Virtual Pitch Competition | Startup Canada Equal Slice
ABOUT
As part of the Startup Canada Equal Slice Program, The Startup Canada Equal Slice Pitch Competitions offer early stage, underrepresented entrepreneurs the chance to showcase their businesses, receive expert feedback, and compete for $100,000 in cash grants to help further develop their businesses.
PITCH COMPETITION DETAILS
Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Venue: Virtual (Zoom)
Entrepreneurs that are interested in pitching, apply by registering for this event. A Startup Canada team member will review your application. If you are eligible, you will be emailed a confirmation with a zoom link and a specific time slot for their pitch approximately 2 weeks before the virtual pitch day.
PLEASE NOTE: You are not guaranteed a spot by applying. Only 1 person per company may pitch and only the person pitching may be present.
This Virtual Pitch Competition will happen over the course of one day. The morning will consist of all the first round “heats”. Out of these heats, the judges will select a Top 10. The Top 10 will then pitch later that day at the Virtual Pitch Competition Final.
Pitchers will have 3 minutes to pitch followed by 3 mins of Q&A from two judges.
The pitch is verbal (no pitch deck/visual aid).
The Top 10 companies will be announced live at Virtual Pitch Final, please ensure you are present.
Of the Top 10, a Top 5 will be selected by the judges and will be awarded a $10,000 grant each.
AGENDA
First Round Heats:
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM ET | Group 1 Pitch
11:00 AM - 11:40 AM ET | Group 2 Pitch
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM ET | Top 10 selected
Top 10 Virtual Pitch Final:
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM ET | Top 10 Pitch
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM ET | Judges Deliberate
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM ET | Winners announced
WHO IS THIS PITCH COMPETITION FOR?
The founder/s or the business is at least 50% owned by someone belonging to at least one equity-seeking community, such as: Indigenous, First Nation, Inuit, Métis, 2SLGBTQI+, Newcomer/Immigrant, Black and other racialized communities (East Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Mixed race), Woman.
Less than $1,000,000 in revenue, as of April 3, 2025
Less than $1,000,000 in fundraising (E.g. Grants, friends & family, bank loans, investment, crowdfunding, pitch competitions), as of April 3, 2025
Less than 5 years of operating their business
Have business/operations in Canada
JUDGING CRITERIA
Pitches will be assessed with the following guidelines: Target market, objective, solution, leadership, traction (if any), and competition.
To learn more about the Startup Canada Equal Slice Pitch Competition, please visit the Startup Canada Equal Slice Webpage.
PARTNERS
The Startup Canada Equal Slice Program is presented by Pizza Hut Equal Slice and powered by Startup Canada.