On November 30th, the University of Waterloo community came together to support eight finalist teams as they pitched their business ideas for their chance at a slice of more than $20,000 in grants.
The Fall 2023 Velocity Pitch Competition received 100 applications, a new record, from students in all of Waterloo’s faculties. From the initial pool of applicants, 28 teams advanced to the semifinals. At the finals, eight innovative startups — DuTax, BatBall, Blackbird, Mapmate, PatientCompanion, Plant Support and Pliantech — showcased their business ideas in the Theatre of the Arts, competing for the win in front of a panel of distinguished judges.
Finals panel of judges
- Rebecca Allan, senior analyst at BoxOne Ventures
- Amr Abdelgawad, co-founder and COO of FluidAI
- Anthony Lau, associate at University of Waterloo Venture Fund
Through programs and events like these, Velocity helps transform the way businesses are built by rallying resources, building community and breaking down barriers for founders to bring to market solutions that address cross-disciplinary challenges.
Blackbird flood mapping solution takes home a Velocity $5K grant
Photo: Robert Chlumsky pitching for Blackbird
"Blackbird surpasses current technologies by efficiently calculating and producing understandable results at a speed suitable for large-scale applications,” Chlumsky explained. “It's capable of real-time predictions, providing valuable insights into flood events as they evolve hour to hour."
Chlumsky noted that Blackbird's technology, initially serving conservation authorities, government and industry, could eventually be accessible to the general public. This would provide consumers with a clearer understanding of flood risks when purchasing or evaluating properties. Before winning this competition, Blackbird secured funding from Up Start, a Velocity and WatCo initiative supporting student researchers, founders and recent alumni turning their research into commercial ventures.
