2009 Breakthru Competition

Of all sixty entries, six finalists were selected for the final round of the competition. As each prepared for their final pitch, the CBC Evening News broadcast stories on each of the finalists so viewers could choose the company they thought should get to pitch on Dragons’ Den. Seven thousand people voted in just one week!

The competition came to an end at the Breakthru Awards Dinner after CBC business journalist Dianne Buckner gave the audience her keynote that included her "Seven Tips For the Perfect Pitch." With great anticipation, the prizes were announced. The Grand Prize of $125,000 went to ChemGreen Innovation, the Silver Prize of $60,000 went to KnowCharge, and the Young Entrepreneur Prize of $60,000 went to Smart Skin, who also one the Viewer’s Choice Award. All of the winners business plans incorporated technology first developed at one of the province’s universities.

All prizes included in-kind services from accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, lawyers Cox & Palmer and interactive design firm OrangeSprocket.