When we launched the Startup Canada Equal Slice program, powered by Pizza Hut Canada in 2025, we knew there were incredible entrepreneurs across the country who just needed the right opportunity to showcase and grow their businesses; What we didn’t know was just how many were out there, ready to step up and share their dreams.
This year proved what we’ve always suspected: when you create real opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs, they don’t just show up, they rise up and impress.
Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers
From day one, the response was overwhelming. Entrepreneurs from over 100 cities across Canada, from major urban centers to rural communities, found their way to the Startup Canada Equal Slice program. They came with businesses in STEM, healthcare, food and beverage, clean technology, and everything in between. They came as newcomers building their Canadian dream, as women breaking into male-dominated industries, as youth with fresh ideas, and as seasoned professionals finally ready to bet on themselves.
When we opened registration for our Toronto pitch competition in June, we were flooded with applications. By the time our virtual competition rolled around in October, the momentum had only grown stronger. Over 350 entrepreneurs total put themselves out there, refined their pitches, and competed for a chance to take their businesses to the next level.
Who We Served: Redefining the Entrepreneurial Landscape
The demographics of our participants reflect exactly the kind of equitable access we set out to create:
- 62.7% identified as visible minorities
- 56.3% identified as women entrepreneurs
- 18.2% identified as newcomers to Canada
- 12.2% were youth entrepreneurs (under 29)
- 9.6% identified as persons with disabilities
- 7.9% identified as 2SLGBTQIA+
- 3.3% lived in rural areas
- 1.9% identified as Indigenous, First Nation, Inuit, or Métis
- 1% were seniorpreneurs (65 years+)
The majority of our participants were current entrepreneurs (76.2%) at the early-stage (36.6%) or post-launch (35%) phases, precisely the critical growth stage where access to capital and mentorship can make or break a business. Nearly half (49.8%) were pre-revenue startups, while 47% had sales under $250,000, operating with lean teams: 63.9% were running businesses with 1-9 employees, and 32.2% were sole proprietors.
Their top challenges? Access to funding, lack of mentorship and support networks, marketing, sales, and building credibility and trust which are some of the exact barriers that the Startup Canada Equal Slice program was designed to address.
Beyond the Prize: Building Long-Term Capacity
The Startup Canada Equal Slice program has a lot more intention and depth than just another pitch competition. Our first four educational webinars drew 350+ total registrations and created lasting learning resources that we continue to keep available online:
Empower Your Pitch brought together Amin Yazdani, Mehrsa Raeiszadeh, and Rohit Mehta, who emphasized that “you can stand out by being concise and clear – own your pitch. That’s how it’s going to be memorable. Less is more, and that can be to your advantage.”
Protecting Your Intellectual Property featured Caroline Lefebvre from CIPO, Alejandro Martinez-Ramos from Bold New Edge, and Monika Rak from FOR PIQ/Agapyo as they helped listeners understand the importance of intellectual property (IP) and how to safeguard your innovative ideas and creations.
Strategic Networking with Tia Upshaw and Lindsay Johnson, “The Radical Connector,” reminded participants: “Your network isn’t just who you know, it’s who knows you, and who trusts you enough to open doors.”
Navigating the Support Ecosystem featured Karla Briones from Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada, Candace Lauren from CLGC Consulting & BEBC Society, and A.J. Stewart from Queer Tech, highlighting that “Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is incredibly welcoming and founders genuinely want to help each other succeed.”
These webinars created lasting value for hundreds of entrepreneurs, building the knowledge and connections needed to turn ideas into thriving businesses.
Ten Winners, Unlimited Potential
From the hundreds of applicants, we awarded $100,000 in grant funding to ten exceptional entrepreneurs, five in Toronto at our in-person pitch competition and five virtually. Each winner received $10,000 in non-dilutive funding, but more importantly, they received the recognition they deserved, and they were given the opportunity to take their business to the next level with their new funding.
Toronto Winners
DOUBL (Bryn Williams): “The Equal Slice Pitch Competition came at a pivotal time for us. Early-stage entrepreneurship is about persistence, and this support gives us the momentum to keep building toward that vision,” says Bryn.
DOUBL is eliminating the online shopping guessing game by connecting shoppers to their virtual body double. Their tech helps consumers find clothes that actually fit and helps brands cut waste and returns. It’s a step toward a more confident and inclusive shopping experience.
elerGreen (Hui Huang Hoe): “Even without the prize, the pitch competition is ideal for connecting with people to drive positive changes, maybe the real prize was the friends we made along the way,” Hui Huang expresses.
elerGreen is proving that pollution can become a resource by converting CO2, tailings, and petrochemical waste into valuable materials. Their continuous electrowinning process offers a cleaner, smarter path forward for industry.
