EPICentre and the University of Windsor hosted the inaugural RBC EPIC Business Model Canvas Competition, a high-stakes contest that saw 18 teams of university students and recent graduates from across Ontario showcase their startups by utilizing the business model canvas approach for their products or service.

Teams presented their use of the Lean Startup Method, including the business model canvas, to win top prizes, including $10,000, an invitation to Canada’s Business Model competition, consulting services from KPMG, Postmedia advertising, and other cash and in-kind prizes.

The semi-finalist field was narrowed down to six finalists who each presented one last time for the grand prize. Congratulations to Liscena, the winners of the 2017 RBC EPIC Business Model Canvas Competition:

RBC Grand Prize Winner ($10,000): Liscena

Liscena is a smart parking management company that automates every aspect of the parking experience using license plate recognition and AI. No more looking for parking, waiting in lines, or paying at a machine ever again.

RBC Runner Up ($2,500): tabnex

Tabnex is an AI-powered recruitment suite of products and data APIs to streamline and scale your recruitment process as you grow your business!

Postmedia People’s Choice Award: tabnex

In order to make this event successful, a large number of volunteers from the local and Ontario business community graciously donated their time and expertise to serve as mentors and judges. EPICentre would like to thank everyone who participated for their continued support and involvement in student entrepreneurship. We would like to thank the following people:

Judges	Mentors
Celso Oliveira, BDC	David Kirby
Colin McKillop, WE Can Angel Network	Ed Roach, The Branding Experts
Debbie Landers, IBM Canada	Federica Nazzani, Capital Assist
Diane Reko, Reko Tool	Gerry Simpson, Polaris
Ed Leach, CBMC	Greg Drouillard, Target Building Materials
Elena Valvasori, Avancez Assembly	Jason Grech, KPMG
Enrico Notte, Sentier Systems	Cathy Mombourquette, WEtech
Frank Abbruzzese, Alphakor	Laura Yu, OCE
Gary Kalaci, Alexa Translations	Marco Fiori, WEtech
Karen Behune Plunkett, Pinpoint Strategic Direction	Mike Murad, Pursue Sports
Keith Henry, Windsor Mold	Paul Schlosser, Pareto Business Group
Marc Levesque, Centreline	Rob Whent, IRAP
Mary Kilfoil, CBMC	Terra Cadeau, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital
Meighen Nehme, The Job Shoppe
Richard Labelle, Allam Advisory
Roseann Danese, Windsor Star
Sandra Vasquez, RBC
Shelley Fellows, Radix

Finally, we would not be able to run such a high-calibre event without the support of our sponsors. Thank you very much to the following: Royal Bank of Canada – event sponsor, Ontario Centres of Excellence and Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, Postmedia and Windsor Star, Canada’s Business Model Competition, KPMG, and WEtech Alliance.

Congratulations to the 18 semi-finalists who will be competing at the inaugural RBC EPIC Business Model Canvas Competition.

	Boro is a peer-to-peer marketplace for women to borrow and lend clothing. We offer designer dresses, jumpers, handbags, accessories, and outerwear for a fraction of the price, allowing you to own moments, not things and to help reduce textile waste in the process.
	Hair by Lassa is a one-stop shop for all-natural hair products, afro-centric hair-styling and kinky/curly hair care consultation. Hair by Lassa enables men and women to feel confident in their hair and focuses on providing high quality, convenient services and products.
	Liscena is a smart parking management company that automates every aspect of the parking experience using license plate recognition and AI. No more looking for parking, waiting in lines, or paying at a machine ever again.
	Tabnex is an AI-powered recruitment suite of products and data APIs to streamline and scale your recruitment process as you grow your business!
	Ani & Fabi is Canada’s first baking kit service – purchased online or subscribed and then prepared and delivered right to your doorstep. We develop gourmet easy-to-follow recipes, source high-quality ingredients, and pre-package everything conveniently for you, to create a fun baking experience for you to enjoy with your family and friends.
	Bidlet is a housing bidding platform bringing fair and transparent housing prices to students and empowering them to search, bid, and post sublets.
	BOTTLEBOT is an innovative approach to plastic recycling which empowers environmental entrepreneurs and globally conscious citizens to take recycling into their own hands in a new and powerful way!
	Fr8 Living Solutions is a net-zero energy modular building company that uses shipping containers, modular technology, and off-grid systems to produce highly efficient and affordable housing for the environmentalist mindset of the future. By vertically integrating the construction process and utilizing prefabrication technology like those seen in factories, Fr8 aims to revolutionize a slow and stagnant construction industry while reducing economic and social risk, thereby making home ownership feasible for upcoming generations.
	Growing Green manufactures and distributes cutting edge hydroponic growing systems to combat food insecurity and bring greenery back to urban life.
	Ventr is an online communication platform designed to relieve stress and promote empathy through direct and anonymous conversation. The website and mobile app will pair random users together to provide a mutual outlet and seek/offer advice. At any point, the users can either add one another to their friend’s lists or leave the chat to initiate another random connection.
	HYC is all about hybridizing the present cars on the road in order to reduce fuel consumption and save the planet from undue pollution. It also increases the power supplied to car wheels for faster 0-60 kmph acceleration. This provides a very environment-friendly sports car performance to the people who cannot afford expensive sports cars and electric cars but would love to enjoy the benefits at a lower price along with their share of contribution to saving our future generations.
	Midnight Raven Studios is dedicated to making mental wellness accessible for women through creating an online platform that combines fashion, entertainment, and social media in order to help women stay mindful of their goals and purpose throughout the day.
	TrunkSpaces: Disrupting the way we ship.
	SannTek is developing a quantitative, nanotechnology-enabled sensor to determine marijuana impairment through breath.
	Snippt is a shopping platform that’s driven by videos. With a central focus on storytelling of small to mid-sized brands and their products, we provide an engaging experience for today’s millennial shopper.
	SWTCH provides electric vehicle (EV) charging management solutions for commercial, residential, and workplace settings. Our patented software product is universally compatible, integrating with EV supply equipment (EVSE) to enable scheduling, payment, enforcement, and energy management functionality.
	HanDIY is the fastest way to get real-time advice from established professionals and teachers. Our software suite aims to empower individuals by providing live-video sessions to gain assistance and advice anywhere you need it, anytime you need it.
	Using partnerships with industry experts and our innovative algorithm, ReDeal offers homeowners personalized recommendations about the renovations they should undertake to help maximize the value of their real estate.