International Women's Day was a few weeks ago, but we're not limiting our celebration to one day. On International Women's Day and every day, we're proud to support women founders as they build companies, create jobs, and drive meaningful change.
International Women's Day is a moment to celebrate progress and to recognize the work still ahead. In entrepreneurship, women founders continue to face systemic barriers, however we are thrilled to see that this year, 60% of HATCH ventures are led or co-led by women — a testament to the talent, determination, and innovation women bring to our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Today, we're spotlighting three remarkable founders whose ventures are making an impact across climate tech, digital health, and water innovation.
From left to right: Elayne Wandler, Dr. Mia Stankovic, Jaiya Varshney
Dr. Mia Stankovic, Co-Founder, Carbonyx Minerals
Dr. Stankovic is co-founder of Carbonyx, a climate tech venture advancing decarbonization solutions for chemical manufacturing. She holds a PhD from UBC's Department of Chemistry and the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute. Her research focuses on creating a hydrogen economy without relying on explosive hydrogen gas.
Her work on the "Thor" membrane reactor, which splits water into oxygen and reactive hydrogen atoms using electricity, offers a pathway to produce fuels and commodity chemicals from biomass-derived compounds as an alternative to petrochemicals. A recipient of the Tyler Lewis Green Research Foundation grant, Dr. Stankovic leads industrial collaborations and trains junior researchers while designing science outreach projects like Girls in STEAM at Science World.
Now translating her research into a venture, She is working to bring decarbonization technologies from the lab to real-world impact.
Elayne Wandler, CEO, eSense Health
Elayne Wandler is CEO of eSense Health, a digital health company addressing women's sexual health, an area of healthcare that has been overlooked for far too long. Sexual concerns such as low desire, arousal challenges, and emotional distress affect up to 40% of women, yet access to treatment remains limited due to stigma, cost, and a shortage of trained specialists.
eSense's commercial pilot is now live, marking a major milestone made possible by nearly a decade of rigorous scientific testing, health research funding, and support from the BC Women's Health Foundation. Co-founded by Dr. Lori Brotto, eSense delivers clinically validated psychological therapies — including cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based therapy — through a structured, at-home digital platform.
Under Elayne's leadership, eSense is making effective, evidence-based care more accessible, private, and affordable for women who need it. Beyond that, Elayne has served as a mentor through Innovation UBC's programs, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenges of venture creation.
Jaiya Varshney, Co-Founder, Tydra Labs
Jaiya Varshney is co-founder of Tydra Labs, a sustainable biomaterials company reimagining everyday materials through chitin — a natural, biodegradable material found in crustaceans, insects, and mushrooms. Tydra is transforming industries from bioplastics to cosmetics by using chitin as a performance enhancer that boosts strength, barrier protection, and antimicrobial properties.
Varshney’ss leadership and innovation were recently recognized when she was named to BCBusiness's 2026 30 Under 30 list. Beyond her work at Tydra Labs, she serves as a board member of the Her Wealth Summit, an initiative focused on female financial literacy and empowerment — reflecting her commitment to supporting women both as entrepreneurs and leaders.
Building the future
These founders represent just a few of the many women leading ventures at UBC. Across HATCH, Venture Founder, and our broader entrepreneurial community. Their stories reflect resilience, expertise, and a commitment to solving problems that matter.
See these incredible women founders in action at Innovation UBC's 2026 Investor Showcase on April 14. Mia Stankovic (Carbonyx), Elayne Wandler (eSense Health), and Jaiya Varshney (Tydra Labs) will all be taking the stage at UBC Robson Square to pitch their ventures to investors and the innovation community.
Join us to support these founders and the full lineup of 12 UBC ventures as they raise capital to scale their impact. Register now to be part of an ecosystem that champions women founders and drives meaningful change: https://innovation.ubc.ca/events/2026-investor-showcase
