders are not only integrating AI but also navigating global uncertainties, from tariff shifts to supply chain realignments.
“What’s especially exciting is the strong presence of MedTech companies like Deep Breathe,” said Christina Fox. “We see physician-led innovation paired with a dynamic team of early-career professionals, which is bringing energy, ambition and that moonshot mindset we love to see in the medical device space.”
Programs like the i.d.e.a. Fund™ ensure that founders have the support to adapt and grow through uncertainty.
Building with Purpose
For Arntfield, impact and risk go hand in hand. A lesson learned through both clinical work and entrepreneurship.
“The common currency of entrepreneurship is risk,” he said. “A good idea alone isn’t enough. You have to be willing to show up and put yourself on the line.”
With support from TechAlliance and the i.d.e.a. Fund™, Deep Breathe Inc. is doing exactly that: scaling solutions that reflect deep expertise, bold thinking, and a commitment to accessible and environmentally responsible healthcare.
In addition to Deep Breathe Inc., TechAlliance’s third i.d.e.a. Fund™ cohort includes 11 other businesses across a variety of sectors: Limesoft, Zacstar Ltd., Carboform Inc., HaDa Medtech, Re:Pair Genomics Inc., SomaDetect Inc., Digits Rehab Inc., KROP, Everything Recycling Inc., Xatoms, Evelyn’s Sausage Kitchen.
Based in London, Ontario, TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario is a Regional Innovation Centre that champions businesses across several industries within the region, including AgTech, FinTech, EdTech, Life Sciences, and MedTech. In partnership with five other Regional Innovation Centres (RICs), TechAlliance plays a leading role in delivering the i.d.e.a. Fund™, a program made possible by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
In the program’s third cohort, TechAlliance provided 12 innovative companies with up to $20,000 in matching seed funding and 30 hours of executive-level mentorship. Collectively, the six RICs supported 72 companies from Kingston to Niagara to Windsor-Essex, fostering a diverse ecosystem of sustainable, scalable businesses.
As TechAlliance CEO, Christina Fox shared, “The i.d.e.a. Fund™ is a powerful way to continue advancing our deep commitment to equity and sustainability across Southwestern Ontario.”
The results reflected this commitment: 60% of the participating companies were women-led, 75% were youth-led, 75% identified as BIPOC, and 42% operated as social enterprises.
To learn more about Deep Breathe Inc., visit https://www.deepbreathe.ai.
To learn more about the i.d.e.a. Fund™, visit https://www.idea-fund.ca/.
To learn more about FedDev Ontario, visit https://www.feddev-ontario.canada.ca.