Pitch to the Chief™ Returns to Showcase Cutting-Edge Policing Innovations
The V13 Policetech Accelerator is pleased to announce the upcoming Pitch to the Chief™ (PTTC) competition, set to take place on April 28th, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST at the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre located in Cobourg, Ontario. This unique event will bring together police chiefs from across Ontario to evaluate innovative technologies and programs designed to decrease complexities and streamline operations for police officers.
Funded in part by the Ontario government and a joint initiative between Nventure and the Cobourg Police Service, PTTC serves as a platform for early-stage companies to present their cutting-edge technologies. “Pitch to the Chief™ is an incredible opportunity for innovators to showcase solutions that could directly impact policing and community safety,” said Paul VandeGraaf, Chief of Cobourg Police Service and PTTC co-founder. “We look forward to bringing together industry leaders, technology pioneers, and law enforcement decision-makers to foster meaningful advancements in police services.”
Prequalifying applications received via online form will be reviewed by a panel of Ontario-based deputy police chiefs. Judged on the novelty of their technology and its proposed impact on officer efficiency, the carefully selected six finalists will compete on April 28th and will have 10 minutes to pitch their company and innovative solution to a panel of Ontario police chiefs.
The winning company will be awarded a prize package valued at up to $30,000 that includes:
$5,000 cash award
A $25,000 investment consideration from Nventure
One year of office space at Venture13
Opportunities for technology and program pilot projects within police services
PTTC provides a unique platform for pre-commercialization and early commercialization-stage companies to gain direct exposure to police decision-makers, build valuable industry connections, and position their solutions for potential adoption. “Through funding from the Ontario government, we have been able to expand this initiative to Ontario Small and Mid-sized services,” said Nventure CEO and PTTC co-founder, Wendy Curtis. “This invaluable program provides a unique pathway for early-stage, Canadian-made technologies to be showcased to police services that would traditionally not be aware of these novel offerings.”
“Frontline police services face unique challenges in keeping remote and rural areas safe across the province,” said Ontario Rural Affairs Minister Lisa Thompson. “An initiative like Pitch to the Chief™ is an innovative way for entrepreneurs to address many of the real issues faced by the police organizations that serve such large and diverse communities.”
The Pitch to the Chief™ competition is a live event. To be part of the audience and witness the next generation of policing innovations on April 28th, reserve your free seat here.
About the V13 Policetech Accelerator
The V13 Policetech Accelerator is a joint initiative of the Cobourg Police Service and Nventure, committed to excellence in policing operations and leadership in community safety innovation. Located at Venture13, this unique collaboration offers competitively selected researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators the opportunity to validate new approaches to twenty-first century policing in a controlled and defined small-town, pilot-scale environment.
About Nventure
Nventure is an innovation organization based at Venture13, focused on funding, financing, and strategy services for entrepreneurs. Nventure drives economic advancement by investing in entrepreneur and industry-led growth in Northumberland, southern Ontario, and across the country, through numerous initiatives such as the Community Futures Program (CFP), thriveFORWARD, DELIA, and StrikeUP Canada. With funding from the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario and ISED Canada.
About the Cobourg Police Service
Formed in 1834, the Cobourg Police Service (CPS) is an innovative force committed to community safety and operational excellence. CPS Corporate Services division (located at Venture13 in Cobourg) is Canada’s leading national wholesale provider of online criminal records checks. Under the leadership of Paul VandeGraaf, Cobourg’s thirteenth Chief of Police, CPS is at the forefront of creative and collaborative approaches, from tiered policing to HARP to the Venture13 Policetech Accelerator initiative with Nventure.
