Wanna be on top?

Next Top Model, courtesy John Paul Filo/The CW Network

As I rev up for the next cycle of Next Top Model, I can’t wait to see the new crop of unpolished, gawky, (and sometimes homely) small-town girls transition into shiny, jet-setting fashion models. In a matter of weeks, they learn how to “WORK”, capture an audience, and emerge as presentable, bookable, bankable people.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had some way to identify our coolest, top technology start-ups across the country, shine them up and turn them into investor- or partner-ready entities?… oh wait… we already do.

For a few years now, OCRI in Ottawa has been running the country-wide Canada’s Top 10™ Competition for emerging life sciences, cleantech, or high tech companies.

Selected companies and alumni gain access to:

• Coaching clinics developed to refine corporate pitches
• Investment forums developed in partnership with the Canadian consulates to expose elite Canadian companies to US and Canadian VC investors, licensing executives and potential strategic partners. The forums give companies an exclusive opportunity to present to top tier venture capitalist and other strategic partners in a series of invitation only events.
• Ongoing support for business development and investment readiness
• A select group of winning companies will have the opportunity to present at this year’s Ottawa Venture & Technology Summit (OVTS).

Think your company is one of the country’s top? Get over to this site pronto and submit your application! It’s pretty quick and easy to complete. http://www.topcanadiancompanies.ca/applications/

Applications close AUGUST 29, so there’s not much time left! If you have any questions or want to know more, get in touch with Marco Fiori at mfiori@ocri.ca.

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Tags: awards & competitions, business, canada, cleantech, ict, life sciences