Startups focused on social impact, health and sustainability, take top prizes at U of T pitch competition
Diana Virgovicova, founder and CEO of Xatoms, responds to the judges in a Q&A following her winning business pitch. (Photo by Alyssa K. Faoro)
Congratulations to the innovative and impactful startups who took home the top prizes at the 2024 Desjardins Startup Prize pitch competition last week! The competition was part of U of T Entrepreneurship Week’s True Blue Impact Day programming, and for the first time, was hosted at the new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.
11 student startups were shortlisted from a pool of more than 60 applicants. The finalists were provided with pitch coaching sessions to help them perfect their presentations and received a booth to exhibit their products and innovations at the True Blue Expo.
A panel of expert judges including Nishant Raizada (Desjardins), Maura Campbell (OBIO), and Tanay Delima (HighFi), had the difficult task of selecting this year’s winners.
2024 Desjardins Startup Prize Winners
Early-Stage Category
1st Place – $15K: Xatoms
2nd Place – $10K: Neuropeutics
3rd Place – $5K: Toothpod
People’s Choice – $4K: Neuropeutics
Late-Stage Category
1st Place – $40K: Synakis
2nd Place – $20K: Cove Neurosciences
3rd Place – $10K: Spero Analytics
People’s Choice – $4K: Cove Neurosciences
Applications for the 2025 Desjardins Startup Prize will open in the Fall – stay tuned for updates.