The 2023 edition of the Queen’s Innovation Centre Summer Pitch Competition was held on Aug. 17 with five teams garnering awards and funding.

For more than a decade, the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) has been bringing together emerging entrepreneurs to develop their skills, innovate, and share solutions to modern-day challenges. A total of 12 teams from Kingston and the Queen’s communities competed for a share of the $80,000 prize pool.

This year’s top team, as selected by a panel of judges, was Hippo AI, who captured the grand prize of $30,000 for their groundbreaking technology aimed at helping doctors work more efficiently and accurately in the workplace.

A pair of teams earned second-place prizes of $15,000 each.

GLASQ is a chemical technology company introducing an innovative hard coating polymer for flexible consumer displays, integrating anti-smudge and omni phobic characteristics with exceptional hardness (wear resistance) and remarkable flexibility. It’s Comma focuses on philanthropic marketing, partnering with brands to advertise on the packaging of menstrual pads, to help cover the costs of the products.

Another two teams received third-place prizes of $10,000 each.

PONDER builds and strengthens communities through meaningful conversations with a daily question, with the goal of mitigating the increasing disconnection and mental and physical health challenges caused by the lack of genuine connections and human interaction. Demagel is a hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte membrane, which finds application in electrolysers and fuel cells, in a manner that ensures safety, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, surpassing the capabilities of existing polymer electrolyte membranes.

“To all participating teams and the judges, our heartfelt gratitude for making this event a possibility. Early-stage seed funding is the ignition for startups,” says Gregory Bavington, Executive Director of the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre. “Sparking ideas into reality, propelling prototypes to perfection — a pivotal moment where vision meets validation. It's not just an investment; it's the catalyst that fuels ambition, drives sales, and opens the door to further growth.” 

Find out more about the DDQIC and its programs.