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- What's Next In Inclusive Innovation
Built for founders who build different
BoB Pitch Stage is where founders leveraging technology and innovation gain access to capital, growth resources, and opportunities designed to accelerate scalable impact.
Pitching Black-led startups will have access to the people, resources, and support systems they need to grow.
Alongside founders, investors, capital partners, financial institutions, ecosystem organizations, and industry leaders, pitching startups will step into a community built around one mission:
"Leveraging AI to Accelerate Inclusive Innovation."
Build Beyond The Pitch
Selected founders gain access to Access Lab, designed to support founders with the tools, resources, and strategic guidance needed to accelerate growth.
Pitch Live
Top 5 finalists will pitch live at BTF Social. 1 Minute Pitch. 3 Minute Judge Q&A.
Access Capital
Compete for up to $35,000 (BTF Summit Ticket Sales) Investment designed to help founders move from traction to scalable growth.
Join The Community.
Every founder who applies to BoB Pitch receives access to opportunities designed to support growth beyond the competition itself. Through The Nod Foundation, applicants enter The Access Lab. Because at BoB Pitch, opportunity doesn’t begin when you win. It begins when you apply.
"Opportunity doesn't begin when you win. It begins when you apply."
- BoB Pitch 2026 Timeline
The Timeline
May 15
Applications Open
June 13
Applications Close
Founder applications, pitch materials, and social submissions due
June 14-18
Founder Eligibility & Internal Review
June 19
Top 5 Finalists Announced
June 20-25
Founder Preparation & Pitch Readiness
June 26
BoB Pitch Live @ BTF Summit Socials
- Your Founder Journey
Three steps to the stage
1. Application & Review
Submit your application and pitch deck. Applications are reviewed for startup fit, innovation potential, growth opportunity, and alignment with the BoB Pitch vision.
2. Founder Preparation
Selected finalists receive preparation support and guidance before stepping onto the BoB Pitch stage.
3. Time To Pitch
Top 5 finalists pitch live at BTF Summit 2026. 1 Minute Pitch. 3 Minute Judge Q&A. Compete for up to $35,000 (BTF Summit Ticket Sales) Investment, $120,000 towards MVP build, revenue pathways and more, access to the Access Lab, and unlock founder growth opportunities.
- What BoB Pitch Is
A chance to accelerate beyond the stage
BTF Summit 2.0 is organized around one central question: how do we ensure that the AI revolution creates opportunity for founders who have historically been left out of technology’s most transformative moments?
BoB Pitch reflects that question in its evaluation criteria. We are looking for founders who are building with AI; not because it is a trend, but because it is a genuine strategic advantage for their business and their customers.
This does not mean your company needs to be an “AI company.” It means we want to understand how you are using AI tools, automation, or intelligence-driven systems to solve problems faster, serve customers better, or create defensible scale.
Founders at all stages are welcome. We evaluate intent, adoption, and strategic clarity — not just technical sophistication.
How To Apply
The application is the first stage of your evaluation and should be completed thoughtfully and completely. Incomplete applications will not move forward for review.
What you’ll need:
- Founder contact information + LinkedIn profile
- Startup name, website, industry, and founding year
- Description of the problem you’re solving
- Your solution and target customer
- Revenue model and current traction (customers, milestones, revenue if applicable)
- How you’re leveraging AI in your business
- Types of support you’re seeking (legal, development, branding, etc.)
- A 1 min minute pitch video (YouTube or Vimeo link)
- Your startup Instagram or primary social profile
- Pitch deck, not required (PDF upload)
Pitch Video Requirements
Keep your video to 1 minute and cover:
- The problem
- Your solution
- Current traction
- Why your team is building this
Your video does not need high production quality. Clarity, conviction, and vision matter more than editing.
Social Media Requirement
All applicants are required to submit a 1-minute pitch video on Instagram as part of the application process.
Requirements:
- Post your 1-minute pitch video (public account required)
- Tag or collaborate with @thenodevents
- Include #BoBPitch and #BTFSummit
- Submit the direct post URL in your application
Applications without a verified social submission will be considered incomplete.
Pitch Structure
– Following the application review process, selected founders will move through eligibility screening and judge evaluation.
– The Top 5 finalists will be selected to pitch live at BoB Pitch @ BTF Social.
– Finalists will present a 1 Minute Founder Pitch followed by a 3 Minute Judge Q&A.
– Founders should be prepared to clearly communicate:
- The problem they are solving
- Their solution
- Market opportunity
- Traction and growth potential
- How technology or AI supports their vision
– No slide presentation will be used during the live stage pitch.
– Following the live pitches, judges will select one Grand Winner.
– The Grand Winner will receive up to $35,000 (BTF Ticket Sales) Investment, $120,000 towards MVP, revenue pathways, and more, access to startup growth opportunities through The Nod Foundation’s Access Lab.
Prize Allocation
The BoB Pitch Grand Winner will receive:
- $35,000 (BTF Ticket Sales) Investment,
- $120,000 towards MVP, revenue pathways and more,
- Customized founder support through Access Lab
- Strategic partner and ecosystem introductions
- Founder ecosystem access and network opportunities
- Post-event founder support and growth opportunities
Then a short note underneath:
Startup growth resources are allocated through a Founder Needs Assessment, ensuring founders receive support aligned with their company stage and priorities.
Eligibility To Apply
BoB Pitch is designed for a specific founder profile. Please review the criteria below before applying.
