Kingston Startup Quarterly Open Mic Pitch & Networking Event

Connect, Collaborate, and Be Inspired at Kingston’s Premier Startup Networking Event

Join Kingston’s vibrant startup community for an evening of networking, collaboration, and inspiring conversations. This event brings together founders, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners to share ideas, make meaningful connections, and support the city’s growing startup ecosystem.

• Open Networking: Meet fellow founders, potential collaborators, and industry supporters in a casual, engaging environment.
• Open-Mic Startup Pitches: Hear from five local Kingston startups as they showcase their ventures and ideas. Interested in pitching? You can sign up below. Make sure to submit your pitch by June 18.
• Expert Insights: Gain valuable perspectives from experienced founders and ecosystem partners who have navigated the startup journey.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers the perfect opportunity to build relationships, exchange ideas, and be inspired. Register now to connect with Kingston’s startup community!

Companies Pitching:

CBAPro – https://competencybasedassessment.ca/

Looking Glass Innovation – http://touchstone-cube.com/

HopnGo – https://hopngo.ca/

Nanoformatics Inc. – https://nanoformatics.com/

Cyber Meets Lab – https://academy.kalikapital.com/

LenSense Inc. – https://lensense.ca/

Meet our judges:

Tomilola Adebiyi – Clinic Director, Queen’s Business Law Clinic

Tomilola Adebiyi is Clinic Director at Queen’s Business Law Clinic and an Adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s Law. She specializes in privacy law and regulatory compliance (CIPP/C). Adebiyi leads the clinic in providing students and local businesses with legal guidance. She holds an LL.B. from Obafemi Awolowo University, an LLM from McGill, and is a certified barrister. Committed to legal education, she supports Kingston’s entrepreneurs and fosters innovation through practical legal training.

Joanna Tinus – Program and Community Manager, Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre

Joanna Tinus is an active team member at the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre, contributing to entrepreneurship programming and events. She collaborates with staff to deliver workshops, mentorship, and support for student and community innovators. Tinus helps organize initiatives that advance entrepreneurial education and foster connections within the Queen’s ecosystem. Her work empowers emerging innovators and supports the centre’s mission to drive innovation and growth in Kingston and beyond.

Jim Banting – Assistant Vice-Principal (Partnerships and Innovation), Queen’s Innovation and Partnerships

Jim Banting leads Queen’s Innovation and Partnerships, advancing research commercialization and industry-academic collaborations. With expertise in research administration and technology transfer, he supports faculty and entrepreneurs in turning discoveries into real-world solutions. Banting’s leadership helps drive economic development and knowledge mobilization, strengthening the university’s impact in Kingston and beyond through strategic partnerships and innovation support.