In a startup ecosystem where storytelling often overshadows substance, and not an ounce of “dry powder” in sight, we wanted to shift the spotlight back to the fundamentals. Real traction, smart forecasting, and a plan that actually holds up. We also wanted to build something more founder-friendly. That meant guaranteeing every applicant would receive feedback on their model, and eliminating the expectation that founders step away from their business for a full-day pitch event. The goal was to make the bar higher, the process smarter, and the outcome more valuable than traditional startup competitions.
The response was overwhelming.
Across Canada, early-stage founders stepped up to the challenge, submitting models that proved just how sophisticated and investor-ready they are. After reviewing over 120 qualified submissions from coast to coast, we’re proud to announce which Canadian startup landed on top.
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HQ: Calgary, AB
Cashew tells you what customers want, fast and affordably, through an AI-guided and expertly designed research process that fields thousands of surveys to real people and turns those responses into an interactive report. Their platform makes high-quality customer insight not just accessible, but actually enjoyable to use.
While most early-stage startups underinvest in finance, Cashew brought on a fractional CFO one year ago and says it’s one of the best decisions they’ve made.
“It’s been a game-changer in helping us accurately forecast our runway, update our financial models with multiple scenarios, and proactively plan for future fundraises, grant applications, and large customer contracts.”
Cashew shares that their forecast is central to how they operate the business, helping the team make smarter decisions about hiring, growth pacing, and product investment.
When asked what pulled them to apply to Profitual’s No-Pitch Competition, CEO Addy Graves shared that “the competition stood out because it emphasized the operational discipline behind building a company, not just a big pitch or the ultimate vision. The focus on real business fundamentals really resonated with our team and where we are in our journey.”
Cashew is currently preparing to raise their next round, and actively seeking introductions to seed investors in both Canada and the US who are excited about the future of research, customer centric organizations, and AI-native tools that help businesses move faster and smarter.
A massive thank you to our partners who helped bring this idea to life. DMZ, NBIF, McInnes Cooper, Creative Destruction Labs, and NextAI. Your support gave founders a national platform to showcase their hard work in a totally new way. Together, we're proving that understanding your numbers is the pitch.
If your organization is interested in getting involved in the next No-Pitch competition, we’d love to hear from you.
Congratulations again to our top 20 for putting in the hard work! Check out what these phenomenal companies are doing across Canada today, and learn more about how to support their current fundraising goals:
HQ: St. John’s, NFLD
NDITIVE (Techstars ‘24) specializes in real-time environmental and industrial monitoring, leveraging the power of digital twins and AI to deliver transformative insights to diverse sectors like offshore energy and advanced manufacturing.
NDITIVE is currently raising a $250k USD round, with $150k USD already secured. The team is seeking investors to close the remaining $100k gap.
HQ: Dartmouth, NS
Dispension is a robotics engineering company redefining the distribution of canned beer and ready-to-drink products with secure, trusted, intelligent self-service kiosks. The goal is to reduce wait times, concourse congestion, and line-ups at large-scale venues by providing consumers with an alternative consumer experience.
Dispensation is currently raising $3M to grow their team, and for scaling operations to build a small fleet of SmartServ beer robots. These robots will be used to capitalize on immediate opportunities within MLB, NBA, and NHL stadiums.
HQ: Sydney, NS
Aeon Blue makes a drop-in replacement for fossil fuel while capturing and storing carbon from air. The team is developing an integrated hydrogen and carbon capture technology that uses wind energy, seawater, and captured carbon dioxide from air to make cost-efficient eFuel.
Aeon Blue is currently raising $10M USD to build their sustainable fuel and carbon removal pilot facility in Cape Breton, NS.
HQ: Halifax, NS
AI-First consulting helps Atlantic Canadian SME’s effectively integrate AI into daily operations. They combine expertise in generative AI, productivity systems, and behavioral science to transform how teams operate, collaborate, and excel, making AI adoption practical, meaningful, and human-centered.
HQ: Oshawa, ON
Carbon Utilized is a science-based technology company committed to solving complex climate change problems related to greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Their primary focus is converting carbon dioxide into valuable products.
Carbon Utilized Inc. is seeking investors for a $175k CAD round via SAFE. Funds will be used to produce their first batches of purified, carbon-negative ethanol for a pilot with a leading Canadian ready-to-drink brand, unlocking revenue and securing a long-term supply contract.
HQ: Fredericton, NB
Parados offers on-demand physical training and therapy tools for health and movement experts. Their client success platform automates repetitive data collection, administration, and analysis tasks to make high-quality care more accessible and engaging from anywhere, at any time, from any device.
Parados is actively seeking more mission-aligned resellers and distributors to partner with as they scale.
HQ: Bowmanville, ON
Figiúra is building at the intersection of femtech and consumer products, designing patent-pending bras that cater to the needs of wearers post-breast augmentation. Anchored by a strong IP moat, their designs cater to three critical differences between the shape, texture, and projection of natural and augmented breasts, addressing gaps that currently underserve over 43 million people worldwide.
Figiúra is currently raising a $500k CAD round and seeking interested investors. The company holds a first mover advantage in a niche and rapidly growing category.
