Aurrin Ventures x NextGen Founders Lab Pitch Event (University and Highschool Edition!)
NextGen Founders Lab and Aurrin Ventures are hosting a youth focused startup pitch competition designed for high school and university founders in Calgary.
Six founders will pitch their ventures live in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. Each founder will have three minutes to present their idea, followed by two questions: one from the judges and one from the audience.
At the end of the competition, the judges will award $350 in non dilutive microgrants to the top teams:
• 1st Place: $200
• 2nd Place: $100
• 3rd Place: $50
Whether you're pitching or attending, this is a great opportunity to meet ambitious students, hear new startup ideas, and connect with Calgary’s next generation of founders.
If you are a high school or university founder interested in pitching, apply here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16vahN4PeAdImj5Ox96fsKCCFF7iWPCvkBIKhPGXHCUA/viewform?ts=697fb97c&edit_requested=true
Judges
We are excited to welcome an incredible panel of judges from Calgary’s startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem:
Mohammad Keyhani
Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship at Haskayne School of Business, Deal Partner at Boardy.ai, Co Founder at Honeybee Logic
Barry Vopnu
Founder & CEO at Circleup Tech Inc.
Sanjeevani Uppal
Venture Programs Specialist at Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, University of Calgary
How Pitches Are Judged
Judges will evaluate each pitch using the following criteria:
Business Potential
Can this idea realistically generate revenue and grow?
Clarity & Comprehension
Was the idea explained clearly and without unnecessary jargon?
Relevance & Impact
Did the contestant clearly describe the significance or potential outcomes of their idea?
Structure
Was the pitch clear, logical, and well paced?
Engagement
Did the pitch hold your interest and make you want to learn more?
Who Should Attend
• High school or university students interested in startups
• Student founders who want to pitch their ideas
• Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to meet like minded peers
• Members of the Calgary startup ecosystem interested in supporting youth founders
Event Details
Date: March 21, 2026
Location: Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Agenda
1:30 – 2:00 PM | Networking
2:00 – 3:00 PM | Pitch Competition
• Six founders pitch (3 minutes each)
• Two questions after each pitch: one from the judges and one from the audience
3:00 – 3:15 PM | Judges Deliberation & Winners
3:15 – 3:30 PM | Networking
About NextGen Founders Lab
NextGen Founders Lab is a youth venture studio helping high school students build real companies through hands on execution, customer discovery, and rapid iteration.
About Aurrin Ventures
Aurrin Ventures backs ambitious early stage founders with microgrants and supports the next generation of entrepreneurs through capital, mentorship, and community driven initiatives.