Canadian Export Challenge accepting video pitches from startups & scale-ups

The 2020 Canadian Export Challenge (CXC) is accepting startup and scale-up pitches in video format for a series of one-day global accelerators across five regions.

Canadian entrepreneurs are encouraged to pitch their businesses through online video submissions via YouTube along with their completed CXC 2020 Application form by September 9.

Not sure how to pitch? Not to worry! Startup Canada has created this handy pitching guide, complete with the winning pitches from last year’s events, so you can get a feel for what the judges will be looking for.

The year, Startup Canada will digitally host the regional events across five days in September:

• Atlantic Region: September 14, 2020
• Prairies Region: September 15, 2020
• Ontario Region: September 16, 2020
• British Columbia and North: September 17, 2020
• Quebec Region: September 21, 2020

Each regional event will have two pitch competitions — one for startups and one for scale-ups with $2,500 going to the startup winners and $5,000 awarded to the scale-up winners.

Startups are considered to have had less than 20% growth per year over a three-year period prior to 2020 while scale-ups are categorized as having had 20% growth per year over a three-year period prior to 2020.

The winners of each region will compete in the CXC Grand Finale in October where they will vie for up to $25,000 in cash and $100,000 in additional support.

You can check out the CXC 2019 National winning pitch in the video below.

The one-day global accelerator events will consist of workshops, panels, and keynotes from industry experts, along with networking opportunities.

CXC aims to be a space where Canadian exporters and industry partners come together and provide support to each other.

The event aims to help startups and scale-ups “become export-ready, connect with the trade and global growth system, and to gain global exposure through a series of digital events,” according to the program description.

In the lead-up to CXC, Startup Bootcamp has been hosting a series of digital bootcamps and virtual accelerators to support Canadian entrepreneurs in anticipation of the upcoming event.

The bootcamps offered advice on pitch building, how to connect with global ecosystems, and how to market your startup globally, among others.

Through the virtual accelerators, Startup Canada and partners provided guidance on scaling indigenous businesses globally, as well as an entire program dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs who are thinking about, working towards, or are already exporting their products or services.

The 2020 Canadian Export Challenge is made possible by Startup Canada in collaboration with Mastercard, Scotiabank, the Trade Commissioner Service, UPS, and Export Development Canada.

Disclosure: this article includes a client of an ESPACIO portfolio company