After announcing the winners of its 2015 Next Gen startup winners, The Next Big Thing has announced that they are partnering with the Cantech Investment Conference, Canada’s largest technology conference. Together, the two will host a nationwide contest for startups on January 26, 2016 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The contest is open to all Canadian tech companies that have five or fewer employees, have not raised more than $500,000 in seed capital, and whose founders are younger than 23. Four finalists will then be invited to square off at the Cantech Investment Conference.
“At The Next Big Thing, we thrive on supporting and accelerating the next generation of entrepreneurs to make their big business ideas a reality,” said The Next Big Thing co-founder and Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes. “We have had a tremendous track record in Vancouver, and are looking forward to bringing our model to the Toronto ecosystem to shake things up.”
To apply, startups must submit a one-minute pitch video and explain why they are the next big thing in 250 words or less. Entries should be mailed to nick@cantechletter.com between October 20th and December 15th, and will be posted to Cantech Letter as they arrive.
“We are excited to be working with The Next Big Thing on this brand-new, nationwide contest,” said Nick Waddell, founder and editor of Cantech Letter. “Companies with the savvy, skill, and hustle to get into the mentorship program Meredith and Ryan founded are already raising the bar. Coupled with the value the program adds, I have no doubt that the next Hootsuite, Shopify or Desire2Learn will one day come out of it.”
For more info on the contest, check out Cantech Letter’s release here.