BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CQCC: Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce - ECPv6.15.16//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:CQCC: Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://queerchamber.ca X-WR-CALDESC:Events for CQCC: Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Toronto BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260219T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260219T140000 DTSTAMP:20260404T004729 CREATED:20251015T201842Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T164304Z UID:62430-1771506000-1771509600@queerchamber.ca SUMMARY:2026 EY/CQCC Pitch Competition DESCRIPTION:Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce\, in collaboration with EY\, invites CQCC’s certified suppliers and OUT for Business entrepreneurs to participate in the 2026 Virtual EY Pitch Series. This series comprises three Pitch Sessions throughout the year\, offering selected participants the opportunity to present their pitches to a panel of judges within a 10-minute timeframe. Judges will provide constructive feedback and tips to help entrepreneurs enhance their selling techniques to corporate buyers. \n\n\n\nThe pitch competition is only for CQCC’s certified suppliers and OUT for Business Entrepreneurs. For a more robust understanding of what the EY Pitch Competition will entail\, join us for an Info Session on February 19th\, 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET . This is a great opportunity to gain knowledge about the application process and what to expect at this year’s competition. This webinar will go over details of the pitch competition\, you will get to meet past participants and will end with a Q&A. \n\n\n\nFormat of the 2026 EY Virtual Pitch Series: \n\n\n\n\nEach round will feature at least three participants.\n\n\n\nThe order of presenters will be randomly selected before the presentations.\n\n\n\nPresentations are limited to two individuals from each participating company.\n\n\n\nEach participant will deliver a ten-minute presentation focusing on their service and value proposition.\n\n\n\nA two-minute warning will be given\, and presentations must conclude after ten minutes.\n\n\n\nPresenters must use visual presentations. (PowerPoint\, slides\, Canva\, Figma\, etc.)\n\n\n\n\nPrizes:Winners of each round will be paired with mentors to prepare for the Finale in May. \n\n\n\n\nBest Pitch: Full scholarship to the Supplier Diversity Professional Excellence\, Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth (approximate value: $4\,000USD).\n\n\n\nRunner Up: To be announced.\n\n\n\nThird Place: To be announced.\n\n\n\n\nDates (Subject to change): \n\n\n\n\nMARCH 26 | 1-3 PM ET\n\n\n\nAPRIL 16 | 1-3 PM ET\n\n\n\nMAY 7 | 1-3 PM ET\n\n\n\nFINALE in June. Dates to be announced.\n\n\n\n\nYou will receive a calendar invite for your slot upon registration if you get in! Participants are selected on first come\, first served basis. \n\n\n\nMentorship:After the last pitch session on May 7th\, each finalist will be paired with a mentor from EY\, who will receive up to four hours of one-to-one mentoring to perfect their pitch. \n\n\n\nJudging:EY will secure a minimum of 5 judges for each session and the Finale. Candidates will be assessed on a scale of 1-5 for the following criteria: \n\n\n\n\nPresentation materials\n\n\n\nVerbal communications\n\n\n\nNon-verbal communications\n\n\n\nUse of time\n\n\n\nCommunication of core service(s)\n\n\n\nValue proposition\n\n\n\n\nEY is committed to maintaining a diverse supplier base and building relationships with suppliers that reflect the market\, clients and communities they serve. EY seeks to actively identify\, develop\, and do business with diverse suppliers as an integral component of its procurement activities. Their Inclusive and Sustainable Procurement team drives the supplier diversity initiative at EY to promote supplier inclusion. \n\n\n\nRegistration closed. \n\n\n\n2026 EY Pitchers\n\n\n\nRound 1 – March 26th\n\n\n\n\n \n Our Team \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n David LeBlanc (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n LeBlanc Leadership Group \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n David LeBlanc (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n LeBlanc Leadership Group \n \n \n LeBlanc Leadership Group helps organizations build stronger leaders and high-performing teams through executive coaching\, team development\, and leadership programs. Our work focuses on creating clarity\, accountability\, and cultures where people and performance grow together. \nhttps://leblancleadership.ca/ \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr. Alice Curitz (she/they) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Our Landing Place \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Dr. Alice Curitz (she/they) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Our Landing Place \n \n \n Our Landing Place is a 2SLGBTQIA+ and Neurodivergent affirming mental health clinic supporting clients through an intersectional and anti-oppressive lens across Canada. We offer consulting and training services to individuals and organizations to help them expand their understanding of and increase their ability to work with 2SLGBTQIA+ and Neurodivergent folks. \nwww.ourlandingplace.com \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Leonardo Oliveira (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Second Nature English \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Leonardo Oliveira (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Second Nature English \n \n \n Second Nature English is a gamified fluency training ecosystem built on pattern recognition and authentic language integration. We help learners move beyond translation and develop the cognitive ability to naturally think and communicate in English. \nhttps://www.secondnatureenglish.ca/ \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Michela Toscano (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n IONICA \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Michela Toscano (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n IONICA \n \n \n IONICA is a cyber security and site reliability firm that defends web sites\, AI\, and applications from attack — and we keep them online and fast\, all the time.