When you are a startup in full-blown raise mode, running the gauntlet of investor meetings can be overwhelming. It feels like an endless cycle of research, one-on-one’s, demo days, elevator pitches, “tire-kicking” and more pitches. Founders understand this process is necessary, however it can be a very inefficient one; draining time and energy from entrepreneurs.
Rick Whittaker, Founder of AirShare, presents to panel of investors.
Invest Ottawa’s Venture Development team took a slightly different take on the process for 2018. On the heels of a wildly successful (AND SOLD OUT) AccelerateOTT, we rounded up over a dozen investors and dropped them into our shiny, new home at Bayview Yards. Our supported companies were given the chance to meet investors from across North America (and one from the United Kingdom!) without ever having to break out a passport.
All this translated to over 50 pitches in three hours!!!
Companies were given the opportunity of face-to-face time with select investors and then the chance to pitch the group as a whole. It was a smashing success, with all participants exclaiming how valuable they found the day.
Saalim Chowdhury, Partner at 500 Startups and AccelerateOTT keynote speaker said, “Often incubator pitch sessions, especially government enabled ones are mostly for show. The Ottawa one was genuinely great. Mostly solid startups, with humble yet driven founders, pitching clearly and concisely. I’ll be back again soon.”
A big shout-out to all the investors who took part; Panache Ventures, 500 Startups, Hustle Fund, Celtic House Venture Partners, MaRS Discovery District, Whitecap Venture Partners, OMERS Ventures, Mistral Venture Partners, Techstars, BDC IT Venture Fund, Capital Angel Network, Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP).
And high-fives to all companies who braved the hot-seat, again, and again….and again. Aetonix, AirShare, AirVM, Botmock, Brokrete, ChangeJar, Desk Nibbles, Evolved Vehicle Environments (EVE), GameStrat, GoFor, iBIONICS , Noibu, QuickSilk, Rewind, Transparent Kitchen Spiderwort Inc., Welbi, Wicket Inc., and Zighra.
These events are just one of the ways Invest Ottawa can help take your startup to new heights. Learn more about our new accelerator program and how we can help scale your business.
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