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Michael Helander on the TechTO stage

Michael Helander

Co-founder, President & CEO, OTI Lumionics

Advanced materialsMississaugaOn TechTO stages since 2019

Michael Helander co-founded OTI Lumionics in 2011 out of his University of Toronto PhD and runs it as president and CEO. The company makes cathode-patterning materials that let device makers put cameras and sensors underneath an OLED screen rather than cutting a notch into it. It raised a $55M USD Series B in 2022.

On the TechTO stage ×1

First seen on the TechTO stage in 2019. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Michael

In their words

we have this almost kind of pornographic obsession with work of like look I only spent four hours last night and I worked for the last 16 hours and we think it's a badge of honor

TechTO, Jun 2019 · watch at 05:52
A few quotes can’t cover everything Michael said on the TechTO stage. 1,600+ talks are searchable.Ask about Michael

Around the web ×1

Quick answers

What was Helander's TechTO talk about?

Whitespace — his argument, at the June 2019 TechTO, that deliberately leaving gaps in your calendar makes you more productive rather than less.

What does OTI Lumionics make?

ConducTorr cathode-patterning materials for OLED displays. They let manufacturers hide cameras and sensors under the screen, and support foldable and more transparent displays.

Who has invested in OTI Lumionics?

Its $55M USD Series B, announced in October 2022, came from LG Technology Ventures, Samsung Venture Investment Corporation, UDC Ventures, Anzu Partners and the family office of Lee Lau.

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Maintained by TechTO · facts sourced and dated · last reviewed Jul 30, 2026