- 12 Categories
- Tech to agriculture
- Volunteer Judges
- Ontario community experts
- Real Feedback
- Improve your ideas
- Open from age 12
- Category age ranges vary
The basics
What is a pitch competition?
Designed to help you improve
In plain words:You explain your idea to real judges — in writing and in three short videos — and they score it on a list you can read before you start. Everyone who enters gets written feedback, so even a last-place entry is worth something.
A pitch competition is a chance to take your idea — a business, a non-profit, or a community project, big or small — and present it to real judges who give you honest, constructive feedback.
Unlike TV pitch shows, our competitions are designed to help you improve, not just entertain. Every participant gets written feedback, and top ideas win cash prizes and recognition.
Think of it as a safe space to test your idea, learn what works, and connect with people who can help you succeed — anywhere in Ontario.
Who should enter?
- Students with a class project, business, or cause they believe in
- Anyone with a side hustle they want to grow
- Trades professionals with a better way of doing things
- Community members with solutions to local problems
- First-time entrepreneurs who just need a push
How entering actually works
- Pick the category your idea fits. If two fit, pick the one where you can show the most evidence.
- Write the pitch summary — the idea, who it's for, how it makes money or keeps going, and why you.
- Record three videos on a phone: the 60-second pitch, the 5-minute plan, the 10-minute slide walkthrough.
- Upload each one, set it to unlisted, and copy the link. Open each link in a private window to check a stranger can play it.
- Fill in the entry form, paste the three links, and if you're under 18 add a parent or guardian.
- Submit before the deadline. You get a confirmation email — keep it.
- Judges score every entry on the same 100-point sheet, and everyone gets written feedback.
Words to know
- Pitch:
- Explaining your idea to someone so they get it fast. It isn't a speech and it isn't acting.
- Elevator pitch:
- The 60-second version — short enough to say on an elevator ride before the doors open.
- Entry:
- Everything you hand in: the written pitch, your three video links, and your details.
- Category:
- The group your idea competes in, like Agriculture or Skilled Trades. You compete against ideas like yours, not against everyone.
- Rubric:
- The scoring sheet judges use. Ours is 100 points and it's published, so you can build your entry against it.
- Judge:
- A volunteer adult from Ontario — a business owner, a teacher, a trades person — who reads your entry and scores it.
- Deck / slides:
- The slides you show while you talk. Google Slides, PowerPoint or Canva all work.
- Unlisted:
- A video setting that means only people with the exact link can watch. It doesn't show up in search or on your channel. It isn't the same as private, and it isn't secret.
- Finalist:
- A top entry in a category, announced before Awards Night. You never have to attend anything to win.
- Feedback:
- The judges' written notes: what was strong, what was missing, what to do next. Every complete entry gets it.
- Deadline:
- The last moment an entry is accepted. After it the form stops taking entries — there's no late pile.
What usually goes wrong
- Leaving it to the last week. Three videos take longer than you think, and the deadline doesn't move.
- A video link that doesn't work. Set it to unlisted, then open it in a private window to be sure a stranger can play it.
- Making the videos public instead of unlisted. If you're under 18, don't post your pitch publicly.
- Entering a category whose age range doesn't include you.
- Being vague to sound impressive. Points come from specific, not from big words.
- Under 18 with no parent or guardian lined up — the entry can't be accepted without their consent.
- Letting someone else write it for you. Judges can hear it, and it's your idea they're scoring.
Four steps
Your competition journey
Choose Your Category
Pick the competition that fits your idea — tech, sustainability, social impact, and more.Submit Your Idea
Put together your business concept and submit by March 31, 2027.Get Feedback
Volunteer judges review your submission and give constructive feedback.Win & Grow
Top ideas win prizes, written judge feedback, and recognition in the community.
The rubric
How entries are judged
No mystery, no black box. Every entry is scored on the same published 100-point rubric — knowing exactly what judges look for makes your entry better.
The 100-Point Rubric
- Problem & Opportunity
- Is the problem real, clearly stated, and worth solving?
What the judge is asking: Is this a real problem real people have, and can you show you didn't just invent it at your desk?
Scores well: "Six of the eight people I asked said they'd given up on the arena vending machine because it's empty by 7pm."
Loses points: "Everyone is busy and needs help."
- 20pts
- Solution
- Does the idea credibly address the problem? Is it specific, not vague?
What the judge is asking: Does what you're building actually fix that problem, and can we picture it?
Scores well: Specific: what you do, how long it takes, what the customer ends up holding.
Loses points: "An app that connects people." Connects them to what, and then what happens?
- 20pts
- Customer & Market Understanding
- Do they know exactly who this is for and show evidence of demand?
