Xatoms, Juno win big at Startupfest 2024
Summary
As Startupfest 2024 draws to a close, five startups are walking away with a collective $785,000 in potential investment.The festival officially wrapped its 14th year in Montr\xe9als Grand Quay. We did not expect to win today, Virgovicova told BetaKit after the event.We are especially happy that there are people who believe in our solution, believe in the problem, and believe in the impact we can potentially make, added Xatoms COO Shirley Zhong.The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has offered to match Xatoms winnings, which, if accepted, would bring the startups total prize money from Startupfest to an eye-watering $500,000.Montr\xe9al-based healthtech startup Juno secured the Black Entrepreneur Investment Prize. Juno, founded in 2022, is developing a compact, discreet and wearable device that alleviates menstrual pain quickly.Juno might walk with more than $100,000, though. This years winner was Bindr, a label-free dating platform that doesnt require a sexual orientation selection.The $25,000 impact grant, presented by Fonds de solidarit\xe9 FTQ, is open to startups that are incorporated and headquartered in Qu\xe9bec that can demonstrate their positioning as impact-driven, meaning they aim for both financial performance and positive impact on the environment or society.This years winner was Montr\xe9al-based governance software startup Panorama, which offers a platform to improve the decision-making on boards by automating governance best practices.A beloved tradition at Startupfest and one of its most popular contests, the grandmothers choice award offers entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of grandmothers. While the prize is non-monetary, the true reward lies in the invaluable feedback and the bragging rights that come with winning this accolade.Montr\xe9al-based PakVille won the hearts of this years grandmothers.