Three Canadian entrepreneurs have been named winners of the 2026 CIBC Biz Pitch Competition, recognizing innovation, business growth, and emerging entrepreneurial talent across the country. CIBC has announced the winners of its 2026 Biz Pitch Competition, a national initiative celebrating Canadian entrepreneurs who are building innovative businesses, creating opportunities, and contributing to the country’s growing startup ecosystem. Organized in partnership with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), the competition provides entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journeys with an opportunity to showcase their ventures, connect with industry leaders, and compete for a combined $45,000 CAD in cash prizes.
The competition features three main categories recognizing established entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and student founders, alongside an additional $5,000 Most Popular Vote award. Here are the winners :
Entrepreneurial Success Story of the Year: Eoin Carroll, Truely Cereal
Prize: $20,000 CAD
Eoin Carroll, CEO of Truely Cereal, was named Entrepreneurial Success Story of the Year.
The category recognizes established Canadian businesses that have demonstrated sustained growth, expanded into new markets, and created meaningful long-term impact.
Carroll’s recognition highlights the importance of supporting entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated the challenges of building and growing a business.
Start-Up of the Year: Cynthia Ene, COROL Corp
Prize: $10,000 CAD
Cynthia Ene, CEO of COROL Corp, received the Start-Up of the Year award.
The category celebrates businesses operating for less than two years that are developing innovative solutions, gaining market traction, and positioning themselves for future growth.
The award recognizes the potential of emerging Canadian startups and the entrepreneurs working to bring new ideas to market.
Promising Student Entrepreneur of the Year: Bronwyn Bridges, PragmaClin Research Inc.
Prize: $10,000 CAD
Bronwyn Bridges, Co-Founder and CEO of PragmaClin Research Inc., was named Promising Student Entrepreneur of the Year.
The award recognizes post-secondary students who are developing innovative business ideas or operating early-stage ventures while pursuing their education.
Bridges’ recognition highlights the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs and the growing role of student-led ventures in Canada’s innovation economy.
CIBC Business Banking Leaders Serve as Competition Judges
The 2026 competition brought together senior executives and business banking leaders from CIBC to evaluate entrepreneurs across three judging sessions.
Entrepreneurial Success Story of the Year
The judging panel included:
- Andrew Antoniadis, Senior Vice-President and Head of CIBC Business Banking
- Iqbalpreet (Sunny) Brar, Senior Director, Business Banking
- Anca Popescu, Market Vice-President, CIBC Business Banking
Start-Up of the Year
The judging panel included:
- Hratch Panossian, Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Personal and Business Banking
- Matthew Panczyk, Vice-President, Business Banking Distribution
- Veronica Diaz-Zapata, Associate Vice-President, National Office, Business Banking
Promising Student Entrepreneur of the Year
The judging panel included:
- Rory Mitz, Executive Vice-President, Banking Center Distribution and Mass Affluent
- Mike Howanyk, Product Owner
- Mark Kalichman, Director, Business Banking
Throughout the competition, finalists had an opportunity to present their businesses, share their entrepreneurial journeys, and demonstrate their potential for growth and long-term impact.
While the three main category winners have been announced, the 2026 CIBC Biz Pitch Competition is not over yet. An additional $5,000 CAD cash prize will be awarded through the Most Popular Vote, giving Canadians an opportunity to support their favourite entrepreneur. Public voting remains open until October 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., with the winner yet to be announced. Canadians can cast their votes through the official CIBC Biz Pitch Competition website. The additional award brings the competition’s total prize pool to $45,000 CAD, with $40,000 already awarded across the three main categories.
The CIBC Biz Pitch Competition reflects the importance of entrepreneurship in Canada’s economy, particularly as startups and small businesses seek access to capital, mentorship, and opportunities to expand their networks. Through its partnership with WEKH, the competition aims to increase visibility for Canadian entrepreneurs while recognizing businesses at different stages of development. For this year’s winners, the recognition offers more than financial support. It provides national exposure and an opportunity to build relationships that could contribute to their companies’ future growth.
