?? An Ever-Evolving & Transformative QICSI Pitch Competition! ??

1, 2, 3 - MIC Check!

Last Thursday, August 17th, from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST, I had the golden opportunity to represent the Kingston Economic Development Corporation in the vibrant sea of innovation at the Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University in Mitchell Hall. Witnessing this year's Summer Pitch Competition was nothing short of exhilarating! ??

This is always a reminder of why universities and academic institutions are the cornerstones of economic development and growth. In the City of Kingston we are lucky to have many such institutions, This Thursday, it was time for 加拿大女王大学 and its community to demonstrate how they flawlessly embrace this role.

Instead of the traditional approach, this time around, the QICSI Pitch Competition brought in a fresh twist:

• teams pitching to judges in an intimate setting,
• a deliberation on which team pitched better the potential of their ventures,
• followed by a nail-biting 2-minute elevator pitch to an eager audience,
• and the much-awaited announcement of the victors. ??

Seeing these twelve prodigious teams, each presenting groundbreaking ideas, was a testament to the untapped potential and genius we have among us. Their dedication, passion, and spirit of enterprise were palpable, making the experience truly rewarding.

A trip down memory lane: it's this very QICSI Pitch competition that reshaped my destiny. Fresh off a summer venture, while many sought adventures in distant cities, I found my calling right here in Kingston. I decided to stay in this tight-knit community, building priceless relationships. Today, Kingston isn't just a place I reside in; it's where my heart belongs, my "home away from home." ??

To all doers and innovators: remember, sometimes, the journey to find where you truly belong starts in ways you could have never defined or planned. Here's to the future creators, thinkers, and doers—may your journey be as transformative as mine has been, 23 countries and still counting! ??

Let's celebrate innovation and the magic of building products and services that sell and scale, in an ecosystem such as #KingstonOntario??