Shack Homes and Forum Win $28.4K at TechAlliance’s Polaris Pitch Competition & Innovation Showcase

On February 24, 2026, the Polaris Pitch Competition & Innovation Showcase, organized by TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario, took place at the London Music Hall, featuring high-stakes pitches from innovative tech founders. Two standout ventures, Shack Homes and Forum, were named "moonshot winners," receiving a combined prize package worth $28,400, which included $15,000 in non-dilutive investment and over $6,700 in in-kind growth benefits.

The event showcased six high-growth tech founders from southwestern Ontario, presenting their ideas to a panel of notable Canadian investors: Justine Janssen of Employee Ownership Canada, Zamir Khan of RHA Ventures, and Michele Romanow of Clearco. The evening kicked off with rapid-fire pitches from four early-stage ventures, where the audience played a crucial role in selecting the winner. Easy Snack Co. won this segment, setting an energetic tone for the main event.

Michele Romanow, co-founder and executive chairman of Clearco, headlined the competition, sharing valuable insights from her experience managing over $3.2 billion in investments in high-growth companies. Notably, she highlighted her commitment to backing women founders at 25 times the industry average. In a pre-pitch session called the Moonshot Lounge, finalists had the opportunity to engage in candid conversations with Romanow, emphasizing the event's focus on mentorship and collaboration.

The Innovation Showcase was designed to facilitate connections among seasoned entrepreneurs, investors, and emerging tech talent. It highlighted Southwest Ontario's potential by creating avenues for collaboration, customer acquisition, and partnership building, thereby amplifying the growth trajectories of local innovations.

TechAlliance's CEO, Christina Fox, expressed pride in the ambitious founders participating in the competition, emphasizing the importance of pairing visionary creators with appropriate capital, partners, and community support. This endeavor showcases the capability of local entrepreneurs to develop world-class technology solutions and make significant contributions to the future.

Honourable Evan Solomon, Federal Minister of Digital Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, recognized the role of the Government of Canada's support for TechAlliance through FedDev Ontario, aiming to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses, create jobs, and position Canada as a competitive player on the global stage.

Similarly, Honourable Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West, celebrated the talent and entrepreneurial spirit emerging from southwestern Ontario, reiterating that funding organizations like TechAlliance underpins local innovators in transforming bold ideas into successful enterprises, enhancing the region's economy.

The Polaris Pitch Competition & Innovation Showcase is also supported by several sponsors, including Lerners LLP, CARFAX Canada, MNP LLP, and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), among others. This initiative aims to strengthen the innovation capacity across rural communities in southwestern Ontario, such as Lambton, Huron, Elgin, Oxford, and Middlesex, along with urban centres like London.

In summary, the Polaris Pitch Competition serves as a powerful platform for local entrepreneurs, showcasing the vibrant innovation ecosystem in southwestern Ontario while facilitating connections that pave the way for future growth and success in technology ventures.