TORONTO, April 21, 2017 /CNW/ – Five groundbreaking companies from across Ontario that focus on accessibility and assistive technology will compete in Ontario Centres of Excellence’s (OCE) $20,000 Accessibility Tech Pitch Competition.
Held at Discovery 2017 on May 15, the competition is part of the third Accessibility Innovation Showcase at the annual Discovery conference and trade show and hosted by OCE in partnership with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario (ADO) and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science (MRIS).
The Accessibility Innovation Showcase will bring together 24 Ontario-based companies that focus on improving accessibility, providing them with the opportunity to display their innovation and to network with industry experts, investors, government funders, and the accessibility community. Available throughout the two-day conference, the showcase will build broader awareness of the companies in this sector and enable them to engage with the broader innovation ecosystem.
“The Accessibility Innovation Showcase underscores the importance of inclusion in Ontario, using technology to promote opportunities for people of all abilities,” says Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Accessibility. “Each concept today highlights both the great potential to positively impact daily lives of Ontarians while also further developing our innovation-based economy.”
The five finalists will participate in a Finalist Pitch Workshop before the Tech Pitch Competition on May 15. Each company will have a maximum of 10 minutes to pitch their innovative product or service to the accessibility community and panel of judges, followed by a 10-minute question and answer period.
The winner will receive a $20,000 award to assist with further development of their accessibility solution.
“These finalists are making a real difference by putting accessibility-focused innovation in their products,” says Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science. “Through our support for the Accessibility Innovation Showcase, we want to unleash the power of our best innovators, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to deploy breakthroughs in a market with unlimited potential.”
The judging panel for the competition, soon to be announced, will include members of the investment community, leaders in the accessibility community and OCE representatives.