Specialization Tags
Biography
Neil Fleischer is an entrepreneur and commercialization strategist based in Montreal. As Founder of Zero21 Advisory, he works with university researchers, tech transfer offices, incubators, and accelerators to evaluate commercial viability, define go-to-market strategy, and prepare first-time founders for the realities of building a company. He serves as a Fractional Entrepreneur-in-Residence for research institutions looking to turn promising science into market-ready ventures. Neil co-founded and led Cube AI, an emotion and attention AI company at the intersection of biometrics and artificial intelligence. He guided the company from concept to execution, building technology that used physiological data including EEG, heart rate, and pupilometry to measure and interpret human emotional and cognitive states in real time. He built and closed B2B enterprise sales with large organizations, giving him direct experience across the full arc from research-stage technology to commercial deployment. In 2023, Neil was recognized as one of the ESOMAR Insights250 Global Leaders, an annual selection of the most influential people shaping the future of data, research, and insights worldwide. Neil holds an MBA and is based in Montreal, Quebec.
What Companies and What Challenges?
- Cleantech and energy companies (solar, water tech, batteries) looking to define their first commercial pathway - AI companies applying technology to a specific industry problem — not building foundational models, but solving real operational challenges - Medtech startups building devices, diagnostics, or wearables that need help getting from prototype to market - Transportation and logistics companies using software or data to optimize how things move - Construction tech companies digitizing job sites, materials tracking, or project management - Industrial IoT companies building sensor and data systems for factories and infrastructure - Wearable and consumer health companies building devices that track physical or mental state - Mental health tech companies developing digital tools for therapy, assessment, or wellbeing - Robotics companies automating warehouses, agriculture, or manufacturing operations - Sports performance tech companies using biometric monitoring to improve athlete training and health - Workplace safety companies using sensors and monitoring to prevent industrial accidents before they happen - Supply chain and procurement companies building software and optimization tools - EdTech companies improving how people learn through data and personalization - Fintech and banking companies building tools for fraud detection, lending, payments, or financial inclusion - Early detection companies using AI or sensors to catch disease, health risk, or system failure before symptoms appear
Network
VC's Government Funding Entrepreneurial Network