Four startup businesses will vie for prizes worth $10,000 during the 2023 NORCAT Pitch competition this week.
Taking place May 4 at the Sudbury Theatre Centre in downtown Sudbury, the event is marking its 10th anniversary.
Applicants have been whittled down to four finalists, who will pitch their business idea to a panel of jurists during a live event, which is open to the public.
The finalists include:
- WaiveTheWait, a healthcare-focused technology company improving the way patient flow is managed in clinics. With cutting-edge AI technology, they're creating tailored solutions to enhance clinic efficiency and patient experiences via virtual waiting rooms.
- WEST Inc., a pioneering Canadian company dedicated to changing the way the public perceives and utilizes waste as a vital energy source. Their proprietary technology transforms waste into valuable sources of energy; generating electricity, heating and cooling, with the ultimate goal of ensuring a sustainable future for the next generation.
- Bucky's BBQ Blend, a Sudbury-based spice developer whose all-natural, sugar-free spice blends are diabetic-friendly, Ontario-made and poised for rapid growth — they've already expanded to 11 SuperStores across Ontario in less than a year.
- LoopX AI, a group of skilled roboticists from the University of Waterloo that's revolutionizing the mobility sector with their cutting-edge vehicle-agnostic autonomy solutions. Their innovative ClairAlert™ system offers a reliable safety layer for underground machinery operators, detecting and avoiding potential hazards in real-time while alerting drivers of detected distractions or fatigue.
Attendees at the event will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite idea, with the People’s Choice Award winner taking home $5,000. Past winners include The YOAK, OQPY and StaffStat.
Information on how to register and attend the event is available here.
