PITCH showcases innovation and entrepreneurship from University of Toronto and our greater community. Focusing on early-stage ventures, we bring together innovators from a variety of sectors to pitch their businesses for cash prizes and in-kind support.
Join us on March 6th, 2024 for our fifth PITCH, International Women’s Month Edition, to stand in support of women entrepreneurs at a competition that promises to break down barriers and reward great ideas from diverse voices.
With a panel of women-identifying judges and all the people pitching will be women-identifying, coming in from two streams of ideas and early stage startups, come celebrate creativity and entrepreneurship for all. Learn from amazing speakers sharing their experiences, network with great companies, and witness exciting pitches as companies compete at the hub of entrepreneurship in action.
Catherine Addai is the founder and owner of Toronto based women’s clothing company KAELA KAY, a brand she started in 2013 out of the basement of her home. The premise of the brand is to offer bold, creative, and colourful clothing for today’s modern woman with a focus on using prints from her native Ghana, West Africa. Over the years, Catherine has grown her brand into a thriving business with 5 employees, a physical brick-and-mortar location, and a lucrative partnership with The Hudson’s Bay – all while raising her family. She is a wife and mother to 3 young children: 12 year old Mikaela (whom the line is named after), 9 year old Lex, and 6 year old Janae – all of whom she credits with being her real drive to succeed in life. A supporter of women in her community, all of Catherine’s current staff members are women of colour or visible minority. She has often described these women as a wonderful extension of her business family.
Over the years Catherine’s designs have graced many runways including New York Fashion Week, African Fashion Week Toronto, Fashion Arts Toronto and many magazines including FASHION and ELLE. Catherine has appeared on TV segments as well on Cityline and Today’s Shopping Choice (TSC).
Catherine has won several awards including The Woman’s Wear Designer of the Year awarded by The African Fashion Industry Awards and the Peoples Choice Award Designer of The Year awarded by By Blacks. She has also worked with many significant corporations over the years to share her entrepreneurial journey in keynotes, podcast, and conversations. She’s worked with QuickBooks, Ford, LCBO, DHL, AMEX, AECON, Cashmere Canada, and LCBO to name a few. She also works on her personal influencer brand CATHERINE ADDAI, where she shares her passion for business, fashion, travel, beauty and family.
Early stage
Do you have a business idea that will change the world for better? If you have an idea that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals then you should apply here!
Eligibility Criteria:
Prizes:
Later stage
If you are the founder of co-founder of an early-stage start-up that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals then you should apply here!
Eligibility Criteria:
Prizes:
All finalists must be able to:
Important Dates:
Applications Open: January 15th, 2024
Applications Deadline: February 20, 2024
ICUBE UTM, The home of Social Entrepreneurship at UofT, offers resources, programs, workshops and mentorship for people who are changing the world. If you want to make a difference, ICUBE is here to help you make it.
Room L1240 & L1212, Innovation Complex, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6
icube.utm@utoronto.ca
Indigenous business training program created by RedBird Circle Inc. in partnership with UofT Libraries, ICUBE UTM and The Bridge at UTSC
An experiential learning program that follows the school 3 semesters schedule, for anyone with a great idea who wants to make it happen.
A boutique-style remote program to support your business development and help you grow through one-on-one support. This program is open all year.
A student-led creative studio with intends to serve the prototyping and design needs of our ventures and small businesses in our community.
This 2-day retreat is designed to help you reflect on your journey, what drives you, all the hats you wear and what is next for you and your social enterprise.