Desjardins Startup Prize 2026 Pitch Competition
Join us on March 5th to cheer on the 10 shortlisted startups competing in the 2026 Desjardins Startup Prize Pitch Competition!
This year’s competition will take place as part of True Blue Impact Day on March 5th, in the culmination of U of T Entrepreneurship Week.
Prizes
The Desjardins Startup Prize is U of T Entrepreneurship’s annual business pitch competition, awarding $100K in prizes to recognize, reward, and accelerate the University of Toronto’s most innovative startups.
Early-Stage Prize
Early Stage = Startups that have received less than $50,000 in cumulative funding or investment and less than $25,000 in cumulative revenue as of November 29, 2025.
- 1st place: $15,000
- 2nd place: $10,000
- 3rd place: $5,000
- People’s Choice: $4,000
Later-Stage Prize
Late Stage = Startups that have received between $50,000 and $250,000 cumulative funding or investment, and less than $100,000 in cumulative revenue as of November 29, 2025.
- 1st place: $40,000
- 2nd place: $20,000
- 3rd place: $10,000
- People’s Choice: $4,000
Pitch Competition is Sold Out
Presented by
*First place winners in both categories will receive a pass to StartupFest in Montreal in July 2026. All winners will also receive up to $5,000 in-kind legal support from UTE’s legal partner – Cassels, as well as an annual membership to ONRamp, U of T’s co-working and community space.