On August 28, 2025, ICUBE celebrated its annual PRIDE Pitch event at the University of Toronto Hart House. This competition awards a total of $10,000 in cash prizes to celebrate, support, and help advance the growth of 2SLGBTQ+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and other) entrepreneurs. Additionally, the first-place winner for this year received a complimentary ticket for full access to the 2-day retreat in September for the DoGood Retreat Conference 2025.
This time around, instead of going the traditional route of having the finalists pitch on a stage, the event took a more interactive approach and encouraged conversation between judges and guests. Each team had a booth set up to openly showcase their startup, and guests and judges could freely visit the finalists throughout the event. From there, the teams would have five minutes to pitch to a panel of judges, followed by a five-minute Q and A from the panel.
The two main winning companies were Be One to Give, an on-demand B2B redistribution app for retailers with surplus food, and Elev8 & Perform, a company focused on enhancing longevity/athletic performance and accelerating recovery through advanced wearable technology.
In an interview with Tony, founder of Be One to Give, they shared that “100% of the funds will go directly toward meeting client expectations”. Their goal moving forward is to keep onboarding new clients, continue selling, strengthen relationships, and get more food moving into the community.
For members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community thinking about applying to next year’s competition, he offers some words of advice:
“Anybody who has a business idea or a functioning business and wants to gain more exposure, my suggestion is to pitch. You never know who’s in the room or who might see your product or hear about it for the first time, even if it’s just an idea. If you believe in it, if you have passion for it, and you think it’s something tangible that can have an impact on the greater community and the world, then absolutely apply. Whether it’s PRIDE Pitch or not, get your product out there. The eyes and ears watching could take your startup to the next level.” – Tony Colley, Be One to Give
The PRIDE Pitch program is more than just a competition; it’s a celebration of diverse voices in business, turning bold ideas into thriving, community-driven ventures. Stay tuned for more opportunities from ICUBE, and keep building what matters. Happy Pride, and here’s to another inspiring and impactful PRIDE Pitch!
