Invest Ottawa Hosts the Largest Pitchfest Ever in Canada’s Capital

Mar 11, 2019

Pitchfest Accelerate OTT event banner

Invest Ottawa Hosts the Largest Pitchfest Ever in Canada’s Capital at Its Flagship Entrepreneurship Conference AccelerateOTT

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – March 11, 2019 Invest Ottawa, lead economic development agency for Canada’s Capital, today announced that it will host AccelerateOTT Pitchfest, the largest pitch competition of its kind ever in Ottawa, at its flagship entrepreneurship conference on June 11, 2019 at the National Arts Centre.

The AccelerateOTT Pitchfest will enable the best technology firms across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario to compete for $150,000 in seed investment on the AccelerateOTT stage before an expert panel of judges and a live audience with investors, media and conference participants.

Panache Ventures, Canada’s most active seed stage venture capital fund, has committed $150,000 cash to a winner-takes-all prize. This is the largest investment ever awarded to a single winner at a pitch competition in the startup history of Ottawa!

Now entering its seventh year, AccelerateOTT 2019 will bring together more than 600 founders, technology developers, innovators, industry leaders, investors and other R&D and business partners from the Eastern Ontario region, across Canada and around the world. This one-day entrepreneurship conference hosted by Invest Ottawa aims to to equip, connect and create new opportunity for founders, startups, scaling firms and their partners, helping to catalyze their growth and commercial success.

It will address key opportunities and challenges facing the startup and scale-up community, offering actionable guidance for entrepreneurs; relevant investor, customer and market insight and connections; and concrete business opportunities. The AccelerateOTT Pitchfest directly supports these goals.

“Funding is on the minds of entrepreneurs at every stage and we are always thinking of ways to make it easier for founders to get connected with top investors,” said Nick Quain, Vice President of Venture Development at Invest Ottawa. “Combining the AccelerateOTT Pitchfest with Panache Ventures is perfect. As a top early stage seed investor, its commitment will get the best early stage companies in our region wanting in. The exposure alone will be worth it, and the investment is obviously an amount that can make a serious difference for an early stage firm.”

“Ottawa’s startup ecosystem is on fire, so it was an easy commitment for Panache Ventures to make knowing some of the Canada’s top startups are located there,” said David Dufresne, Partner of Panache Ventures. “Having been involved with AccelerateOTT last year, we know it is the pinnacle entrepreneurial event for us to be part of. We’re pumped; this pitchfest is going to be a blast.”

Invest Ottawa will host two preliminary qualifying rounds of pitch events leading up to AccelerateOTT 2019. An expert investment committee will select at least five startups to take centre stage at the big pitch finale on June 11. Join us at the preliminary pitch events to see companies vie to compete to pitch on the AccelerateOTT stage:

  • Pitch-in Extravaganza, April 4, 2019, Bayview Yards, 7 Bayview Road, Ottawa
  • Pitch-in at Tech Tuesday, May 7, 2019, The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata

Don’t miss out on this thrilling competition that will further Ottawa’s position as one of the greatest entrepreneurial hubs in the world!

Would you like a shot at winning the $150,000 investment prize? Apply today at accelerateott.ca.

Get a sneak peek and cheer on the contestants at the preliminary pitch-in events by registering at acceleratott.ca – tickets are free!

The battle to win $150,000 will culminate at AccelerateOTT 2019! Tickets for this event sell out consistently year over year. Be sure to take advantage of early bird discounted tickets while quantities last. Order your tickets today at accelerateott.ca.

 

About Invest Ottawa

Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for Canada’s Capital, facilitating economic growth and job creation in the City of Ottawa. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally-recognized, innovative and future-ready city, and the best place to learn, work, live, and play, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development and global expansion programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. These include: small business training; mentorship; acceleration for technology firms; foreign business and investment attraction; local business retention and expansion in targeted sectors; commercialization; and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life. Since 2012, Invest Ottawa has worked with thousands of startups, scale-ups and SMEs; helped firms to attract $322 million in capital; contributed to the creation of more than 6,350 jobs; and attracted $293 million in Foreign Direct Investment. For additional information, please visit: investottawa.ca

 

About Panache Ventures

Panache Ventures is Canada’s most active seed stage venture capital fund, and is led by a team of experienced operators, with a strong angel investor track record, years of institutional VC experience and a strong network in Canada, in Silicon Valley and worldwide. The fund has a founders-first philosophy, a commitment to diversity and strategically co-invests with smart angel investors and seed stage funds. For additional information, please visit: www.panache.vc.

 

For more information, please contact:

Lucy Lai | [email protected] | 613-290-8464

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