Thursday, June 18th, 2026 — This week, entrepreneurs from across Alberta took the stage in Calgary for a shot at $15,000. Co-presented by UPS and Export Development Canada (EDC), the Startup Global Pop-up Pitch Competition came to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), bringing together founders with three minutes to make their case for why their business belongs on the world stage.
After a field of 50 applicants was narrowed down to five finalists, Shani Gwin of wâsikan kisewâtisiwin was crowned the winner of $15,000! wâsikan kisewâtisiwin is an Indigenous-powered AI platform that corrects unconscious bias or racism directed to Indigenous Peoples in written materials. Their vision is to create AI from a matriarchal & fair perspective to benefit humanity.
Alongside the judges’ decision, the audience voted on a People’s Choice Award, recognizing the pitch that resonated most with the room. This $1,000 prize was awarded to Lukas Kobler of Aurora Fluid Systems Inc. Aurora Fluid Systems is a Calgary-based aerospace hardware company developing lightweight fluid-control products for aerospace, defence, and other mission-critical platforms. Their goal is to help teams build better aerospace and defence systems through lighter hardware, faster integration, and more responsive technical collaboration.
Meet the Finalists
After careful deliberation, these are the finalists who joined our winners on stage:
- Capturo Envirotech – Ian Atkinson
- EndoDiagnosis, Inc. – Maria Porcellato
- Guavy Inc. – Donna Tilden
Thank You to Our Judges
Running a pitch competition requires judges who are deeply committed and knowledgeable about what it takes to build and scale a business. Deliberation is never easy when the calibre of founders is this high. A sincere thank you to the judges who supported this competition:
- Paul Gaspar: Director, Small Business at UPS Canada
- Nancy Smith: Academic Chair – School of Business, SAIT
- Anes Rachid: Manager, Venture Growth – Platform Calgary
Your time and expertise are what give this competition its integrity. Thank you for showing up for Calgary’s entrepreneurial community.
Interested in pitching your business? Learn more here about other Startup Global pitch competitions we are hosting this year!
Thank You to Our Partners
We are proud to deliver this program alongside our partners, whose support enables us to provide education, access to resources, and funding to founders aspiring to launch into international markets.
Presenting Partners: Powered by Startup Canada, the Startup Global program is presented in partnership with UPS and Export Development Canada (EDC).
Venue Partner: Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Event Partners: Air Canada | Riipen
Ecosystem Partner: Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)
Community Partners: Alberta Women Entrepreneurs | Communitech | GS1 | University of Calgary Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking | Platform Calgary | Trade Commissioner Service | WeBC
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.