Estevan's SETH Launches Third Rural Tech Pitch Competition with $20,000 Prize
The Southeast Tech Hub (SETH) in Estevan, Saskatchewan, is hosting its third annual rural pitch competition to support local entrepreneurs. Starting April 16 at Southeast College, the event offers a total of $20,000 in seed funding to participants in the Rural Innovation & Startup Ecosystem (RISE) program. This year's cohort challenges stereotypes about rural innovation by featuring diverse startups in AI-enhanced beading, 3D-printed concrete equipment, and cold-adaptable wind energy, rather than traditional AgTech. Founded in 2022 as a joint venture between the City of Estevan and government bodies, SETH aims to diversify the region's economy beyond its historical reliance on coal. Executive Director Gord More emphasizes that the initiative allows founders to commercialize ideas without relocating to major urban centers, addressing a significant brain drain issue in Canada. The pitch session will be livestreamed to ensure accessibility across the sparse catchment area. Winners will be judged on business potential, scalability, and their contribution to the economic future of southeastern Saskatchewan, with the prize money potentially divided among multiple successful ventures.
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Estevan's SETH Launches Third Rural Tech Pitch Competition with $20,000 Prize
The Southeast Tech Hub (SETH) in Estevan, Saskatchewan, is hosting its third annual rural pitch competition to support local entrepreneurs. Starting April 16 at Southeast College, the event offers a total of $20,000 in seed funding to participants in the Rural Innovation & Startup Ecosystem (RISE) program. This year's cohort challenges stereotypes about rural innovation by featuring diverse startups in AI-enhanced beading, 3D-printed concrete equipment, and cold-adaptable wind energy, rather than traditional AgTech. Founded in 2022 as a joint venture between the City of Estevan and government bodies, SETH aims to diversify the region's economy beyond its historical reliance on coal. Executive Director Gord More emphasizes that the initiative allows founders to commercialize ideas without relocating to major urban centers, addressing a significant brain drain issue in Canada. The pitch session will be livestreamed to ensure accessibility across the sparse catchment area. Winners will be judged on business potential, scalability, and their contribution to the economic future of southeastern Saskatchewan, with the prize money potentially divided among multiple successful ventures.
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