- Self-identified as Black
- Founder, co-founder
- Business is incorporated or actively in the process of incorporation
- Business is based in Canada or Canadian-registered
- Business is technology-enabled (does not need to be a pure tech company)
- Must be available to pitch live at BTF Summit 2.0 if selected as a finalist
Co-founders are welcome and encouraged to apply together. Only one founder per startup may be listed as the primary applicant. Previous participants of BoB Pitch or BTF Summit are eligible to apply again in new cohort years.
Judging Criteria
Our judges will evaluate startups across the following areas:
- Problem: Is the startup solving a meaningful problem?
- Solution: Is there a clear and compelling solution?
- Innovation: How is technology or AI creating value?
- Market Opportunity: Is there potential for growth and scalability?
- Traction: Has the startup demonstrated progress or validation?
- Founder & Team: Does the founder/team show capability and vision?
- Growth Potential: Does the company show long-term potential?
Participation & Intellectual Property
Your intellectual property remains yours. Submitting an application or participating in BoB Pitch does not transfer, assign, or grant ownership rights to The Nod Foundation, The Nod Inc, BTF Summit, or associated partners.
Application materials are used for evaluation purposes and are shared only with the BoB operations team and designated judges under confidentiality and conflict-of-interest guidelines.
Founders should only share information they are comfortable disclosing as part of the application process. Please do not include confidential trade secrets, proprietary code, protected algorithms, or sensitive business information that is not necessary for evaluation.
By participating, founders also consent to photography, video recording, and editorial coverage during BTF Summit 2026 for promotional and archival purposes.
- The Panel
Meet the Judges
- Coming Soon
- Coming Soon
- Coming Soon
- Partners & Ecosystem
Powered by community
BoB Pitch Stage · Powered by The Nod Foundation
Launchpad Partners
Partner With BoB Pitch
Support the next generation of Black-led startups building across Canada.
Partners gain opportunities for:
- Access Lab
Founder Perks &
Growth Resources
Opportunity doesn’t begin when you win. It begins when you apply. Through Access Lab, founders gain access to a growing ecosystem designed to support startup growth beyond the competition stage.
For Top 5 finalists and the Grand Winner, additional startup growth resources valued at $120,000+ may be unlocked through BoB's Startup Growth Partner Network.
🤝 Community & Ecosystem Access
Connect with founders, organizations, and industry leaders across Canada.
Gain access to:
- Founder community access
- Peer networking opportunities
- Ecosystem organization introductions
- Founder events and networking sessions
- Strategic relationship opportunities
- Future founder initiatives
🧠 Mentorship & Founder Guidance
Learn from founders, operators, and industry experts.
Gain access to:
- Mentor opportunities
- Founder office hours
- Industry expert sessions
- Startup advisory support
- Founder coaching opportunities
⚖️ Legal & Business Infrastructure
Support designed to strengthen and protect your business.
Potential support includes:
- Business incorporation guidance
- Legal support
- Contract support
- Intellectual property guidance
- Corporate structuring support
💻 Product Development & Technical Resources
Support designed to help founders build and improve products.
Potential support includes:
- MVP support
- Product strategy guidance
- Technical advisory opportunities
- Development support
- Technology implementation support
🎨 Branding & Marketing Support
Support designed to strengthen visibility and growth.
Potential support includes:
- Brand strategy
- Messaging support
- Marketing strategy
- Content development
- Growth positioning
📊 Finance & Business Systems
Support designed to build strong operational foundations.
Potential support includes:
- Accounting support
- Financial systems setup
- Reporting structure guidance
- Business operations support
💰 Capital & Funding Readiness
Support designed to help founders prepare for future opportunities.
Potential support includes:
- Grant identification and application support
- Investor readiness programming
- Pitch preparation support
- Funding strategy guidance
- Investment pathway opportunities
📈 Sales & Commercialization
Support designed to help founders grow and acquire customers.
Potential support includes:
- Sales infrastructure support
- CRM setup
- Customer acquisition strategy
- Commercialization guidance
- Partnership opportunities
🎯 Customized Founder Support
Resources are allocated through a Founder Needs Assessment completed after the event.
Founders are matched with support aligned to their startup stage, growth priorities, and business needs — not handed a generic package.
The Grand Winner also receives:
- Customized growth planning
- Direct Nod Foundation support
- Monthly progress check-ins
- Priority ecosystem introductions
- FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be generating revenue to apply?
No. We welcome founders at MVP stage, pre-revenue, and early traction. Revenue demonstrates traction but is not a requirement. What matters is the strength of your idea, the clarity of your market, and the quality of your execution.
Does my company need to be a technology company?
No. Your business needs to be technology-enabled — meaning technology plays a meaningful role in how you deliver value, serve customers, or operate. You do not need to be building software or an AI product to be eligible.
Can I apply if I have already raised funding?
Yes. Prior funding does not disqualify you. You will be asked to disclose existing investment and cap table information as part of the application and, if selected as a finalist, as part of the due diligence process.
Can I apply with a co-founder?
Yes. Co-founders should be listed in the application. One founder serves as the primary applicant and point of contact. Both co-founders may pitch at the live event.
What happens if I am selected as a finalist but cannot attend BTF Summit 2.0?
Finalist attendance at the live event is required. If an emergency arises, contact the BoB pitch team immediately. We will work with you where possible, but finalist status requires live participation.
When will I hear back after submitting my application?
All applicants receive a confirmation of receipt. Status updates are communicated throughout the review period. Finalists are notified directly.
Is there an application fee?
No. There is no cost to apply to BoB Pitch.
General Inquiries
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© 2025 BTF Summit. All rights reserved.