Cheer on your local entrepreneurs as they go head-to-head in the final pitch event of the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology’s (KAST) Kootenay Investment Challenge.

Starting at 4 p.m. PST on Thursday, November 24, three tech start-ups will pitch their businesses to a group of Kootenay investors with the hopes of receiving a single investment worth over $40,000.

KAST collaborated with Spring Activator and partnered with Valhalla Private Capital to bring the Challenge to the region to help strengthen the connection between Kootenay entrepreneurs and the local investment community.

Attendees can watch this free Pitch event in person at the Nelson Innovation Centre at 91-D Baker Street Nelson or virtually through Zoom.

KAST will showcase the pitch event during their regular monthly Tech Meetup, scheduled at the same time. The combined pitch event and tech meetup will take place on Thursday, November 24, from 4 – 7:30 p.m. The pitch event will run from 4 – 6:30 p.m., followed by an hour of socializing for in-person attendees.

Registration is free, and you can sign up for the Zoom event here or in-person event here. In addition to watching the three live pitches, attendees of this event will hear from keynote speakers Randy Thompson and Keith Ippel. Thompson is the CEO and Chairman of Valhalla Private Capital, and recipient Angel of the Year for Canada twice. Ippel is Co-CEO and co-founder of Spring Activator with over 25 years as a leader in tech and impact businesses, where he has helped to accelerate companies, ecosystems, and raise over $30m in investments.

The Kootenay Investment Challenge is a place-based version of Spring Activator’s successful Impact Investor Challenge. This Challenge allows regional entrepreneurs and investors to access a place-based investment readiness program. The two cohorts started the program separately, in either the venture or investor track, before coming together to work through the nitty-gritty of the due diligence process. The highlight of the Challenge will be when the investor cohort selects one Kootenay start-up to receive an investment of over $40,000.

“It has been such a privilege taking the entrepreneurs and investors through this journey. They are building a community together, a community of startups raising locally and investors investing locally. It is just the start of a journey we hope many will also embark on after this inaugural program. Well done to all the entrepreneurs and investors who have participated in this exciting adventure over the past months. We hope you join us on Nov 24th to meet them all,” said Davina MacPhail Program Manager for the KAST Investor Challenge for Spring Activator.

The Kootenay Investment challenge started with seven Kootenay region start-ups vying for one of three spots in the final event.

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