Victoria Founders Take Home Funding at the Startup Global National Pitch Competition

By Teri-Lyn O'Hara  |  

Victoria, BC, September 29 – Startup Canada, in partnership with UPS and Export Development Canada (EDC), brought the Startup Global National Pitch Competition to the Victoria Conference Centre as part of the Startup Canada Tour, putting funding in the hands of Victoria founders who are building businesses with global visions.

After a morning of founders pitching behind closed doors in the first round, only five made the shortlist to take the stage in front of a live audience and bid for their chance at the first-place prize.

After a strong round of pitches, Grand Prize Winner Ashlyn Newlove of Smart Sip Cream Co. was awarded $8,500 to invest back into their business, along with a spot at the 2026 Startup Global National Grand Finale in Mississauga, Ontario, where they will compete for a cash prize of $30,000 on October 29, 2026.

The People’s Choice Award, decided entirely by audience vote, went to Erfan Rahimizadeh of Abroadin, who takes home $1,000 to put toward their next step.

It has been a tough stretch for small business owners. Tariffs and trade uncertainty have raised costs and made planning harder, and for an early-stage founder, a few thousand dollars can decide whether the business stalls or keeps moving. That is why access to funding that goes straight back into the business matters so much right now. Startup Canada is committed to backing entrepreneurs and communities like Victoria and all across Canada, which is why the pitch competition is such an integral part of our tour.

About the Winners

Ashlyn Newlove, Founder, 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.

Erfan Rahimizadeh, CEO, Abroadin

Abroadin is a Vancouver education technology company that helps students around the world apply to colleges and universities abroad, with a searchable database of more than 10,000 programs, an admission chance estimator, and support from academic advisors and application specialists through to visa milestones. The company’s vision is to become the leading solution for educational immigration and build a future where studying has no borders.

Top Five Finalists

Joining them in the Top Five were:

Each finalist delivered a three-minute pitch to the live audience and to a panel of judges that included:

Event Recap

The Victoria stop was about more than the pitches. Founders, ecosystem leaders and supporters filled the room to swap ideas and make introductions, and it showed how much talent is building in British Columbia’s capital region. Startup Canada will keep showing up for entrepreneurs in communities across the country, and Victoria’s founders made the case for why that work matters.

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.