Bronwyn Bridges' journey into entrepreneurship was driven by a desire to enhance the lives of individuals with Parkinson's disease. While pursuing her Master's in Neuroscience, Bronwyn observed significant gaps in patient care—specifically, the reliance on infrequent in-person assessments that often led to delayed interventions. This realization sparked the inception of PragmaClin, a healthtech startup dedicated to transforming Parkinson's care through innovative technology.

PragmaClin's flagship product, PRIMS (Pragmatic Intelligent Monitoring System), is designed to enable remote, real-time monitoring of Parkinson's patients. This system provides clinicians with objective data, facilitating timely and personalized treatment adjustments. However, transitioning from a research concept to a market-ready solution presented several challenges, particularly in the highly regulated healthcare sector.

“PRIMS empowers patients and clinicians alike,” Bronwyn explains. “It gives people living with Parkinson’s more autonomy in managing their condition and helps clinicians intervene earlier—potentially before symptoms worsen.” For patients, this means fewer hospital visits. For healthcare systems, it means more efficient care. But for Bronwyn and her team, bringing such a product to life came with significant barriers.

Navigating the Unique Challenges of Healthtech Entrepreneurship

Stringent regulatory requirements, the necessity for clinical validation, and the complexities of integrating new technologies into existing healthcare frameworks made establishing PragmaClin a challenge. For Bronwyn, these challenges were compounded by the systemic barriers often encountered by women entrepreneurs. "Securing funding as a woman in tech is an uphill battle," Bronwyn reflects. "The statistics are daunting, with less than 4% of venture capital allocated to women-led ventures. This reality forces us to be exceptionally resourceful and resilient."

Beyond funding, Bronwyn faced a sense of isolation that often accompanies entrepreneurship. “It’s one thing to have a ground-breaking idea,” she says. “But actually, building a business around that idea takes wisdom, guidance, and a support network—something that’s hard to access when you're stereotyped by your age and gender.” As she continued to build her business, the need for a supportive network became increasingly apparent.

Accessing Support Through The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch

When searching for support and resources, Bronwyn discovered The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch program—an initiative aimed at addressing the unique funding and network challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Canada.

The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch is Canada's leading pitch program for women entrepreneurs, designed to bridge the gap between innovative business ideas and the different types of capital needed to bring them to fruition. Recognizing that one of the most significant barriers for women entrepreneurs is accessing the right funding opportunities, the program focuses on fostering connections with funders, industry leaders, and experts who are committed to supporting the innovative businesses Canadian women are building and scaling.

Whether preparing for a first fundraising round or seeking to enhance previous efforts, participants benefit from a supportive community dedicated to helping them achieve their goals. By participating, entrepreneurs gain tangible experience, build confidence, and develop a toolkit essential for business growth that aligns with their vision.

From Visibility to Validation: The Forum’s Game-Changing Support

After multiple applications, Bronwyn was selected as a Finalist for the 2023-2024 cohort of The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch. This opportunity marked a turning point for PragmaClin.

The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch Program gave Bronwyn and PragmaClin a significant boost in visibility and credibility—two key components that are often difficult for women entrepreneurs in healthtech to secure. Participating in the program allowed Bronwyn to demonstrate PragmaClin’s impact to a national audience, including funders, collaborators, and healthcare professionals. “Part of the benefit coming out of the program is truly the credibility that you can actually have when having external conversations,” she shared. With The Forum’s name behind her, doors that had previously felt closed began to open—especially with stakeholders unfamiliar with PragmaClin’s work in Parkinson’s care.

The impact wasn’t just reputational—it was tangible. Bronwyn credits the marketing collateral developed through the program with helping secure new international partners. “We were able to show them how much value [PRIMS] could bring to their clinic,” she explained, referencing PragmaClin’s digital health platform. The visibility helped spark new conversations, secure contracts, and bring prospective partners into the company’s pipeline—contributing to growth at a critical stage of business development.

Mentorship played a pivotal role in PragmaClin’s momentum. Through the program, Bronwyn was matched with Sarah Wilson, a mentor who not only offered valuable strategic advice during the cohort but continued to champion her well after the program concluded. “Sarah stuck with me—making introductions, offering support, and shouting my name in rooms where I needed to be heard,” Bronwyn said. Those introductions have already led to partnerships and investment commitments, reinforcing just how transformative the program’s network can be for women entrepreneurs navigating complex, capital-intensive industries like healthtech.

Ground-Breaking Achievements and Future Aspirations

Since completing The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch program, PragmaClin has reached key milestones that are actively shaping the future of Parkinson’s care. With the validation and visibility gained through the program, Bronwyn and her team were able to launch clinical trials aimed at testing the efficacy of PRIMS in real-world settings. These trials are essential for securing further adoption among healthcare providers and validating the technology’s ability to support earlier, more precise interventions for patients.

In parallel, PragmaClin secured government grants to advance product development and research. Bronwyn credits The Forum and the support she received through The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch for helping her refine her storytelling and strategy—skills that proved instrumental in unlocking this funding. “We were already gaining traction before the program,” she shared, “but becoming a Finalist helped us leverage that momentum to access government support we hadn’t been able to tap into before.” Through mentorship and pitch refinement, Bronwyn gained the confidence to present her vision clearly and compellingly to key decision-makers.

Partnerships have also flourished. International healthcare organizations have begun to take notice of PragmaClin’s innovative approach, and strategic conversations are underway that could bring PRIMS into underserved communities across the globe. Bronwyn's vision extends far beyond Canada—she envisions PragmaClin becoming a leader in digital health for neurological disorders, expanding the reach of their platform through the integration of AI to enhance assessment accuracy. “We’re actively exploring global market expansion and AI-driven upgrades to PRIMS,” she explains. “With the foundation built through The Forum, we’re equipped to scale—and more importantly, to make meaningful healthcare accessible where it’s needed most.”

Reflections and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Looking back on her entrepreneurial journey, Bronwyn reflects not only on the hurdles she’s overcome, but on the importance of finding a community that believes in your vision and the opportunities that come with it. “The path is rarely linear—and often lonely,” she admits. “But programs like The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch can shift your trajectory. They connect you with mentors, peers, and funders who don’t just hear your pitch—they champion your purpose.”

For women entrepreneurs navigating building, scaling, and fundraising, Bronwyn’s advice is to “Apply to programs that align with your vision. The support and validation you receive can be transformative.” Her experience is proof that the right network can serve as a catalyst—offering not only business guidance but also the confidence to lead with conviction.

Bronwyn’s story is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when women-led ventures are given the platform, resources, and community they deserve. It’s not just about accelerating a company’s growth—it’s about empowering founders to drive meaningful, systemic change in their industries and beyond.