2025 StartUp Lab Pitch Competition

StartUp Lab Hosts Annual Pitch Competition

Turning Ideas Into Reality

The entrepreneurial spirit was alive and thriving at the second edition of the StartUp Lab Pitch Competition, held on February 28th, 2025, at Lazaridis Hall in Waterloo, Ontario. Organized by Laurier’s StartUp Lab, an early-stage incubator within the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, this year’s event aimed to spotlight promising new entrepreneurs and help early-stage startups transform their ideas into reality.

StartUp Lab, located on the first floor of Lazaridis Hall, is dedicated to supporting emerging founders by providing essential resources, mentorship, and a collaborative community. Its mission is to empower aspiring entrepreneurs to navigate the challenges of launching a venture, with the goal of helping them bring innovative concepts to life.

This year’s competition drew over 100 applications from three countries (Canada, the United States, and Saudi Arabia) and from six Canadian provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. From this strong international pool, 20 standout startups were selected to showcase their ventures at the StartUp Fair.

StartUp Fair during the 2025 StartUp Lab Pitch Competition

The event began with a warm welcome from Wilfrid Laurier University President Deborah MacLatchy, followed by opening remarks from Jason Whalen, Director of StartUp Lab. The energy throughout the day reflected the passion and drive of the founders who came to present their ideas.

Evaluators from across the KW and Greater Toronto Area entrepreneurship ecosystems engaged with the presenting startups, evaluating their business models, vision, and potential. After in-depth conversations and deliberation, five finalists were chosen, along with one additional finalist selected by Laurier students as the Student Choice Pitch.

This Year’s Finalists:

• Butterfli Software – Ali Akbar
• Evolv Biotech – Nick Cheng
• NewGen Health – Mazhar Shahen
• PatientCompanion Inc. – Christy Lee
• Revyn Medical Technologies Inc. – Zoe Crookshank
• The LockerRoom by TreyFadez – Tristan Miller (Student Choice Pitch)

The judging panel included prominent names in the entrepreneurship space: Benton Leong, Ruth Casselman, and Tom Hunter. The keynote speaker was Shadi Shaafi, Laurier alumna and founder of Abeona International, a Canadian leader in private jet rental and yachting services. She shared her journey as an entrepreneur, the challenges she overcame, and the motivation that continues to drive her success.

Returning to the stage was last year’s winner, Connor Kapahi, founder of Entangled Vision, who provided an inspiring update on his company’s growth since winning the 2024 competition. Now, as an entrepreneur of the StartUp Lab community, Connor spoke about how the competition helped ignite his venture and propel him forward with his research.

Connor Kapahi - Engangled Vision Founder and winner of the 2024 StartUp Lab Pitch Competition.

Shadi Shaafi - CEO and Founder of Abeona International. Wilfrid Laurier Alumna and Mentor at the StartUp Lab.

The winners of the 2025 Pitch Competition were:

• 1st Place – $20,000 CAD: PatientCompanion Inc.
• 2nd Place – $7,000 CAD: NewGen Health
• 3rd Place – $5,000 CAD: Revyn Medical Technologies Inc.

The remaining finalists: Butterfli Software, Evolv Biotech, and The LockerRoom by TreyFadez, each received a $1,000 award in recognition of their innovation and hard work.

Top 3 winners of the 2025 StartUp Lab Pitch Competition with the StartUp Lab Team.

Top Finalist of the 2025 StartUp Lab Pitch Competiton with the StartUp Lab Team.

The 2025 StartUp Lab Pitch Competition was a testament to the creativity, resilience, and ambition of early-stage entrepreneurs. With its growing impact and international reach, the competition continues to fulfill its purpose: to support and empower the next generation of changemakers, helping them turn bold ideas into thriving ventures.

To stay connected with the incredible work happening at StartUp Lab and to catch highlights from this year’s event, we invite you to visit our website and follow us on social media. Be the first to hear about upcoming programs, success stories, and details for next year’s Pitch Competition. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a mentor, or a supporter of innovation, there's a place for you in our growing community. Join us as we continue to turn ideas into impact.

Want to get involved? Ask us how at startuplab@wlu.ca.