Pitch Night [Pre-Startup Fest] at District 3

​With StartupFest in town, the city is about to pitch for real money. Pitch Night is where you get your reps in --- before it counts.

Got a pitch you're refining --- for investors, a demo day, a panel, or a pitch competition? This is the room to test it before it counts.

​You've got 3 minutes. No slides. No notes. Just you, your idea, and a room that's actually rooting for you.

​Agenda:
5:30 to 5:50 - Open networking.
5:50 to 6:10 - Brief intro
6:10 to 6:15 - Community ask + offers
6:15 to ~7:10 - Open pitches!
7:10 to 7:30 - Open networking.

​Pitching is open to anyone who wants the seat --- just volunteer on the night and step up. No pressure, no obligation; come ready to pitch or just raise your hand when you feel it.

​This is for you if you're a founder who is actively pitching or preparing for Startupfest, a demo day, an investor meeting, or another pitch competition.

Come to pitch, or come to watch and learn how it's done!

​⚠️ Note: Please only sign up if you plan on attending — spots are limited!

👋 Who are the judges?
Jeffrey (the host) is a pitch coach, PhD researcher in psychology at McGill University, Investment Associate at Front Row Ventures, and founder of Unscripted (unscripted.coach). He's worked with 100+ founders and technical leaders to help them communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence - without sounding scripted. His clients have gone on to compete at 3-Minute-Thesis Nationals, National Virtual Pitch Competition Startup Global, and the Dobson Cup Finals.

Charlie Gedeon is a program lead at District 3, designer, and educator focused on how technology shapes understanding, learning, and collaboration. Through his studio work at Pragmatics and his teaching at Concordia University, Charlie creates experiences that reward curiosity and invite reflection. His projects span AI, interface design, and education, driven by the belief that better tools help us ask better questions.

Danneelle Crisp is the CEO of Ellelogic AI, building technology that helps emergency rooms reduce wait times, improve triage efficiency, and support care teams under pressure. She won the 2025 Startupfest BlackInnovation Zone Grant.

What'll be the vibe of the night?
Pitch Night is not meant to be a showy, formal event. It'll be more relaxed and casual. The main goal is to help you practice your pitch and, additionally, network and get your startup in front of as many founders or players in the startup ecosystem as much as possible!

​I want to go but I'm afraid of going solo!
If you want to come but you're afraid of going alone, message me at any point before the event, and I'll pair you up with one or two other people who will come up with you. Or I'll accompany you beforehand.

​How will I pitch?
I'll ask who'd like to pitch on a volunteer basis!

​Do I need to pitch to participate?
No! You can just sit and watch if you want.

​Does my pitch need to be perfect to participate?
No --- messy is better than perfect. You want to get feedback BEFORE you get in front of investors. Feedback will be framed on how you can improve your pitch, not whether your startup is good/bad.

​Free snacks + drinks.

​There will be a photographer to take photos if you want to update your LinkedIn :)

​Also --- I wanna get a sense of who wants to pitch to help with planning, so message me if you're thinking of pitching! No commitment, but it helps me plan the night.