Three women-led startups from Vancouver made history at Web Summit Vancouver’s first-ever pitch competition. All three companies that reached the final round were founded or co-founded by women.
The Winner: Lite-1 Creates Colors from Microbes
Lite-1 won the competition with their unique approach to making colors. The company uses tiny living organisms called microorganisms to create dyes and pigments. This replaces harmful chemicals that are often used in traditional dye-making.
The startup was founded in 2021 by Roya Aghighi and Sarah Graham. They want to help any industry that needs to color materials – from clothing to paints to plastics.
“That’s my mission, to be able to scale Lite-1 to a level that can make a big impact and capture a good market portion,” said Aghighi, who is the company’s CEO.
The company turns waste materials into bright, high-quality colors using biology. Their process is completely sustainable and doesn’t harm the environment like many traditional dyes do.
The Runner-Ups: Smart Stroller and Water Rescue Tech
GlüxKind came in second place. This company makes smart baby strollers powered by artificial intelligence. The stroller can push itself and even rock babies to sleep automatically.
Co-founders Anne Hunger and Kevin Huang started the company in 2020 after they became parents. Their AI-powered stroller called “Ella” won a CES Innovation Award in 2023. The stroller has already helped families walk over 1 million meters.
VodaSafe finished third. Founded by Carlyn Loncaric in 2014, the company makes underwater rescue equipment for first responders. Their main product is called AquaEye – a handheld sonar device that helps rescue teams find people underwater quickly.
The AquaEye uses sonar technology and artificial intelligence to spot humans under water. This helps rescue teams search underwater areas much faster than traditional methods.
Competition Details
To enter the competition, startups had to meet specific requirements:
- Less than $5 million in total funding
- No major business model changes in the past three years
- Early-stage companies only
Fifteen judges reviewed the pitches, including executives from RBCx, FPV Ventures, and Race Capital.
Web Summit organizers said 44% of participating startups this year had at least one female founder. They called this a “remarkable rise” since their women in tech program started in 2015.
About Web Summit Vancouver
Web Summit Vancouver was held from May 27-30, 2024. It was the first time the major tech conference came to Vancouver after moving from Toronto, where it was previously called Collision.
The event attracted 15,727 attendees from 117 countries. This was smaller than Collision’s 2023 numbers of 37,832 attendees, but officials still called it a success.
British Columbia’s government invested $14.8 million to bring the conference to Vancouver. Diana Gibson, BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation, said the event was worth “every penny.”
The conference featured 1,108 startups from 64 countries and over 650 investors. Web Summit called it “the world’s premier tech conference.”
Other Winners
Another competition at the event saw VoxCell BioInnovation win the “BC’s Startup All-Stars” pitch competition. This Victoria-based company won $10,000 for their work creating human-like cancer tissue models that help pharmaceutical companies test new drugs.
VoxCell also won Web Summit’s main pitch competition the previous year when it was still called Collision.
What This Means for Vancouver’s Tech Scene
The success of women-led startups at Web Summit Vancouver highlights the growing strength of female entrepreneurs in the city’s tech sector. Vancouver has become a hub for innovative companies working on everything from sustainable technology to artificial intelligence.
These three companies represent different areas where Vancouver startups are making their mark:
- Sustainability: Lite-1’s bio-based dyes address environmental concerns in manufacturing
- AI and Hardware: GlüxKind combines artificial intelligence with everyday products
- Public Safety: VodaSafe creates technology that saves lives
The pitch competition gives these startups valuable exposure to investors and potential customers from around the world. While the competition doesn’t provide direct funding, it helps companies get noticed by the right people.
All three winning companies are now better positioned to grow their businesses and attract the investment they need to expand globally.
