Pitch Competition Supporting Emerging Entrepreneurs
Win $5K for your Startup!
One of Toronto’s leading pitch competitions is back! The Digital Media and Gaming Incubator at George Brown College is proud to present the 2019 IT’S A START Pitch Competition.
This April, ten startups will be selected to pitch their ideas in front of a live audience and judges at Digifest 2019. All startups have the opportunity to pitch their business idea, convince the judges of its value, and impress the crowd in 5 minutes for the chance to win cash, space along with an opportunity to attend Beijing’s Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC).
The Process
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PRIZES Selected winners will receive the following:
FIRST PLACE
$5K in cash
In-kind legal services ($3K in value)
provided by
12 months of private office usage
Opportunity to participate on the startup trip to Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference in Beijing
SECOND PLACE
$3K in cash
6 months of private office usage
Opportunity to participate on the startup trip to Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference in Beijing
Small Business License (1 year) plus Deal Negotiation Workshops
THIRD PLACE
$2K cash
6 months of hotdesk space at the Digital Media and Gaming Incubator
Small Business License (1 year) plus Deal Negotiation Workshops
Honorable Mention: Best Creative Startup
1 Full Access, One Year Membership to the Artscape Daniels Launchpad
People’s Choice: Best Tech Startup
$1K cash
Office Space at ICUBE, University of Toronto Mississauga
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Important Dates Important dates to remember for applicants:
Submit your application online using the form below. All applications will be reviewed by the IT’S A START committee.
All applicants will be notified on this date regarding the status of their application.
All IT’S A START semi-finalists will be invited to attend Creative Camp in March. The semi-finalists will meet with advisors, practice their pitches and mingle with other entrepreneurs. All semi-finalists will then be asked to prepare and submit their Business Model Canvas and a 60-second video.
All semi-finalists will be asked to submit their business model canvas and a sixty-second video following the Creative Camp.
Ten finalists will then be selected and notified to compete at Digifest 2019.
IT’S A START Pitch Competition will take place in front of a live audience and judges at Digifest 2019. Winners will be announced at the end of the competition.
Winning teams will receive cash and join the Digital Media and Gaming Incubator, a hub for innovative firms, in downtown Toronto. The grand prize is $5K (equity-free) and space at the Digital Media and Gaming Incubator. The top 2 winners will qualify to attend the Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC) and Global Pitch in Beijing next August.
The top 2 winners will qualify to attend the Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC) and Global Pitch in Beijing in August.
Testimonials
“IT’S A START has done an amazing job assembling a diverse line-up of talent to compete at this year’s pitch competition. As the 2017 IT’S A START second place winner, I was extremely humbled to attend the following Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference in Beijing. I learned many valuable lessons from experienced entrepreneurs overseas, and witness their astronomical rate of growth. This became an enormous motivation factor for us to work significantly harder. I encourage all entrepreneurs to enter next year’s IT’S A START pitch competition. It is an opportunity not to be missed! “
“After winning the Digifest 2018 IT’S A START Pitch Competition, we were invited to attend the Overseas Talent and Entrepreneurship Competition (OTEC) in Beijing. OTEC was an incredible opportunity to meet thought leaders from around the world. This was our first experience with the Chinese start-up community, and it was very encouraging to see how much they believe in supporting the work of both domestic and international entrepreneurs. We had this incredible journey because we were part of IT’S A START.”
2018 Winners
InStage
1st Place 2018
InStage is a virtual reality training tool that improves verbal communication skills. We combine virtual reality and data science to simulate the sensation of speaking in front of a live audience and generate metrics relating to your performance.
CoolCat Innovations
2nd Place 2018
CoolCat Innovations developed Sonacles, an innovative bone conduction hearing aid, in the form of regular glasses, which promises to bring affordability and discreteness to its customers.
Phyxable
3rd Place 2018
Phyxable is a self-help video solution that empowers you to fix your own pain and injuries.
Communihelp
People’s Choice 2018
Communihelp is a volunteer matching platform that uses an algorithm to match professionals seeking skills-based volunteer opportunities with social good organizations looking to maximize their social impact.
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Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC)
The 2018 IT’S A START Pitch Competition winner, InStage, had the opportunity to join the Digital Media and Gaming Incubator, on a start-up trip to China. InStage will be representing Canada at the Overseas Talent and Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC) and Global Pitch event in Beijing this August. This is an exclusive opportunity for start-ups to win the $1M RMB grand prize, fast track their expansion into China and meet with an international network of investors.
The Overseas Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (OTEC) is a government-sponsored event in Beijing that aims to connect international entrepreneurs with investment and growth opportunities, and to help them launch their startups in China.
OTEC + IT'S A START 2018 HIGHLIGHTS