Seven startups will compete in the 2020 RBC EPIC Founders Final Pitch Competition on Thursday, Aug. 6.

This is the first time that the annual event will be held on a completely virtual platform because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The RBC EPIC Founders Program gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to work on their own startup full-time from May to July. In addition to receiving a stipend, founders get to work with mentors to validate their business model and develop a minimum viable product. The program is funded by the RBC Foundation.

“As an entrepreneurship centre, our startups normally have the opportunity to complete the 12-week accelerator program in a collaborative and open-concept environment at the EPICentre, one which fosters innovation and creativity,” said EPICentre Director Wen Teoh.

“This year, our startups faced the challenge of completing the program on a completely virtual platform. With the guidance of our EPIC Program Lead, Sydney Thompson, we were able to provide our founders with a modified experience that still kept them engaged and excited."

The RBC EPIC Founders Final Pitch Day is the culmination of the program, where participants will be pitching their businesses to a panel of judges. The winning pitch will receive the $3,500 Top Founder Award sponsored by the RBC Foundation. Runner-up will receive $1,000 sponsored by the Lucas Imagine Fine. The event will be live-streamed via the EPICentre Facebook page on Thursday, Aug. 6 from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

For more information on the RBC EPIC Founders Program, please visit: https://www.epicentreuwindsor.ca/epic-founders-program/