$100K Prize Fund

UPstart Venture Challenge

The Finals – April 2, 2026

UPstart Venture Challenge is a $100K global pitch competition presented by the Smith Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact (CEISI), Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, in partnership with Desjardins, a leading supporter of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Designed to accelerate venture success, UPstart provides entrepreneurs with a stage to present their bold, creative businesses to a panel of experienced investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

Finalists will have four minutes to make their case, pitching live in the virtual arena for $100,000 in non-dilutive funding and the chance to gain invaluable feedback, exposure, and connections within the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

With Desjardins as a key partner, UPstart reflects a shared commitment to backing ambitious founders, strengthening entrepreneurial communities, and turning high-potential ventures into real-world impact that creates economic prosperity.

The UPstart arena is where people get tested and where ventures take off.

Critical Dates

Date	Activity
March 21	UPstart applications close @ 5pm (ET)
March 21 – 29	Selection Committee review period
March 30	The eight finalists will be informed
April 2	Virtual UPstart Venture Challenge

How to compete

The competition is open to Queen’s faculty/staff, alumni, or a full/part-time student enrolled in an academic program at Queen’s University. Your business should be beyond the MVP and entering the start-up stage and has gained market traction (customers/revenue).

Guidelines & Eligibility

We want to ensure this opportunity is the right fit for you and your venture. Before applying, please take a few moments to carefully review the Guidelines and Eligibility for the full submission criteria.

These requirements help us focus our support on founders and ventures that align with the stage and goals of this pitch competition.

By applying for UPstart, you confirm that:

You have reviewed the criteria in full.
Your venture meets the required stage and eligibility requirements.
The information you submit is accurate and complete.

If you are not quite there yet, that’s okay — we encourage you to continue building with CEISI’s support and apply in a future round when the timing is right.

Guidelines and Criteria

How to Apply

Below you will find the materials required to complete your application. Please review everything carefully before submitting to ensure your application is complete and represents your venture clearly. Complete submissions help us evaluate your opportunity fairly and efficiently. By submitting, you confirm that all materials provided are accurate and complete.

We look forward to learning more about what you’re building.

Application Form

UPstart ’26 Schedule (all times ET)

Time	Activity
5 pm	Welcome and Introductions
5:20 pm	Top Eight Finals Pitch Competition
7 pm	Judges Deliberations
7 pm	Guest Speaker or Fireside Chat
7:40 pm	Winner(s) Announced
7:50 pm	Event Wrap-up
8 pm	UPstart ’26 ends

Watch the action live!

Register to join us online for an evening of exciting pitches as the top eight teams battle it out in the ‘virtual arena’. There is no cost to attend.

Thursday, April 2, 2026
5-8 pm (ET)

Register to Watch

2026 Moderator & Judges

Event Moderator

Elspeth Murray

Associate Professor, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Impact
and CIBC Faculty Fellow in Entrepreneurship

Elspeth Murray is an associate professor at Smith School of Business with expertise in strategy, the management of change and entrepreneurship. She is the co-author of the bestselling book Fast Forward: Organizational Change in 100 Days, with Peter Richardson. She advises a number of tech companies and is working on a number of digital transformation projects focused on creating an analytics culture. Prior to joining Smith, she worked for several firms including IBM and Canadian Tire.

Speaker

Kari Norman

Senior Economist, Desjardins

Kari Norman is a Senior Economist with Desjardins Group, based in Toronto. Since joining the team three years ago, she has been actively contributing to thought leadership and in-depth analyses of the Canadian housing market, the economy and public policy. Prior to joining Desjardins, Kari worked with the Canadian Association of Business Economics, Clayton Research Associates, the C.D. Howe Institute and Royal Bank Economics.

Judges

Peter Dalton
Former Owner & President, Daltco Electric

Peter Dalton is the former owner and President of Daltco Electric, Eastern Ontario’s largest independent electrical, lighting and automation distributor. Over almost 30 years, Peter has proven his extensive knowledge of strategic financial planning, risk assessment and corporate growth strategy and implementation. As a leader in his industry, Peter acted as Chair of the Board for Affiliated Distributors Canada (AD) and as a board member for Electro Federation Canada, and as Advisory member for SupplyForce Canada.

As a committed member of his community, Peter has offered his expertise to a number of business and social organizations in Eastern Ontario, including acting as Vice Chair, Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO), Governor for the Kingston General Hospital, and Board Member for St Lawrence College Foundation. He was named to Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017 and the Kingston Business Hall of Fame in 2018.

Peter is a graduate of Queen’s University, holds a Certificate in Distribution Management from Texas A&M, and is an alumnus of YPO Leadership Program, London Business School and Quantum Shift, Richard Ivey School of Business. He is currently a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), and sits on the Board of Directors of St Lawrence College, the Maltby Centre, and acts on the Advisory Board of the Smith School of Business.

Shawn Good
President & CEO, Libro

Shawn Good is an inspirational leader with more than 25 years of credit union and financial services experience and a commitment to lifelong learning, leadership and development.

He joined Libro as President and CEO in 2023 and was previously President and CEO of SaskCentral in Saskatchewan, as well as President and CEO for Prospera Credit Union in BC. He has led M&A transactions, enterprise transformation, and facilitated long-term strategy for Canadian and international organizations. Shawn holds an Executive MBA from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and attained his ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the Rotman School of Business. Committed to values-based leadership and an advocate for cooperative banking, he has been recognized nationally with awards including the 2009 National Young Leader award. Shawn was elected to the Central 1 Board of Directors in 2024, and has served on numerous financial services boards including Everlink, Concentra Bank, Celero, CUCC, as well as several community organizations.

Shawn and his wife Jen have three adult children and live in the Waterloo region. He enjoys hockey, fishing, and they all enjoy spending time at their cottage in northern Ontario.

Nilufer Erdebil
Founder & CEO, Spring2 Innovation

Nilufer Erdebil is an award-winning design thinking and innovation expert and a TEDx and TEC speaker. For over twenty-five years she has been a catalyst for innovation. She has worked extensively with public and private sector organizations to drive strategy, facilitate change and introduce new products and services. Her experience working within different fields including telecommunications, defence, application development, program management and IT management give her a deep understanding of the business challenges today’s organizations are faced with.

Benjamen Pinsky
Associate Director, Tech & Innovation Banking, Desjardins

Benjamen Pinsky is an Associate Director on Desjardins’ Technology and Innovation Banking team, where he partners with early-and growth-stage technology companies to support their financing and long-term growth objectives. His background spans venture capital and debt financing, with prior experience at BDC Capital. Benjamen holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and has completed advanced training in innovation governance and private capital investing. He brings a practical, founder-focused lens shaped by hands-on exposure to venture-backed businesses across Canada’s innovation ecosystem.

Kristi Herold
Founder & CEO, JAM

Kristi Herold believes PLAY sparks powerful benefits that ripple through our relationships and workplaces. A Queen's Commerce Alum (Class of '93), Kristi helps people connect through play and helps companies unlock profit through play.

She is the Founder and CEO of JAM, one of the world’s largest adult recreational sports leagues, a multi-million-dollar organization that has brought play to millions. She’s also the founder of Keep Playing Kids, a non-profit ensuring vulnerable children can enjoy playing sports for free.

When the pandemic shut down recreational sports, Kristi led her team to pivot and JAM delivered thousands of virtual corporate team-building events around the world. Today, JAM is thriving with in-person events and culture consulting as well, helping companies weave play into their workplace culture.

Kristi is the author of It Pays to PLAY, a passionate keynote speaker, and an award-winning entrepreneur — named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, and the leader of a company celebrated as having one of Canada’s most admired workplace cultures.