It was a night for the ages. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the founding of the 9I制作厂免费 Innovation Fund (MIF), a special one-time pitch competition was held: the MIF Evolution. The event was designed to showcase the tremendous range of talent that has been nurtured over this period of time, and the teams did not disappoint.
The event was generously sponsored by , who also hosted the event in their elegant ballroom in downtown Montreal. Additional support was provided by R&D Partners and La Foundry, who both offered in-kind prizes to the winning teams.
Four judges were on hand to evaluate the pitches and pose questions to the competitors: Samir Mounir, Ph.D, MBA. (Desjardins Caisse des technologies), Martin Bader (9I制作厂免费), Sahar Ansary (R&D Partners), and Alexis Hamam (9I制作厂免费 Ventures). To fully demonstrate the gamut of MIF abilities, the competition was opened to current and past MIF teams, as well as to previous applicants.
鈥淭he 9I制作厂免费 Innovation Fund and its cohort training programs are truly world-class. At Desjardins, we are proud to collaborate with 9I制作厂免费 to provide not only advanced financial solutions but also strategic guidance that accelerates the journey from breakthrough ideas to market impact,鈥� said Samir Mounir, Ph.D., MBA, Desjardins Caisse des Technologies. 鈥淭hese ventures represent the vanguard of innovation, and it is both a privilege and a strategic imperative for us to be part of their journey.鈥�
Teams were competing for a total of five prizes ranging from $500 to $1000, which also included an Audience Choice award. And the winners were:
- First prize ($1,000 plus consulting package from R&D Partners): , presented by Yee Wei Foong
- Second prize + Audience Choice award (total $1,500 plus consulting package from La Foundry): , presented by Ava Slotman
- Third prize ($1,000): , presented by Benjamin Ringler
- Fourth prize ($500): , presented by Reza Sharif
All teams who took part are to be commended for sticking closely to the competition rules: one slide and three minutes maximum.
Winner Yee-Wei Foong of VoltLeaf Inc. had the following comment: 鈥淲inning the MIF Evolution award is an inspiring milestone, reflecting the valuable mentorship I received through Cooperathon Desjardins this past summer. I am deeply grateful for the continued support and validation from MIF, Desjardins, R&D Partners, 9I制作厂免费 Ventures Fund, 9I制作厂免费 Engine, and other partners, who have all joined VoltLeaf Energy Inc. on our mission to revolutionize the sustainable battery industry.鈥�
Congratulations to the winning teams and to all teams who presented. To learn more about the support offered by Desjardins Caisse des technologies, contact them or visit their website:
