Open Mic Pitch — Call for Founders
About the Event
The Open Mic Pitch is where founders grab the spotlight. In a rapid-fire, one-minute format, entrepreneurs pitch live to an audience of partners, investors, and peers—no slides, just their story, solution, and ask.
Elevate Festival Context
Part of Elevate Festival 2025, this BIZ-hosted activation is designed to surface new ventures and voices within Canada’s startup scene. With 15,000 attendees expected, it’s the perfect stage to get noticed.
Agenda
2:00 – 3:00 PM | One-Minute Open Mic Pitches (Founders)
Award Prize 🏆 | Sponsored by SkillHat
Win Exclusive 1-on-1 Strategy Sessions with Mo Ekujumi, Founder & CEO of SkillHat
As part of Elevate’s pitch competition, one winner will receive two private 60-minute strategy sessions with Mo Ekujumi, the founder of SkillHat, a 7-figure EdTech and talent company. Mo is recognized for coaching both ambitious founders and emerging tech leaders to scale faster and achieve lasting success.
In these sessions, Mo will help you:
Craft a Grand-Slam Offer that not only attracts qualified leads but also makes those leads see irresistible value in working with you.
Map a Growth Plan to scale with clarity and confidence.
Define a Sales Script that turns conversations into clients.
Mo has received several honors and awards, including being named one of The Peak's Emerging Leaders for 2024 in the Tech Category and winning the Black Product Innovator of the Year Award from OBSIDI in 2023. Having built programs that placed professionals at companies like TD, Microsoft, and high-growth startups while mentoring founders on revenue, growth, and offers, Mo brings the proven insights you need to accelerate your journey.
Why Attend
Pitch your venture in front of investors and partners
Discover emerging startups and bold new ideas
Network with the ecosystem in a high-energy setting
Feel the buzz of live innovation in action
Coming Up at Elevate Tomorrow
The Black Innovation Zone is just getting started. More events are happening throughout Elevate Festival, including: