Virtual Pitch Competition | Startup Canada Equal Slice 2026
ABOUT
As part of the Startup Canada Equal Slice Program, The Startup Canada Equal Slice Pitch Competitions offer early stage, underrepresented entrepreneurs the chance to showcase their businesses, receive expert feedback, and compete for $100,000 in cash grants to help further develop their businesses.
PITCH COMPETITION DETAILS
Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PT | 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET (please verify your time zone)
Location: Virtual (Zoom) - You will receive a zoom link if you are confirmed to pitch
Entrepreneurs that are interested in pitching, apply by registering for this event. Please read through the whole event page before applying to ensure you are eligible. A Startup Canada team member will review your application. If you are eligible, you will be emailed a confirmation with a pitch time and zoom link no later than 3 weeks before the pitch day.
PLEASE NOTE: You are not guaranteed a spot by applying. Only 1 person per company may pitch and only the person pitching may be present. We request that only the person who intends to pitch completes the registrations form. Please do not apply on someone else's behalf.
Applications open March 9 for the first 70 spots, with remaining spots opening in June.
ADJUDICATION PROCESS
This Virtual Pitch Competition will happen over the course of one day. Please ensure you are available for the entire day. The first half of the day will consist of all the first round "heats". Out of these heats, the judges will select a Top 10. The Top 10 will then pitch later that day on a zoom webinar to a panel of judges and a live audience. Pitchers will have 3 minutes to pitch. The pitch is verbal (no pitch deck/visual aid). If you are product based, you are welcome to show it during the pitch but no demonstrations are allowed unless the judges specifically ask. The Top 10 companies will be announced later that day on stage, please ensure you are present. Of the Top 10, a Top 5 will be selected by the judges and will be awarded a $10,000 grant each.
First Round Heats:
9:30 - 11:40 AM PT | 11:30 AM - 1:40 PM ET: First round heats - If you are confirmed to pitch, you will be sent an exact time that you will pitch at.
Top 10 Virtual Pitch Final:
1:00 - 2:00 PM PT | 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET: Top 10 Finalists Pitch - We will announce who the Top 10 are live at the beginning.
2:30 PM PT | 4:30 PM ET: 5 Winners announced
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA - Applicants must meet all of these requirements.
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Be at least one of the following for the business the application is based on: founder, owner, co-founder, co-owner, person who owns or co-owns (51% or greater ownership) the entity, product name, or service
Be active in the business and a senior leader/key decision-maker
Have a business founded and based/headquartered in Canada
Have a business that has been operating, with a product or service in market for a minimum of two years
Have had annual revenues of a minimum $50,000 and a maximum of $400,000 CAD in at least one year of the business's operating years
Be a member of an equity-deserving and/or racialized and underserved community(ies). Equity-deserving groups include, without limitation, the following:
Indigenous, First Nation, Inuit, Métis
2SLGBTQI+
Newcomer
Black
Other racialized community (East Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Mixed race)
Woman
A person with a disability
PLEASE NOTE: If you have previously received a grant from another Pizza Hut Equal Slice Program, you are not eligible to participate in this pitch competition.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Pitches will be assessed with the following:
Target Market
Objective
Solution
Leadership
Traction
Competition
Community Stewardship
To learn more about the Startup Canada Equal Slice Pitch Competition, please visit the Startup Canada Equal Slice Webpage.
PARTNERS
The Startup Canada Equal Slice Program is presented by Pizza Hut Equal Slice and powered by Startup Canada.