Startup Canada’s 2020 Canadian Export Challenge

Speakers, Panelists & Award Presenters

• Bruce Croxon – Dragon on the CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Award Presenter

Bruce Croxon made his mark as a digital pioneer by co-founding Lavalife and revolutionizing how people connect. Partner, chairman and CEO, Croxon helped lead the company’s growth from four to 600 employees while achieving revenue of just under $100 million. Croxon currently helms Round13, a company dedicated to investment into growth-stage Canadian tech companies. As an ex Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, he has added a broad range of businesses and products to his portfolio that tapped into his passion for digital media, health and marketing.
Croxon will be joining us as an award presenter for the Ontario and Quebec regional pitch competitions. In June, we caught up with him on the Startup Podcast. In the episode, Croxon discusses investing in your own success as soon as possible and not getting too eager when you first sense success in your start-up.
“It’s active work to focus on your goals. One of the most common mistakes I see entrepreneurs make is sensing early success and pivoting six or seven different directions.”

• Catherine Clark – #CXC2020 Master of Ceremonies

Named one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40 by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Catherine Clark is a nationally respected broadcaster, emcee and the President of Catherine Clark Communications – providing strategic communications and public affairs advice to individuals, institutions and corporations. She is the co-founder of The Honest Talk, a new multi-platform podcast and event experience targeted at professional women who are looking for more – out of themselves, their businesses, elected leaders, and the world around them. Earlier this year Clark was the host of the regional CANIE Awards, put on in partnership by the Innovation & Entrepreneurs Foundation and Startup Canada. She will have a large role in this year’s events as the Master of Ceremonies for #CXC2020. On her Startup Podcast episode, Clark discusses starting your entrepreneurial journey and believing in yourself. “You don’t start up a business without a lot of hope and belief in yourself. It’s a tough time for entrepreneurs, and I want them to keep faith in themselves.”

• Rivers Corbett – Founder & CEO of The Chef Group, Atlantic Region Panelist

Rivers Corbett is a serial entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, founding director of Startup Canada and the first entrepreneur in residence hired by a government in Canada. In 2000, he founded The Chef Group – The Planet’s Premier Chef Talent Agency at which he is the CEO. Rivers adamantly believes that entrepreneurs will save the world. His awards include being on Canada’s Hottest Startup, Atlantic Canada’s Entrepreneur Ambassador, and Canada’s Rockstar Mentor List.
On September 14th, Corbett will be joining all Atlantic CXC attendees as a speaker on the “Entrepreneurs Going Global” regional panel. Now hosted by Rick Spence, Rivers Corbett was the founding host of the Startup Podcast. Rick caught up with him in July to discuss the importance of social entrepreneurship in shaping tomorrow’s world.

• Jalisa Luces-Mendes – Founder of Toni Marlow Clothing, Ontario Region Panelist

Jalisa Luces-Mendes is the Founder of Toni Marlow Clothing, an innovative, gender-inclusive underwear brand that serves the LGBTQ2S+ community and beyond. Focused on positively impacting underrepresented communities, Jalisa is proud of the strategic partnerships she’s been able to cultivate for social change. As a mentor and consultant, Jalisa is a community builder and business leader who is passionate about people and strategy and looks forward to opportunities to give and receive knowledge.
Luces-Mendes was the winner of the 2019 Canadian Export Challenge final pitch showdown, bringing home $25,000 and up to an additional $100,000 in in-kind scaling support. Since launching, the successful entrepreneur has been featured in news articles, podcasts and other start-up competitions across the country.

Resources & Tools