Rude Mama Hot Sauce (Thi Viet Anh Nguyen): “Winning the pitch competition gave us the critical funding to cover our last production batch and maintain our runway for the holiday season, also freeing up resources and time as we prepare for our next stage of growth,” Thi Viet Anh describes.
Rude Mama is redefining hot sauce with Vietnamese-inspired, small-batch recipes crafted from local Ontario ingredients. Everything is vegan, clean-label, and packaged plastic-free, blending cultural authenticity with a fresh take on sustainability.
Canadian Handiwoman (Tammy Watson): “Winning the Equal Slice Pitch Competition gave me the confidence, clarity, and visibility to keep building and growing this vision,” Tammy expresses.
Canadian Handywoman gives women the confidence to take on home repairs through practical, hands-on community workshops. Their personalized sessions make learning approachable and help women gain independence with every project.
My Dorm Store (Arlyne James): “Winning the Pizza Hut Equal Slice Pitch Competition gave me the opportunity to share our story and continue growing our impact,” says Arlyne.
My Dorm Store delivers residence essentials directly to students’ dorm rooms before they arrive, transforming the move-in experience. Students settle in faster, parents avoid the stress, and residence teams skip the chaos.
Virtual Winners
Take Care Together (Laura Shoots): “With AI-powered guidance coming soon (thanks to funds from Pizza Hut and Startup Canada!), Take Care is on a mission to make planning ahead easier, more human, and rooted in love,” Laura shares.
Take Care Together helps people organize their wishes, documents, and important information so families are supported during health crises or end-of-life moments. Built on clinical expertise and research-backed guidance, it makes planning clearer, simpler, and more compassionate.
Roncy Packs (Le Ching Vuong): “The pitch competition helped us expand through better equipment, improving our production efficiency by 30%, while also strengthening our marketing strategy, reaching more people who value craftsmanship and sustainability. We’re excited to continue making thoughtful products, preserving craft, and proving that small-scale making can still have a big impact,” Le Ching expresses.
Roncy Packs turns leftover leather and textile scraps into handcrafted fanny packs. From a grandmother’s first creation to over 6,000 packs later, the brand champions sustainability, craftsmanship, and mindful production.
Whippd (Shruti Priya Agarwal): “Winning the Pizza Hut Equal Slice Pitch Competition gave us incredible visibility, funding, and connections with like-minded founders, helping us bring Whipdd’s flavourful butter into even more Canadian households,” Shruti Priya describes.
Whippd brings a fresh twist to a kitchen staple, creating clean-label butters with Canadian dairy and local ingredients. Available in 200+ stores, they make it easy to add bold flavour to any meal.
Yekola (Merveille Mukoko): “Winning the Pizza Hut Equal Slice Pitch Competition has given us both momentum and visibility to continue scaling this mission, one language, one learner, and one story at a time,” Merveille expresses.
Yekola is preserving African and Indigenous languages by combining technology with community-based learning. Their platform makes languages more accessible to learners, educators, and institutions, helping protect culture and identity across generations.
7 Summits Snacks (Kristyn Carriere): “The Pizza Hut Equal Slice pitch competition helped us refine our story, prepare for our US launch, and gain visibility, giving us the confidence and resources to scale our impact and continue fueling adventures across North America,” says Kristyn.
7 Summits Snacks makes functional chocolate bars that fuel active, adventurous lives. Using ethically sourced ingredients and Canadian-made production, their superfood-infused bars deliver energy, taste, and satisfaction.
The Road Ahead
As we reflect on this first year, from our spring webinars through to our winter wrap-up, we’re energized by what we’ve witnessed. Every entrepreneur who registered for our competitions, every webinar attendee sharpening their pitch, every person who shared our posts and cheered others on, they all believed their business deserved a chance. The Startup Canada Equal Slice program gave them that chance, and they showed up in force.
But here’s the thing: this is just the beginning.
The success of our inaugural year has proven that when you create truly equitable opportunities, incredible entrepreneurs emerge from every corner of the country. With businesses spanning nearly every industry, our participants are building the future of Canadian innovation from communities that have been historically left out of the conversation.
To every entrepreneur who applied, participated, or engaged with the Startup Canada Equal Slice program this year: thank you for trusting us and taking that often scary step into the spotlight. Your courage, your hustle, and your vision are reshaping what entrepreneurship looks like in Canada, one business at a time.
And to those reading this thinking, “maybe next year could be my year,” we’re already planning for 2026, and we can’t wait to meet you. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about launch dates, pitch competition deadlines, and upcoming webinars. Your story deserves to be heard, and we’re here to make sure it is.