What the judge is asking: Do you know exactly who this is for, and is there any sign they'd pay?
Scores well: One named kind of customer plus evidence — conversations, a waiting list, money already taken.
Loses points: "Our market is all teenagers in Ontario." Nobody sells to all of anyone.
- 15pts
- Feasibility
- Could this person realistically execute it with reachable resources?
What the judge is asking: Could you, a student, with the time and money you actually have, really do this?
Scores well: A small first step you could start on Saturday, with the tools and people you already have.
Loses points: A plan that needs $50,000 and a factory before anything happens.
- 15pts
- Business / Sustainability Model
- Is there a believable path to revenue or sustainable funding?
What the judge is asking: How does money come in, and does more come in than goes out?
Scores well: Price, cost per sale, what's left over, and how many sales you'd need to break even.
Loses points: "We'll make money from ads" with no idea how many people would have to see them.
- 15pts
- Impact & Potential
- What difference does it make if this works — for customers or community?
What the judge is asking: If this works, what actually changes for somebody?
Scores well: One concrete difference for a real person or a real place, and what it could grow into.
Loses points: "It will change the world." Judges have read that one a hundred times.
- 10pts
- Communication & Pitch Quality
- Clear, engaging delivery across the written pitch and all three videos.
What the judge is asking: Can we follow you? Are the videos clear, in your own voice, and inside the time limits?
Scores well: Calm, clear, your own words, sound we can hear, and finishing on time.
Loses points: Reading a script at the floor, or a video that cuts off mid-sentence at the limit.
- 5pts
- Total
- 100pts
What You Submit
- Written pitch summary — your idea, who it serves, and how it sustains itself
- Elevator Pitch (60 seconds or less) — You, on camera, selling the idea in a minute: the problem, your solution, and why you. A phone recording is perfectly fine.One minute, you talking to the camera. Say the problem, say what you do about it, say why it's you. Nothing else fits in a minute — and that's the point.
- Plan Briefing (up to 5 minutes) — A brief walk through your plan: who the customer is, how it makes money (or sustains itself), and what you'd do next.Up to five minutes walking through your plan out loud: who buys it, how the money works, and what you'd do next. It's your one-page plan, said instead of written.
- Slide Walkthrough (up to 10 minutes, screen-shared slides) — Present your deck on screen (Loom or any screen recorder) and talk through it — the closest thing to pitching the judges in the room.Up to ten minutes sharing your slides on screen while you talk through them. Free screen recorders do this, and you never have to appear on camera if you'd rather not.
2027 Timeline (Planned)
Applications open — Now – March 31, 2027
Submit your written pitch and three videos anytime before the deadline.
Entry validation — April 1–7, 2027
Entries checked for completeness and assigned to judges.
Judging period — April 8–30, 2027
Every entry scored on the published 100-point rubric, with written feedback.
Finalists announced — May 15, 2027
Top entries in each category notified and announced.
Awards Night — May 31, 2027
Winners announced live at our in-person Awards Night in Chatham-Kent — top pitches showcased, sponsors recognized, and the whole evening livestreamed across Ontario. Attending is optional and never affects results.
Feedback delivered — June 15, 2027
Every entrant — winner or not — receives their judges' written feedback.
Business 101
Want a better shot at winning?
Made a plan in class?
Use the work you already have
For teachers
Enter as a class
Our supporters
Who funds these awards
Organizations putting their name on real prize money for Launch League founders.
Steve Aiken, Co-operators Insurance
Presents the Agriculture Business AwardChatham-Kent award
Waste Connections of Canada
Presents the Green Future InitiativeProvince-wide award
Libro Credit Union
Presents the Community Impact AwardChatham-Kent award
12 categories — open across Ontario — deadline March 31, 2027
Open competitions
Prize amounts are targets, raised from sponsors award by award. $2,500 of the $15,500 province-wide target is funded so far: 1 of 12 awards has a sponsor.
Communities can add their own awards on top of the province-wide slate once they have enough entries, so the prize pool grows with the map rather than sitting at one fixed number.
Local awards: Chatham-Kent community awards are confirmed for the 2027 season, because Launch League is based in Chatham-Kent. Community and regional awards anywhere else are not guaranteed. A local award in a category opens only once that area has at least 10 complete entries in that category and a local sponsor has confirmed the prize. Until then, entrants from that area compete for the province-wide awards, which are open to everyone in Ontario.
Every entry includes a written pitch plus three short videos: elevator pitch (60 seconds or less), plan briefing (up to 5 minutes), slide walkthrough (up to 10 minutes, screen-shared slides). A phone recording is all you need.
