Launch League

Now recruiting founding judges — Ontario-wide

Judges make this real.

Local business owners and professionals reviewing real submissions and leaving real written feedback: two to four hours during the April judging window, with no ongoing commitment.

Why judge

What judging asks of you

  • 2-4 Hours, Once

    Review a handful of submissions during the April judging window, with no ongoing commitment.

  • Written Feedback, Not Mentorship

    You score entries on a published 100-point rubric — reviewing each entrant's written pitch and three short videos — and leave real written feedback. That's the whole guarantee — no assigned ongoing relationship.

  • Real Local Recognition

    With your permission, named on the site and thanked publicly. Judging is never connected to sponsorship.

How we ask judges to give feedback

High standards, high support

We want every student to leave knowing what is strong and what to do next. So every judge writes feedback in four parts, in their own words.

  1. Part 1

    Recognize

    Name something specific that is working.

    “You found a real problem and clearly talked to the people who have it.”

  2. Part 2

    Challenge

    Name the biggest thing to strengthen, plainly.

    “Your price is still an estimate. Right now you are guessing what people will pay.”

  3. Part 3

    Guide

    Say how you would start.

    “Ask five likely customers what they spend today to solve this, and write down what they say.”

  4. Part 4

    Express confidence

    Say you believe they can do it, and mean it.

    “With those answers I think you can build this into a stronger business.”

Short and written for this one student. No generic praise, and no verdict on the person: the feedback is about the work and what to do next.

By region

Founding judges — coming soon

Grouped by region, so your chamber or community can see who's representing it.

Region by region

We're building our founding judge roster now, region by region. Sign up below to be one of the first named here.

Judge signup

Sign up to judge

Tell us about yourself and we'll follow up before the deadline.

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Categories You'd Judge

Judge code of conduct

  • Keep every entry confidential. Don't copy, share or use anyone's idea.
  • Declare any conflict of interest, including knowing an entrant, and step aside from that entry.
  • Score against the published rubric only, and write feedback that is specific and respectful.
  • Don't contact entrants outside Launch League. Many are under 18.
  • Anyone who will work directly with participants under 18 may be asked for a vulnerable sector check.

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