February 13, 2019 – OTTAWA, ON – The Rideau Hall Foundation is proud to announce that BMO Financial Group will be its lead supporter in the delivery of Pitch@Palace Canada. Pitch@Palace is a prestigious global platform to amplify and accelerate the work of entrepreneurs. Founded by HRH The Duke of York, KG in 2014, Pitch@Palace will come to Canada this year, with regional events across the country, culminating in Pitch@Palace Canada Boot Camp and Pitch@Palace Canada 1.0 in Toronto during Canadian Innovation Week (May 21-31, 2019).
“At Rideau Hall Foundation we work strategically with partners to promote a culture of innovation in Canada, and we know that entrepreneurship is a key part of this. With BMO’s generous support, we are so pleased to be bringing Pitch@Palace to Canada for the first time, giving our entrepreneurs the opportunity to make meaningful connections with people who can help turn their business dreams into reality,” said Teresa Marques, President and CEO, Rideau Hall Foundation.
“At BMO, we have a long history of helping Canadian entrepreneurs reach their full growth potential and drive innovation in our country – a big part of this is helping start-ups scale and ultimately reach the global stage with their offering,” said Dev Srinivasan, Senior Vice President and Head, Canadian Business Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal. “Small and medium businesses employ more than 90 per cent of the private sector work force and are a key growth driver of the economy. Pitch@Palace Canada will provide another platform to these businesses to help them reach a global scale and compete and trade with each other – a critical element to helping Canada achieve its growth potential. We are excited to see what Canadian entrepreneurs will accomplish.”
Pitch@Palace is unique from other programs that support entrepreneurs in its international scale and level of support. Participants have the opportunity to tap into a powerful network of potential advisers, mentors, partners and investors, at home and abroad. The entrepreneurs who take part in Pitch@Palace Canada 1.0 will become part of the Pitch@Palace Global Alumni Network and benefit from continued engagement and assistance, from advice on navigating supply chains to introductions to new markets.
Applications are now open to all Canadian entrepreneurs. To learn more and apply, visit www.pitchatpalacecanada.ca.
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For more information:
Jill Clark, Rideau Hall Foundation
613-809-1480
James DeCosimo, BMO Financial Group
416-867-3996
About the Rideau Hall Foundation
The Rideau Hall Foundation is a registered national charity that brings together ideas, people and resources to enhance the impact of the Office of Governor General as a central institution of Canadian democracy. Working towards a better Canada, the RHF celebrates what is best about Canada while working with partners to meaningfully improve lives and foster the conditions for more Canadians to succeed and thrive. The RHF’s work spans four key programmatic areas and challenges for Canada, including: (1) learning initiatives that strive for excellence and promote equality of opportunity; (2) strengthening Canada’s culture of innovation, (3) widening the circle of giving and volunteering; and (4) investing in Canadian leaders with transformative potential.
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $774 billion as of October 31, 2018, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.
About Pitch@Palace
Pitch@Palace gives entrepreneurs the chance to get their innovative business ideas in front of an audience of prestigious influencers who have the ability to catapult them to the next level, including CEOs, business angels, investors, venture capitalists, mentors and potential business partners.
Pitch@Palace was launched in 2014 and has held events in, or worked with entrepreneurs from 59 countries. It has helped 785 entrepreneurs in its alumni network to create 3,669 new jobs and generate over £885 million of new economic activity. Pitch@Palace Global aims to help entrepreneurs from a range of overseas markets build access and connectivity around the world. It creates a global platform for entrepreneurs to access mentors and advisers, distribution systems and supply chains, connections and investment.