\n\nhttps://ionica.ca/\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ty McKinney (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n 8 Bit Cortex \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Ty McKinney (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n 8 Bit Cortex \n \n \n 8 Bit Cortex helps publicly funded non-profits align their fundraising and data strategy through a social return on investment assessment process. Our ImpactCore platform allows our customers to digitally deliver their training programs\, assisted with AI Agents and gamification elements to ensure they can secure their funding with data-driven impact stories. \n8 Bit Cortex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\nRound 2 – April 16th\n\n\n\n\n \n Our Team \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ginny Santos (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Neolé \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Ginny Santos (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Neolé \n \n \n Neolé helps leaders and teams think clearly during the day and sleep soundly at night. Through facilitation\, team development\, and NeuroPerformance Coaching\, we enable caring leaders to sustain high performance without burning out. \nHome \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Nazanin Moghadami (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Nabat Health Center \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Nazanin Moghadami (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Nabat Health Center \n \n \n Nabat Health Center is BC’s first queer forward\, trans inclusive health clinic dedicated to people of color\, and the first clinic within Fraser Health to explicitly provide gender affirming care and abortion services. \nNabat-health.ca \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n PeopleDynamics Learning Group Inc (PDLG) \n\n \n PDLG Partners \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n PeopleDynamics Learning Group Inc (PDLG) \n\n \n PDLG Partners \n \n \n \n \n PDLG helps organizations address the costly breakdowns that occur when leaders lack the relational and conversational capacity required to lead complex teams. \nPeopleDynamics Learning Group Home \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Murielle Bien-Aimé (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Le Maison Komando \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Murielle Bien-Aimé (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Le Maison Komando \n \n \n La Maison Komandō is an award winning intimate apparel & clothing company based in canada. Our mission is to DISRUPT the underwear and lingerie industry and redefine what traditional feminine underwear & clothing looks and feels like. \nhttps://bekomando.com/ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\nRound 3 – May 7th\n\n\n\n\n \n Our Team \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mitch Schwartz (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Ops Machine \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Mitch Schwartz (he/him) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Ops Machine \n \n \n Ops Machine is a CGLCC-certified AI implementation and operations consultancy based in Montreal. We untangle complex technical projects by starting with the humans involved — so organizations build AI that actually fits how their people work\, not just how the technology works.\n\nOpsmachine.co \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mak Rogers (they/them) \n\n \n Co-Founder \n \n \n \n Frankie D's Donuts \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Mak Rogers (they/them) \n\n \n Co-Founder \n \n \n \n Frankie D's Donuts \n \n \n \nFrankie D’s Donuts is a queer-owned social enterprise born from community conversations about mental health\, suicide prevention\, and other hard conversations shared over sweet treats. We now scale those conversations nationwide through our Conversations That Matter card decks\, helping workplaces and communities create braver spaces for honest conversations that reduce loneliness and build connection. \nwww.frankiedsdonuts.com \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bryn Bamber (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Bryn Bamber (she/her) \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Bryn Bamber (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n Bryn Bamber (she/her) \n \n \n Employee burnout is quietly costing companies their best employees. I teach practical somatic tools that help employees regulate stress and stay performing. I’ve delivered this work for organizations like the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and Petrone & Partners Law. \nwww.brynbamber.com \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Hadis Saffari (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n H&M Maid INC \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Hadis Saffari (she/her) \n\n \n Founder \n \n \n \n H&M Maid INC \n \n \n Commercial and post-construction cleaning \nHmmaid.com URL:https://queerchamber.ca/event/2026-ey-cqcc-pitch-competition/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://queerchamber.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/CQCC-EY-Pitch-Competition-96-in-x-36-in-scaled.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR