Mississauga, ON, October 29, 2026 – Startup Canada, in partnership with UPS and Export Development Canada (EDC), announces the winners of the 2026 Startup Global National Pitch Competition Grand Finale.
On stage, in front of hundreds of other entrepreneurs and ecosystem supporters at the Mississauga stop of the Startup Canada Tour, Ashlyn Newlove, CEO and Founder of Smart Sip Cream Co., was named the Grand Finale winner and took home $30,000! Earlier in the day, Knotting Hill Inc., founded by Latania James, won the regional first-place title and prize of $8,500, moving them into the Grand Finale portion of the day, where they competed alongside Halifax regional winner, Nicholas LaValle of Clean Valley Bio-filtration Technologies, Victoria regional winner Ashlyn Newlove of Smart Sip Cream Co., and Uzma Ahmed Din, of Calgary, Alberta, who won the 2027 Virtual Pitch Competition.
People’s Choice Winner
Maman Biomedical, who competed during the Mississauga regional round, pitched by Akudo Eze-Onuorah, also walked away a winner after being voted People’s Choice Award winner, taking home $1,000.
Meet the Mississauga Top 5 Finalists
- DigiBiomics Inc., Meraj Kh
- Maman Biomedical, Akudo Eze-Onuorah
- Knotting Hill Inc., Latania James
- Pierview AI Inc., Naqui Shaikh
- Neobanc, Kyle Collier
Meet the Grand Finale Finalists
Ashlyn Newlove, Smart Sip Cream Co.
Smart Sip Cream Co. is a small British Columbia business, operating as Mission Nutrition Inc., founded and owned by Ashlyn, who started it to make healthy habits feel easy. The company makes a Canadian-manufactured powdered creamer with chicory root fibre, offering 3g of fibre and 25 calories per serving with no sugar or gluten. Its three flavours (Vanilla Ice Cream, Classic Cream and Caramel Cloud) sell for $28 CAD each online and through retail partners.
Nicholas LaValle, Clean Valley Bio-filtration Technologies CIC
Clean Valley, aims to transform Canadian innovation with nature-inspired solutions for the aquaculture industry. Their team of skilled entrepreneurs, engineers, and environmental scientists specialize in delivering creative, nature-based strategies.
Latania James, Knotting Hill Inc.
Knotting Hill Inc. creates, manufactures, and brings to market its own housewares brands, with additional capabilities in open innovation and licensing partnership.
Uzma Ahmed Din, Vision 3X
Vision 3X delivers real-time 3D vision using a patent-protected technology approach that gives autonomous platforms the kind of spatial understanding that was previously only possible with sensors costing tens of thousands of dollars.
“I am launching a new product in the new year, so this $30,000 will be getting me a whole lot of coconut oil and chicory root fiber. It’ll go into manufacturing and ingredients!” said Ashlyn Newlove, CEO and Founder of Smart Sip Cream Co. Ashlyn then shared some advice for entrepreneurs who are looking to participate in a pitch competition, “Get in the room. What’s the worst that could happen? You get better at pitching. The best thing that could happen? You could get a check for [now, combining her winnings from the Grand Finale today and the Startup Global Pitch Competition in Victoria on September 29] $38,500, that’s a big deal!”
The finalists were selected through a series of in-person and virtual pitch competitions, with competitions in Halifax, Victoria, one Virtual, and the final event in Mississauga, the largest of the year. At each of these pitch competitions, regional founders competed for $8,500 cash and a guaranteed spot in the Grand Finale. The Virtual Pitch Competition provided opportunity to entrepreneurs who did not have access to an in-person regional competition.
Startup Canada would also like to thank all of the first-round judges. And a huge thank you to the following judges:
- Paul Gaspar, Director of Small Business | UPS Canada
- Leila Keshavjee, Founder/CEO | Happy Pops
- Cydney Mar, Business Owner | Cydney Mar Consulting
- Jennifer Cooke, Director for Inclusive Trade, Small Business, and Customer Care | Export Development Canada
- Garima Dhawan, Senior Director (Partner Channel Operations) | ADP
Now, more than ever, is the time to support Canadian-owned businesses! These winnings will help these early-stage founders navigate international trade, exporting, and growth.
The 2026 Startup Global program provided a total of [$100,000] in cash prizes to Canadian entrepreneurs. Through free webinars, industry roundtables, resource guides and pitch competitions, the program helped founders prepare to enter international markets, with national support from the co-presenting partners UPS and Export Development Canada.
About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since our inception in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to support more than 130,000 entrepreneurs annually. Through our flagship and digital programs, we provide guidance, eliminate barriers, and champion the needs of each and every entrepreneur. For more information, visit startupcan.ca.
Media Contact:
Olivia Jacobs, Marketing Manager,
Startup Canada