News Summary

The Elevate Festival in Toronto celebrated several startups with significant pitch competition wins. Serenity Power, a Calgary-based startup founded by University of Toronto graduate Aleisha Reese Cerny, won the $100,000 Women+ Pitch Prize. The startup is notable for its development of solid oxide fuel cell technology, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in various industries. Another startup, Tydra Labs, also secured funding and aims to raise $750,000 to convert crustacean shell waste into sustainable bioproducts. The festival, which attracted around 10,000 attendees, also featured the Black Innovation Zone’s Ecosystem Showcase Pitch Competition. Moon Trades, a mining robotics startup founded by Wintta Ghebreiyesus, placed third in this competition, focusing on developing a rover-enabled platform for mining. The event highlighted the importance of supporting diverse and innovative founders in Canada’s startup ecosystem.