HQ: Riverview, NB
CandidateHub is a Candidate Relationship Management platform that helps companies solve the problem of identifying top candidates for their open roles. Through a series of marketing campaigns, CandidateHub tracks each click a candidate makes across the company's online footprint and predicts when the right time is for a recruiter to call that candidate, saving companies up to 40% of their time advertising to the wrong candidates.
CandidateHub is currently seeking investors to participate in their open $250k round.
HQ: Hamilton, ON
Midterm Rental Properties offers a dual-sided marketplace for renters and tenants of furnished stays beyond 30-days. Their expertise and database of properties caters to the needs of travelling professionals, newcomers, and explorers seeking reliable accommodation for wherever life takes them next.
Midterm Rentals is actively expanding their database with demand from US property owners, and seeking a lead investor for their $1.5M round to fuel execution of this go-to-market strategy.
HQ: Richmond, ON
To help millions of paralyzed people regain motion, VIBRAINT has developed a brain-controlled rehabilitation robot. Today, the team is currently working to get regulatory approvals in Canada and the USA for their rehabilitation robot controlled by non-invasive brain-computer interface which they plan to launch in the market by 2027.
VIBRAINT is actively seeking a lead investor for their open $2M seed round.
HQ: Westmount, QC
VLVT offers a low-cost alternative to therapy using AI, focusing on relationship intelligence. VLVT delivers bite-sized, gamified learnings that enhance your LOVEIQ. With its innovative approach and commitment to accessibility, VLVT is redefining how people learn and experience love.
VLVT is seeking participation in their $1M CAD round, along with B2B2C partnerships with therapy clinics, universities, and other companies open to exploring partnerships in the mental health and corporate space.
HQ: Mississauga, ON
The Transpots platform enables trucking companies to automate 80% of their day-to-day operations, from order management to invoicing to shipment tracking and beyond. Simplifying trucking, one mile at a time.
Transports is raising a $750k round and seeking a lead investor. They are also open to mission-aligned relationships to fuel growth.
HQ: Saint John, NB
Serenity Vet connects high-performing relief veterinarians with clinics and hospitals, and offers dual-sided financial tools that support wage transparency and budget optimization between both. Their business suite supports flexible schedules, fosters a healthy work-life balance, and ensures predictable financial outcomes for all parties.
Serenity Vet is in the middle of raising a $1M round seeking aligned investors and strategic partnerships. They are actively hiring for key positions including a Director of Sales and a Senior Software Development team to build out their AI-powered predictability tool.
HQ: Milton, ON
Aceunlock AI builds tools that make it easier to prepare for job interviews through meaningful practice. Their platform offers mock interviews with an AI-interviewer, targeted quizzes to assess knowledge of roles, written practice to help you think through structured responses, and feedback for development.
Aceunlock AI is raising $360k to expand their AI-powered mock interview platform and grow their user base. They are also looking to connect with fractional business development and marketing talent for open roles in the next 6-8 months.
HQ: Paradise, NFLD
Easy Renting. For Everyone. Weevva is an innovative, all-in-one rental platform simplifying the rental process for private landlords and tenants. With tools for tenant verification, lease management, and streamlined communication, Weevva transforms renting into a secure, efficient, and hassle-free experience.
Weevva is currently preparing for their National launch and looking to connect with a lead investor for their $500k round. Building on existing traction with the platform, funds will be used to accelerate growth across Canada and strengthen their AI infrastructure.
HQ: Toronto, ON
Vaultie provides digital trust solutions to users by tethering fraud-resilient and verifiable credentials to sensitive information such as digital ID's, legal documents, and financial contracts.
Vaultie is seeking interest from partners who want to build a community of trust between themselves and their stakeholders.
HQ: Montreal, QC
AssetsWaves is reshaping real estate investment by leveraging blockchain, tokenization, and regenerative technology. They aim to democratize access to high-value properties, making real estate investment more inclusive, efficient, and transparent than ever before.
AssetsWaves Technologies is raising a $1.25M round to launch their real estate tokenization platform, onboard the first 1k users, and tokenize 27 income-generating properties. They are currently seeking a lead investor aligned with their mission to democratize property ownership and unlock real estate as a regenerative asset class.
HQ: Toronto, ON
The Lumina App creates tailored meditations based on real-time voice analysis, making mindfulness easily accessible to all. The AI-driven solution provides calm in three easy steps: tell Lumina how you’re feeling, get a mediation or therapy-style session created just for you, feel the shift and let go.
HQ: Kitchener, ON
Hyivy Health is your partner on your pelvic health journey by offering holistic, patient created, pelvic health rehabilitation for patients and clinicians. They are working on providing thermal therapy, auto dilation, clinician software, and a connected Hyivy app.
Hyivy Health is currently raising $3M CAD and looking to close the last $700k on their round, which already has terms and a lead investor.
A massive thank you again to everyone who shared this opportunity with a founder in your network, and congrats to our finalists. Unique forecast evaluation feedback links have been distributed to applicants via email. If you have any questions about your feedback, or want to learn more about how Profitual can help you improve your forecast, let us know!
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