Startup Survivor: The Pitch Competition

Who will outlast the competition and take home the grand prize?

Startup Survivor is a 4-month Accelerator and Pitch Competition awarding $80,000 to McMaster University students and alumni with the best business ideas. The program runs annually throughout the Summer Term. To support the growth of these startups, McMaster and The Forge awards $50,000 to the 10 teams while mentoring them through intense business and technical challenges. At the Pitch Competition, finalists will deliver a 5-minute pitch to the audience and esteemed judging panel. After deliberations, we’ll crown our winners and award the remaining $30,000 in our prize pool!

About The Forge

Welcome to The Forge, McMaster University’s premier startup incubator and entrepreneurship hub. At The Forge, we believe in empowering innovators, entrepreneurs, and dreamers to transform their ideas into successful ventures.

The Forge is an entrepreneurial hub backed by McMaster University, catering to startups in the Hamilton, Greater Toronto, and Niagara Regions. Established in 2015, we actively engage with entrepreneurs, providing them comprehensive support in transforming their business concepts into thriving ventures. Regardless of industry, The Forge offers cohort-based programs to facilitate idea development, validation, and ultimately, sustainable growth.