Vancouver, BC, May 13, 2025 – The Startup Global Pop-up Pitch Competition landed in Vancouver on May 12, bringing a fresh wave of entrepreneurial energy to the BCIT Downtown Campus. Hosted by Startup Canada, this in-person event gave globally ambitious founders three minutes to pitch their businesses to judges for a chance to win a cash prize and advance to the finals.
After a day of standout ideas and fast-paced pitches, Ranah Chavoshi, Founder of PhyCo Technologies Inc., was named the winner, receiving a $3,000 cash prize and a coveted spot at the Startup Global Pitch Competition Finale at the Mississauga stop of the Startup Canada Tour. There, she’ll join nine other finalists to compete for a share of the $70,000 national prize pool on the Main Stage.
The audience also had a say, electing Nuala Bobowski, founder of Fromage Protein Pops, as the People’s Choice Award recipient, earning her $1,000 and eligibility as a wildcard for the Finale.
Joining them in the Top Five were:
- Enya Learning – Amin Sharifi
- CaterDash – Shreyansh Manchanda
- Misfits – Alexander Neumann
“Events like this prove that Canadian entrepreneurs are ready to go global, and they’re doing it with innovation, confidence, and impact,” said Isabel Nolan, Director of Programs at Startup Canada. “This competition is about more than winning, it’s about building momentum, growing visibility, and finding a community of support along the way.”
Finalists delivered their three-minute, no-slide, no-prop, pitches to an expert panel of judges, including:
- Hilary Kilgour, Managing Partner, Audaxa Ventures
- Paul Gaspar, Director of Small Business, UPS Canada
- Vishal Chhabra, Regional Manager, TD Bank
This pitch competition was part of the Startup Global 2025 program, a nationwide initiative that equips Canadian early stage entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and support to enter global markets.
The Startup Global program is proudly supported by UPS and EDC (Presenting Partners), along with FITT and TD Bank (Program Partners).
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re here to connect entrepreneurs with the support, community, and tools they need to build a successful business in Canada. Since our inception in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to support more than 130,000 entrepreneurs annually and an ever-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem support network from coast to coast to coast. Through our flagship and digital programs, we provide guidance, eliminate barriers, and champion the needs of each and every entrepreneur to private and public sector partners. Startup Canada supports entrepreneurs in starting up and scaling up to ultimately make Canada the best place to start and build a business. For more information, visit https://www.startupcan.ca/.
Media Contact:
Startup Canada
Britney Bresciani
press@startupcan.ca