Applications are open for the Startup Global Pitch Competition 2025. The Startup Global Pitch Competition is for early-stage entrepreneurs looking to export their products and/or services outside of Canada. Ten finalists will be flown out to Mississauga to compete for their chance to win from a cash prize pool of $70,000 to grow their business!
About Startup Canada Global Pitch Competition
Opportunity Details
Startup Canada is the gateway to Canada's entrepreneurial ecosystem that points you in the right direction, eliminates barriers, and champions your needs to private and public sector partners.
They connect you with support organizations and peers across the country with industry expertise, regional knowledge, and funding to help you start and build successful businesses.
Pitch Structure: Pop-Up Pitch Competition
- Pitchers will be given 3 minutes to pitch, followed by 3 minutes of Q&A from two judges. The pitch will be verbal, with no pitch deck. Participants are able to bring their product to the pitch. Please note, there is no set up time for products, therefore we can only allow small physical products. If you have a product that fits on a table top, you may bring it with you to your pitch.
- Following the first round of pitches, the judges will select the top 5 pitchers that will move on to the main stage presentation.
- The pitchers who have made it to the next round will be announced on the main stage in the afternoon.
- The top 5 will then present to a panel of 3 judges on the Mainstage. They will have 3 minutes to pitch, followed by 2 minutes of Q&A.
- Following this, the judges will pick the winner, who will win a $3,000 cash prize and a guaranteed spot in the Grand Finale in Mississauga in October.
- Pitchers must be present all day at Startup Canada Tour if they advance to the top 5 to be eligible for the main stage presentation.
- Startup Canada will provide transport and accommodation for the pitcher only.
Pitch Structure: Virtual Pitch Competition
- Pitchers will be given 3 minutes to pitch, followed by 3 minutes of Q&A from two judges. The pitch will be verbal, with no pitch deck. Participants are able to bring their product to the pitch.
- Following this, the judges will deliberate to select the top 10 pitchers who will advance to the second round the following day (April 8)
- Finalists who have advanced to the second round will be emailed at 4:00 PM (ET)
- The second round will take place on Tuesday April 8
- Following this, judges will select the top 5 that will advance to the Grand Finale in Mississauga in October
- Startup Canada will provide transport and accommodation for the pitcher only.
Benefits of Startup Canada Global Pitch Competition
Prizes
The winner of each Pop-up Pitch Competition at the Startup Canada Tour stops will win a $3,000 cash prize. In the Grand Finale, the top 10 pitchers will be competing for one of the following prizes:
- 1st Place: $30,000
- 2nd Place: $15,000
- 3rd Place: $7,500
- People's Choice Award: $2,500
Startup Canada Global Pitch Competition Requirements
To be eligible for the Startup Global Pitch Competition, you must meet the following criteria:
- The intention/ability to export and expand your business internationally
- Less than $1,000,000 in revenue, as of February 3, 2025
- Less than $1,000,000 in fundraising or investment (grants, bank loans, equity funding), as of February 3, 2025
- Less than 5 years of operating your business, as of February 3, 2025
- Have business/operations based in Canada
Please note these additional eligibility details:
- Employees of Startup Canada (and their immediate family members) are ineligible to apply.
- Submissions may be entered as individuals or teams, however, the maximum number of team members for a single pitch is limited to one person per company.
- A company may only submit one pitch to be considered for adjudication.
- For the Grand Finale, only one representative of the company may pitch to the panel of judges or answer questions from the judges and/or audience. For in-person pitches, the person that pitches at a Tour stop must be the person that pitches at the Grand Finale.
Application Date and Process
There are two ways to participate in the 2025 Startup Global Pitch Competition. You can pitch 1) in-person at one of our four Startup Canada Tour stops or 2) virtually.
In-person
Key Dates
To pitch in-person, register for the “Pitcher Pass” for the closest Startup Canada Tour to you:
- Tuesday, April 29: Startup Canada Tour Calgary | Register now
- Tuesday, October 22: Startup Canada Tour Mississauga | Applications open in the Summer
Virtual
Can’t make it to one of their Startup Canada Tour stops? Don’t worry, you can still pitch virtually!
Their virtual pitch competition day will be taking place on Monday April 7 (first round pitches) and Tuesday April 8 (Top 10). Applications will open on February 3 and close on March 28 or until all pitch spots are full.
Apply to pitch virtually
Application Deadline
28 March, 2025
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Startup Canada Global Pitch Competition
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