- OpenOntario$2,500Target prize
Tech Innovation Challenge
Share your tech ideas and get feedback from experienced local judges.
Technology · Ages 18-25
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Business Concept
- Brief Pitch
- Market Overview
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$2,500Funded prize
Green Future Initiative
Ideas that help the environment and create sustainable communities.
Sustainability · Ages 12+
Prize sponsored by
Waste Connections of CanadaWhat to Submit
- Sustainability Plan
- Community Impact
- Implementation Ideas
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$500Target prize
Young Entrepreneur Spotlight
For young minds with big ideas — expert feedback and recognition await.
General · Ages 12-17
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Business Concept
- Why It Matters
- Your Vision
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Community Impact Award
Solutions that address real challenges in your local community.
Social Enterprise · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Problem Statement
- Community Research
- Proposed Solution
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Creative Ventures Challenge
Turn your creative passion into a sustainable business idea.
Arts & Creative · Ages 18+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Creative Vision
- Business Model
- Portfolio Sample
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$2,000Target prize
Health & Wellness Innovation
Ideas that improve health outcomes in your community.
Health · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Health Impact
- Feasibility Plan
- Target Audience
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Agriculture Business Award
New ideas for farms, food production, and agri-business — from field to fork.
Agriculture · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Business Concept
- Target Market
- Operations Basics
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Skilled Trades & Construction Award
Trades and construction businesses — contracting, fabrication, site services, or a better way to do the work.
Skilled Trades · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Business Concept
- Skills & Certification Plan
- First Customers
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Hospitality & Tourism Award
Food, accommodation, events and travel — ideas that bring people somewhere and make them want to come back.
Hospitality & Tourism · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Business Concept
- Guest Experience
- Seasonality Plan
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Manufacturing & Making Award
Making a physical product — from a prototype in a school shop to a plan for a real production run.
Manufacturing · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Product Concept
- How It Gets Made
- Cost Per Unit
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Transportation & Logistics Award
Moving people, goods or equipment — and the businesses that keep Ontario's supply chains running.
Transportation · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Business Concept
- Route or Service Model
- Operations Basics
Due: March 31, 2027
- OpenOntario$1,000Target prize
Energy & Utilities Award
Power, water and the systems communities run on — especially ideas that work for rural and northern Ontario.
Energy & Utilities · Ages 12+
This prize is awaiting its sponsor — put your name on it
What to Submit
- Business Concept
- Who It Serves
- Feasibility Plan
Due: March 31, 2027
What judges look for
Tips for a winning pitch
You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be prepared. Here's what judges look for:
Know Your Problem
Clearly explain the problem you're solving and why it matters to your community.Show Your Solution
Describe how your idea works — keep it simple, specific, and realistic.Know Your Customer
Who will pay for this? Why do they need it? Be specific about your audience.Think About Money
How will you make revenue? You don't need a CFO — just a realistic plan.Show Your Passion
Why YOU? What makes you the right person to build this? Let your energy show.Build Your One-Page Plan
The free one-page plan builder turns your Business 101 answers into a plan organized around the rubric.
For organizations
Sponsor an award
Questions
Before you enter
- Do I need a real business to enter a student business competition?
- No. You need an idea you have thought through properly and can explain. Having real customers helps, because judges can tell the difference between a plan and a thing that exists, but it is not required.
- What do you have to submit?
- A written pitch and three short videos — a 60-second elevator pitch, a five-minute plan briefing, and a walkthrough of your slides. A phone camera is fine. Everything is submitted online.
- Does it cost anything to enter?
- Launch League is free to enter and there is no fee of any kind. Nobody takes a share of your business, and your idea stays yours.
- What do you get if you do not win?
- Every complete entry gets written feedback from a judge against the published scoring rubric. For most entrants that is worth more than the prize, because it is the first time a businessperson has read their plan properly.
Your move
Ready to share your idea?
Every great venture started as just an idea. Take the first step and get valuable feedback from Ontario's community.
Related
Keep going
- Enter a competitionFree to enter, no equity taken, and every entrant gets written feedback from a judge.
- Official rules and the 100-point judging rubricExactly how entries are scored, published in full before you write a word.
- Youth entrepreneurship programs in OntarioWhat's open at 12, 15 and 18 — and the eligibility catch on every funding program.
- Entrepreneurship scholarships in Ontario: what actually existsThe awards with the word in the title are worth about $1,000. The ones worth $100,000 have different names.
- Name your own community awardChambers, municipalities, and community organizations can fund a named award from $1,000.
- Side hustles that suit a school timetableWork that fits around class, and what each one takes to start.