RIC Centre, in partnership with ICUBE UTM and the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (Peel Region) announced the finalists for the Unlock Your Big Idea Pitch Competition today. The aim of Unlock Your Big Idea is to support innovation and economic development in the community by helping entrepreneurs take their business ideas from concept to commercialization. Finalists were selected from 160 businesses and teams narrowed down to 14 finalists including three from ICUBE.
The winners will be awarded cash prizes as well as mentorship and other support services through the Peel Ontario Network of Entrepreneur partner organizations. The winner for each category will receive a prize package valued at $10,000 and the runner-up $2,500. The Live Pitch Finale will take place on Thursday, May 5, 2016 from 5:00 – 8:00pm at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Innovation Complex (Home of ICUBE). Register here to attend this free event!
Finalists will compete in a live pitch event to an esteemed panel of judges including
Matt Schnarr – Awake Chocolates
Heather Arthur – Rogers Communications
Dan Sinai – IBM Canada
Stephen Beney – Bereskin & Parr
“The Unlock Your Big Idea Competition is a wonderful opportunity for talented entrepreneurs in the Peel Region and we are honoured to be hosting the finale at UofT Mississauga,” Donna Heslin, Director ICUBE and Assistant Director of External Relations Institute for Management & Innovation. “ICUBE & UTM are excited to engage with our innovative and entrepreneurial students and community members. “
The competition is delivered in partnership with the Peel members of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, including HumberLaunch, the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre, ICUBE – University of Toronto Mississauga, the Mississauga Business Enterprise Centre, and the RIC Centre. The program is supported by the Campus Linked Accelerator program through the Ontario Centre of Excellence.
The 14 finalists, in alphabetical order include:
Best Innovation for Tech Business
Dash MD (UTEST)
Electrefy
EMAGIN
ParticipAid (ICUBE)
Best Disruptive Innovation
InstecBio (Impact Centre)
IQ Biomedical
Medella Health
uBioDiscovery
Best Innovation for Small Business
BridesMade
Mod Market
Oneiric
Best ‘Investment Ready’ Company
Micharity (ICUBE)
Suncayr
U-Dimensions (ICUBE)
Congratulations to all finalists including Micharity, Participaid and U-Dimensions from ICUBE, as well as insTecBio from Impact Centre and Dash MD from UTEST, partner business accelerators and incubators in the University of Toronto entrepreneurial ecosystem.
For more information, go to uybipitch.com or register for the Live Pitch on May 5 here!
