Dr. Christopher Cowper-Smith

Chris is a published and award-winning leader, product innovator, and go to market strategist with commercial experience in start-ups, manufacturing, and medical devices. In 2012, Chris founded Spring Loaded Technology, a medical device company that developed and manufactures patent protected knee braces that unload weight and reduce compressive forces throughout the knees. The company addresses large, previously unserved markets in sports medicine, orthopaedics, and physical rehabilitation. The company’s knee braces are distributed across Canada and the United States, and the company is now expanding into the European Union. 

Chris served as President and CEO of Spring Loaded from 2012-2022, leading the company from vision to start-up to commercial success while raising tens of millions in start-up and growth capital and scaling revenues by over 50% annually for 4 consecutive years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris diversified the company’s manufacturing capabilities to produce face shields for hospitals and dental offices across Atlantic Canada. Chris and the company have received numerous awards, including among others, Nova Scotia Business Inc’s “Exporter of the Year”, the Halifax Partnership’s “Best Youth Employer Award”, and the Business Development Bank of Canada’s “Young Entrepreneur Award”. In 2021-2022, Chris recruited several industry veterans to strengthen the management team, board of directors, and clinical advisory board, then transitioned to a strategic oversight role on the company’s board of directors.  

Chris has worked with several other Halifax-based medical device companies in an advisory capacity, including most recently Axem Neurotechnology and Ring Rescue. These early-stage companies are bringing disruptive technologies to market that promise to improve patient wellbeing. 

Prior to founding Spring Loaded, Chris did his MSc and PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. During his graduate studies, Chris conducted and published on a range of research topics in the specialized fields of neuroimaging, physical rehabilitation, and psychophysics. His research garnered significant interest amongst his academic colleagues, leading Chris to become the recipient of over 15 academic awards including from organizations like the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and The Heart and Stroke Foundation. 

Outside of is professional activities, Chris is an avid ultimate frisbee player who has twice been selected as a Captain of Team Canada. Throughout his life, Chris has been a passionate volunteer in his community, most recently reflected by serving as the Vice-Chair for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and the Co-Chair of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Fundraiser. 

He is participating in memory of Terry Thorne, a close friend of 20 years.