PITCH group round 4

Web Summit Vancouver 2026: Pitch Competition Showcases Groundbreaking Innovations in Diverse Sectors

The Web Summit Vancouver 2026 Pitch competition, sponsored by KPMG, showcased seven innovative startups. Jamie Lewis from KPMG introduced the event, explaining that 35 startups compete across five stages, with two from each round advancing. Judges Mr. Darren Thompson, Mr. Bhavik Chauhan, Mr. Marcus Devain, and Ms. Marissa Johnson evaluated each three-minute pitch and subsequent Q&A.

Mr. Adam Nathwani presented Drive Hockey Analytics, a sports data company. It provides data-driven insights for amateur athletes using smart arena technology, wearables, and AI. With nearly $1 million in revenue from paid pilots, they partnered with Canlan Sports for deployment across 50 rinks, projecting a $5 million ARR opportunity. They are raising a $1.5 million seed round.

Ms. Sasha Ovalle introduced AssisTech SmartShower, a patent-pending smart home accessory. It offers Amazon Alexa-enabled voice control for touchless showering, reducing fall risks for elderly and mobility-impaired individuals. Addressing a 40 million-person US market, the $90 product has secured grant funding. Ms. Ovalle is raising capital for a retail launch, with future plans for smart home integration.

Mr. Alex Hines presented DealStack.ai, a platform modernizing small business acquisitions. It addresses the fragmented process by offering an end-to-end, vertically integrated buy-side platform. Aggregating 120,000 deals, it helps buyers with faster due diligence. The platform serves 25,000 buyers, generating $600,000 in ARR, aiming to triple this. Future plans include a business ownership platform.

Mr. Umer Kazi introduced Workbench, an AI workforce for construction. It tackles financial losses from workflow inefficiencies and job cost errors. Autonomous AI agents, “crew members,” integrate with existing systems, monitoring costs and alerting users for approval. A client saved $180,000 and reduced month-end close from four days to four hours. Priced at $700 per month, Workbench aims for rapid value demonstration.

Mr. Zachary A. McCue presented REPWR, a clean tech company bringing solar power to global shipping. Addressing high fuel costs and pollution, REPWR mounts modular solar systems onto standard shipping containers, creating mobile power plants. This system avoids major retrofits. Deployed in live operations, they secured Lomar Shipping as an anchor partner and received Lloyd’s Register approval. They are raising a $3.5 million seed round.

Ms. Sarah Hillifer introduced Neon Compliant, a service for nonprofits and small businesses. It creates targeted marketing campaigns using Statistics Canada data. Her “Ward” algorithm identifies 33 distinct customer personas linked to micro-neighborhoods, enabling specific targeting. A pilot yielded a 20-times return on modest ad spend. Neon integrates with CRMs and advertising platforms, partnering for direct mail.

Ms. Sharon Skretting presented Teacher Time Machine, an EdTech solution combating teacher burnout. It addresses generic AI tools by amplifying the teacher’s voice through a “backward design process,” ensuring customized, curriculum-aligned resources considering local context. The platform offers lesson plans, test blueprinting, and custom worldview integration. Having built an MVP and partnered with eight Alberta school districts, Teacher Time Machine is seeking $1 million to scale.