Startups creating assistive tech can win $20,000 in OCE competition

accessibility tech

On May 15 to 16, the third annual Accessibility Tech Pitch Competition will allow companies to compete for $20,000 towards assistive technology that helps people with disabilities.

Taking place at the Ontario Centres of Excellence’s Discovery Conference, the competition is being hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (MRIS) and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario.

From a shortlist of 25 companies, five will be selected to pitch their innovative products or service to both the accessibility community and a panel of judges.

“The Accessibility Innovation Showcase has become one of the most popular features of the OCE Discovery Conference each year,” said Dr. Tom Corr, OCE’s President and CEO. “While improving the lives of people with disabilities, technologies that start as assistive devices can also find wider applications, such as speech-to-text, making Discovery an exciting space for the convergence of innovative technology and the broader demands of the marketplace.”

The showcase also provides companies an opportunity to preview products to potential investors, and is also a chance for the audience to experience and learn about accessibility technology first-hand.

Applications are being accepted until March 24.

Related: Accessibility innovation showcase: Tech assisting lives

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Madonna Dennis

Madonna Dennis is a staff writer at BetaKit. She’s a fourth-year journalism student interested in healthtech. She’s passionate about tight-knit teams working together, which is why she’s so fascinated by startup culture. Madonna’s hobbies include dragon boating, singing, and hosting a YouTube show about cat news.

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