Better Efficiency for the
Cannabis Industry
The cannabis industry is in its infancy, but needs purpose-built testing solutions in order to realize its true potential. Ekidna’s rapid, accurate, and decentralized cannabis testing technology helps licensed producers eliminate production bottlenecks, reduce operational costs, and bring their products to market faster.
A Unique Team
We’ve brought together a group of people with expertise in electrical sensors, chemical diagnostics and biology. No one else in the world is better able to deliver rapid testing solutions with the accuracy that the cannabis industry needs.
Mission and Vision
Vision
To accelerate the fourth industrial revolution for the
global agricultural and manufacturing network.
Mission
We exist to democratize industrial testing so that everyone has the
information they need to optimize their operations and thrive.
Our Partners
LD Tool & Die
LD Tool & Die is an Ontario company with a rich history of supporting biotech companies, including Spartan Bioscience and DNA Genotek (the designers of the 23andMe consumer DNA testing kit). As our manufacturing and logistics partner for the test kits, LD Tool & Die receives parts and materials, manufactures parts, assembles and packages the test kits, and then organizes the shipping. LD Tool & Die is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified, and is certified under the Controlled Goods Program.
Microart
MicroArt is our electronics hardware and printed circuit board (PCB) partner that manufactures and sources parts for our reader device. Also an Ontario company, they have a 40+ year history of supporting manufacturing for health sciences, aerospace, energy, wearables, robotics, agriculture, and other industries. They have multiple ISO and other key certifications.
Our History
Ekidna’s history began with the friendship of a group of researchers on the campus of the University of Ottawa.
Back in 2017, cannabis was a hot topic in Canada as we debated the merits and challenges posed by the impending legalization. Doctors Benoit Lessard, Adam Shuhendler, and Cory Harris often met to discuss some of the technical challenges with detecting cannabis accurately.
Electronic sensor expert Lessard, chemical diagnostics expert Shuhendler, and cannabis researcher Harris started working with PhD candidate Nic Boileau to develop a better way to test for key cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Their new solution worked accurately, took only minutes, and most importantly, was easy for non-experts.
After legalization in October 2018, the researchers realized that the cannabis industry as a whole greatly needed a testing solution that was designed for their needs. With better and more frequent testing, growers could adjust growing conditions for better results, and cannabis product makers could tune production runs for better consistency.
Officially founded in 2019, Ekidna now makes decentralized, rapid, and accurate cannabis testing easy. Boileau was chosen to take on the role CEO of the company. The three professors stayed on campus in the teaching and research roles they love, but still provide help and expertise as advisors.