Start-ups will compete for top prizes and investment opportunities in Northern Ontario's premier pitch competition
Sudbury, ON – NORCAT Innovation, Sudbury’s Regional Innovation Centre, is thrilled to reveal the finalists for Venture North PITCH 2024. On September 19th, at Place des Arts, these innovative companies will compete for game-changing prizes and funding opportunities in front of an esteemed panel of judges. The stakes are high as they vie for:
•$250,000 CAD Investment Opportunity from the Sudbury Catalyst Fund (contingent upon passing due diligence)
•$10,000 Judges’ Choice Award, plus Business Development Vouchers (combined value of $3,000) donated by Bereskin & Parr LLP and BDO Canada
•$5,000 People’s Choice Award sponsored by Plan A and Staff Stat
Finalists in the Venture North PITCH include:
•Chamber Perks Mobile App – Karen Hastie
•VETSon – Colin Yates
•Drinkable – Matthew Mizzi
•Scient Analytics Inc. – Masoud Ali
Additionally, a new category has been introduced for this year’s event: the Student Innovation Challenge, where aspiring student entrepreneurs will compete for recognition and cash prizes. The finalists for this category are:
•SellStatic – Imam Khalid
•Settle Inn – Samuel Emeribe
•The Alpha Nova – Shubham Dhamane
•Deaf AI – Mehdi Masoumi
Event Details:
Venture North PITCH 2024 is a collaboration between NORCAT Innovation, Northern Ontario Angels (NOA), the City of Greater Sudbury, and the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation. The event seeks to foster connections between Northern Ontario entrepreneurs and investors, driving the growth of the region's innovation ecosystem.
The day will begin at 1 p.m. with a keynote presentation by Dr. Sean Wise, Dragons’ Den Advisor and Professor of Entrepreneurship, followed by fireside chats and networking sessions. Attendees will also enjoy local entertainment by the Sarah Craig Jazz Trio, before culminating with the high-stakes PITCH presentations in the evening.
"We are thrilled to showcase the ingenuity and talent of Northern Ontario entrepreneurs," said Brendan Skiffington, Manager of NORCAT Innovation. "The event not only highlights the region’s potential but also supports the growth of new ventures that will contribute to the economic development of our community."
To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit our website: https://www.norcat.org/pitch2024.html
About NORCAT Innovation:
NORCAT is a global leader in skilled labor training, development, and innovation services. As Sudbury’s Regional Innovation Centre, NORCAT Innovation focuses on supporting early-stage tech startups and their founders. We provide access to essential resources and connect them with the networks necessary to start, grow, and scale their ventures.
About Northern Ontario Angels:
Northern Ontario Angels (NOA) stands as the sole Accredited Angel Organization in Northern Ontario. As a proud member of both the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) and Angel Investors Ontario (AIO), NOA connects accredited angel investors to Northern Ontario entrepreneurs looking for growth capital and investments. By facilitating connections between visionary startups and accredited investors, NOA plays a vital role in fostering innovation and driving economic development in Northern Ontario. www.northerontarioangels.ca
About Greater Sudbury:
The City of Greater Sudbury is centrally located in northeastern Ontario and is composed of a rich mix of urban, suburban, rural and wilderness environments. Greater Sudbury is 3,627 square kilometres in area, making it the geographically largest municipality in Ontario and second largest in Canada. Greater Sudbury is considered a city of lakes, containing 330 lakes. It is a multicultural and truly bilingual community. More than six per cent of people living in the city are First Nations. Greater Sudbury is a world class mining centre and a regional centre in financial and business services, tourism, health care and research, education and government for northeastern Ontario.
About the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation:
The GSDC is the economic development arm of the City of Greater Sudbury, consisting of an 18-member volunteer board of directors, including City Councilors and the Mayor, and supported by City staff.
Working with the Director of Economic Development, the GSDC acts as a catalyst for economic development initiatives and supports the attraction, development and retention of business in the community. Board members represent various private and public sectors including mining supply and services, small and medium-sized enterprises, hospitality and tourism, finance and insurance, professional services, retail trade, and public administration.
About the Sudbury Catalyst Fund:
The Sudbury Catalyst Fund is a unique co-investment seed capital venture fund administered by the Nickel Basin Federal Development Corporation in collaboration with the City of Greater Sudbury, the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, FedNor, and NORCAT. For more information, visit www.norcat.org/innovation/sudbury-catalyst-fund.html or www.nickelbasin.ca.
For more information, please contact: Cynthia Furlotte, Communications Lead at NORCAT at cfurlotte@norcat.org or 705-521-8324 | City of Greater Sudburycommunications@greatersudbury.ca
Sponsorships are available for this event, please contact Kimberley Wahamaa-Deschenes, Operations & Events Manager at Northern Ontario Angels at kim@northernontarioangels.ca or 705-207-2658 for more information.
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our sponsors to learn more please visit our website.