Hello, We Are Suncayr
In 2014, three University of Waterloo engineers found passion in sun protection. Sun protection is important because it causes skin cancer - a type of cancer that directly affects their friends and family. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world and almost 100% preventable. When sunscreen is used properly, skin cancer can be prevented. Unfortunately, people still use less than 50% of the sunscreen needed to avoid a sunburn.
Today, our technology has won over 50 awards including a Dyson Award, grants from Johnson & Johnson, and Buffalo's 43North prize. Our team consists of chemists, engineers, and marketing specialists based in Canada, USA, and Australia driven to simplify sun safety for all.
Our Inspiration
These are the faces of our friends. They have skin cancer, melanoma, or have lost loved ones to skin cancer. They are why we do what we do. They remind us that this problem is real, that it needs to be fixed, and that there is a way to prevent the majority of skin cancer.
Our Mission
Our mission is to help you understand that overexposure to UV causes sunburn, skin ageing, and skin cancer.
Your skin is the biggest organ you have and protects you from all sorts of bad stuff like bacteria and dehydration. You’ve probably suffered through enough burns to know that the sun isn’t messing around. Without protecting your skin, too much exposure to UV radiation can damage your skin cells, suppress your immune system, age and wrinkle your skin, and eventually lead to skin cancer.
While the sun does have some positive effects, you only need small doses to reap the benefits. So when it comes to skincare and sun protection, it’s okay to overprotect.
After creating SPOTMYUV™, we discovered that, despite the best intentions, most people simply aren’t always doing the right things to protect and care for their skin. Without even realizing it. They don’t know that SPF50 doesn’t really mean SPF50. Why would they? It’s right on the bottle!
That’s why we foundedSuncayr.
Why Suncayr?
The unique spelling of Suncayr comes from our roots as material scientists. We’ve worked with different materials over the years, many of which have similar names. In chemistry, there are “aryl” bonds. As chemists, we liked the pun. We swapped the letters around—ary to ayr—as a nod to our origins, while still being able to pronounce Suncayr like “suncare”.
Meet The Team
Sam Sheehan
Director of Australia and Asia
Andrew Martinko
Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder
Chad Sweeting
Chief Technology Officer and Cofounder
Derek Jouppi
Chief Operating Officer and Cofounder
We've been in the news!
Buyers Choice Award 2019
Our Networks
Johnson & Johnson Jlabs
As the first JLABS to open outside the United States, JLABS @ Toronto joins a network of life science facilities that are based throughout the United States in San Diego (the flagship JLABS), San Francisco, South San Francisco, Boston and Houston. These facilities are home to over 100 early-stage companies advancing pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer and digital health programs. JLABS @ Toronto will be located at MaRS, occupying one floor of the West Tower and is a collaboration among Johnson & Johnson Innovation, The University of Toronto, MaRS Discovery District, Janssen Inc., MaRS Innovation, and the Government of Ontario.
Advance Queensland HotDesQ
Advance Queensland is a comprehensive suite of programs, based on international evidence of 'what works', designed to create the knowledge-based jobs of the future. The programs will drive innovation, build on our natural advantages, and help raise our profile as an attractive investment destination. Advance Queensland will position Queensland as a place where entrepreneurs, industry, universities and government collaborate to turn great ideas into commercial products and businesses that create jobs.
43NORTH
With $5 MILLION in prizes, 43North is a competition that’s in a league of its own. But it’s more than that. For winners, it’s an amazing staff and dedicated mentors. And free incubator space. And healthy tax-breaks. And some fierce ping pong. Founded in 2014, 43North is an unprecedented program, made possible by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s historic Buffalo Billion initiative, with support from the New York Power Authority. Our winners are helping to fuel a remarkable story that’s well under way – the renaissance of a great American city. BUFFALO, NY is poised to show the world what a 21st century city looks like, and that it’s a fertile ground for visionaries, pioneers, dreamers, and doers.
Velocity
Velocity is a leading entrepreneurship program at the University of Waterloo, and the largest free startup incubator in the world. Velocity runs programs on the University campus and in the broader Waterloo region. There are no fees to the programs Velocity runs and it does not take any equity from startups. For students, Velocity augments their education by incubating their natural entrepreneurial spirit. For alumni, Velocity provides an avenue to apply the world-class education they receive from the University and apply it in innovative ways as they build startups and launch new products.
Velocity is a highly successful startup community, which contributed to the success of companies that include Kik, Pebble, Thalmic Labs, Mappedin, Sortable and Vidyard.