Balancing the roles of university student and entrepreneur can feel like living a double life. For McMaster University students Deena Al-Sammak and Rooaa Shanshal, managing academic demands while growing their venture, Power of Play, is made more seamless by a degree that integrates entrepreneurship with health sciences and engineering.
Deena, graduating this spring from the Health, Engineering, Science and Entrepreneurship (iBioMed), and Rooaa, pursuing Software and Biomedical Engineering (iBioMed), are discovering that being a student and entrepreneur is an exciting journey that allows them to apply the skills from the classroom right into their business.
Deena speaking at the ICAIR conference/Power Play Pitch Competition.
Rooaa speaking at the Innovation Spotlight event hosted by McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy.
Back to the beginning
“When I was younger, I used to give my dad business ideas and tell him we should open a family restaurant,” Deena reminisces with a laugh. Little did she know, those early entrepreneurial sparks would lead her to co-found a startup that’s transforming pediatric rehabilitation.
Deena was drawn to the medical field when considering post-secondary options, but a high school economics course and her experiences in the iBioMed program at McMaster shifted her focus. “I quickly grew to love the innovation and entrepreneurship world,” she says.
Rooaa was drawn to the iBioMed program immediately after attending the Ontario Universities’ Fair. “I was so excited about the program that I told my mom, ‘This is it!’ She laughed and said, ‘Maybe don’t settle on the first thing you find.’ But I did, and it turned out to be the perfect fit!”
She was debating between nursing and engineering but found her calling in the unique McMaster University program that blends biology, sciences and engineering. “I didn’t really know anything about entrepreneurship until first year,” she admits, but her interest grew as she delved deeper into her studies.
Things don’t always go as planned
As part of a first-year course, Entrepreneurship in Biomedical Innovations: From Bench to Market, the two collaborated on their first project called Cortagraph, which aimed to use AI and PET scans to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
Rooaa shared that this course introduced her to the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical innovation, including its clinical applications and business perspectives. She found the course to be eye opening, as it provided a structured approach to understanding the initial steps through which healthcare solutions progress from discovery to real-world application.
The two innovators encountered obstacles with this project and realized that continuing would require resources and expertise beyond their reach at that time. This experience, though challenging, was invaluable. “This first project set the stage for our future endeavors and helped us understand the realities of bringing a biomedical innovation to market”, Deena shares.
Their ability to adapt and learn from setbacks ultimately influences their approach with Power of Play, a venture that aligned with their skills and needs of patients they identified in pediatric rehabilitation.
Deena speaking in a panel discussion at the second annual Made at Mac celebration, where McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy announced the McMaster Student Seed Fund Cohort.
Starting with their startup
The inspiration for Power of Play came from a conversation with Rehabilitation Science Assistant Professor, Tara Packham, who stressed that children are an underserved population when it comes to technology to support their rehabilitation and there was a significant lack of specialized tools for measuring grip strength in children. “The tool that she had was made for adults. It wasn’t working well for kids,” Rooaa explains.
Power of Play is focused on developing a toy-like medical device to measure pediatric grip strength, aimed at assisting children with conditions like autism, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy in their rehabilitation process. Dr. Tara Packham has since become the principal investigator and clinical advisor for their research. “Dr. Packham is amazing and has been a huge support to help us fully understand the limitations rehabilitation specialists face,” Deena says.
A supportive friendship
Balancing academics and startup development was no easy feat. “You need to spearhead research, product development, regulatory processes and marketing strategies, while still staying on top of coursework” Deena says.
Rooaa also faced her own set of challenges as she completed a co-op placement last year while dedicating many hours to Power of Play. “It was hard, mentally having to work full-time and also keep pushing our venture forward,” she says. However, the support system they built, including leaning on one another, helped them navigate these complexities. “We’d joke about how we were living double lives!” Rooaa adds.
Their friendship has been a cornerstone of their success. Rooaa says, “Deena and I have known each other since first year, so we were friends before we were co-founders. It’s great to work with someone you trust completely.” Deena adds, “We’ve had our fair share of late-night brainstorming sessions, fueled by coffee and laughter. Those moments are what make this journey so special.”
At Texas Christian University for a pitch competition featuring startups from across North America. Power of Play received the Ripple Effect Award for making an impact in an undeserved community.
Presenting the perfect pitch
A lot has happened in the past year and a half since starting Power of Play, including several significant achievements that highlight their innovative spirit and entrepreneurial passions.
- Startup Survivor with The Forge: Deena and Rooaa participated in workshops and challenges on business modeling, prototyping, go-to-market strategy and pitching to investors culminating in a final challenge that awarded them first place and $15,000.
- Hamilton Health Sciences DRIVE Spark Funding Competition: Power of Play was one of three teams awarded up to $50,000 through The Clinic @ McMaster’s health innovation programs to advance their ideas and grow their business.
- McMaster Student Seed Fund: Power of Play was awarded $15,000 in April 2025 as one of six student and alumni startups. This fund is sponsored by the McMaster Entrepreneurship Academy and The Forge.
- Synapse Life Science Competition: Power of Play received first place and $20,000. Rooaa described pitching on a public stage for the first time as equal parts surreal, nerve-wracking and completely exhilarating.
- University Health Network’s 2025 Power Play Pitch Competition: Power of Play was a pitch finalist at the International Conference on Aging, Innovation and Rehabilitation.
These achievements underscore the potential of Power of Play and highlight the supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem at McMaster University and beyond, which have been instrumental in their journey.
Rooaa holding the first-place cheque at the Synapse Life Sciences Pitch Competition in March where she pitched on behalf of the team. Their commercialization plan was selected among the top five from 15 life sciences startups, and won first place in the final round.
Looking ahead
Deena and Rooaa remain committed to and excited about the future development of Power of Play. The duo is seeking regulatory approval and refining the device based on user feedback. They’ll be testing a fully functional prototype with children at a local daycare in the near future.
Deena’s advice to other student entrepreneurs is simple: “Just do it. Start anywhere.” Rooaa echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of leveraging the supportive ecosystem at McMaster. “Make the most of it. Everybody’s there to help,” she says.
Deena and Rooaa look back on their time at McMaster with gratitude. “It is such a blessing to be where I am today,” Deena says. Rooaa adds, “I never expected to be working on my own company, but it’s been incredibly fruitful and a lot of fun.”
