‘It’s networking’: More than 100 entrepreneurs take part in Techstars Startup Weekend

Dozens of start up entrepreneurs were teaming up this weekend to pitch new business ideas and form industry connections.

Jordan Huzevka of Sarnia, Ont. has been in business for a year and a half with his company Next Door Rental.

“It’s an online rental marketplace that connects neighbours with resources,” said Huzevka, who has an iOS and Android App.

“Say you have a lawnmower that you use once a week for cutting your grass. The other six days of the week, you can utilize that asset and rent it out to other members of the community.”

He’s attending the 54-hour immersive experience put on by Tech Alliance of London.

“It’s networking and it’s forming those connections,” said Huzevka. “It’s meeting other people and their story of their journey.”

One of those people he’s met is Reagan Michiels of Perth County between Mitchell and Stratford.

She is the co-founder of Easy Snack. The company makes ready-to-eat snacks made with whole, plant-based ingredients.

“I thought if I could build a business this weekend, I could use that towards my business and make my business even better,” said Michiels.

She came up with the idea for her business after working 12-hour days in the lab as a scientist at Western University.

“I was eating crap, chips, chocolate bars and my co-founders each identified we are not eating healthy and they’re not healthy options on campus. We decided to make our own.”

Over the span of three days, these business owners formed teams and collaborated to pitch a new business to expert judges and a live audience of community supporters.

“London is among the top tech ecosystems in Canada and around the world,” said Christina Fox, CEO of Tech Alliance of Southwestern Ontario.

“We have some of the folks that are here are all ages and stages. Some are serial entrepreneurs, some are devs, creatives, innovators. Some people have not even participated in tech, but have an idea of a company that’s sort of seated in the belly and this was the right time to tell the world about it, form a company and pitch to a set of judges on Sunday evening.”

The judges were looking for entrepreneurs to answer many questions during the pitch.

Will the company be viable? Will it be a market fit? Is there customer traction? Will it be profitable?

Just prior to their final pitch to the judges, Michiels was raving about the collaboration.

“There’s so much magic in seeing other perspectives and the ways people think differently,” said Michiels.

“I can bring that home to my business but also to my own personal development.”

According to TechAlliance, three standout teams took top honours, sharing in a prize valued at $26,000.

NestKinnect was awarded first place for its platform enabling healthcare workers to take control of their schedule.

In second place went to Synthia, an AI-powered platform making research accessible.

Third place went to ‘Varnish’ for its platform that enables artists and creatives to protect the copyright on their artwork from AI tools.