The Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) is launching a new pitch competition to encourage the development of new assistive technologies.
On August 9 from 1:30-5 p.m., 18 up-and-coming Ontario assistive technology companies will compete for $20,000 in business development funding at Ontario Centres of Excellence’s Accessibility Tech Pitch competition, which is part of The Government of Ontario’s Accessibility Innovation Showcase. The final five picked to move on by a panel of experts will continue to the final round on Monday, August 10 between 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The Showcase, which runs from August 8 to 10 at the MaRS Discovery District, is an official part of the Parapan Am Games. It’s an event that brings together innovators and investors, and runs in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
BetaKit Senior Editor and We Are Wearables founder Tom Emrich will be hosting. Pitching companies include Breqlabs, a company that’s created the Exoswitch wearable device that allows individuals with limited movement to select icons or links on a mobile device. Neutun Labs, whose founder just participated at this month’s We Are Wearables, will also be in the competition.
“Through our numerous programs, OCE has proudly supported the development of accessibility devices and technologies for many years,” said Tom Corr, President and CEO of OCE. “This competition is a way to further support that development as well as a made-in-Ontario innovation.”