Winners Announced at Business Incubator Pitch Challenge 2026

The Regional Business Centre, part of the City of Greater Sudbury’s Economic Development division, is proud to announce the winners of the Business Incubator Pitch Challenge 2026, held on Tuesday, June 9, at Collège Boréal’s Trisac Hall.

The annual competition brought together entrepreneurs from three Business Incubator Program cohorts (Cohorts 4, 5 and 6), who each delivered dynamic five-minute pitches showcasing their businesses, innovative solutions and plans for growth. The event welcomed approximately 80 attendees, including entrepreneurs, community leaders, business professionals and members of Greater Sudbury’s business ecosystem.

This year’s winners were selected by a panel of judges made up of event sponsors, who generously lent their expertise and time to evaluate each pitch.

Following an engaging evening of presentations, judges selected this year’s top entrepreneurs:
•    First-place winner: Chantal Snow, owner of Nudl Skin – Nudl Skin is a Canadian-made clean skincare brand formulated specifically for active youth — because kids who play hard deserve products built for how they actually live. Founded by a competitive sport mom in Sudbury, Nudl's fragrance-free, vegan line helps young athletes care for their skin before and after the game.
•    Second-place winner: Gerald Williams and Karla Smith, co-owners of Good Embers Firewood Inc – Good Embers Firewood Inc. provides hospitality, tourism and residential clients with premium, seasoned firewood within northeastern and central Ontario. The company offers honest volume, specialty cuts, dependable delivery and wood that is ready to burn.
•    Third-place winner: Dr. Robert Ohle and Dr. Sarah McIsaac, co-owners of Northern City of Heroes– Northern City of Heroes will showcase Courage Ready, a system designed to make CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills more accessible in communities, workplaces, and schools, because when someone collapses from cardiac arrest, their survival depends on having someone nearby with the courage and competence to act.

Pitch Challenge 2026 was made possible through the support of an outstanding group of sponsors committed to fostering local innovation and entrepreneurship:
•    Gold sponsor: Desjardins 
•    Silver sponsor: Northern Ontario Angels
•    Nickel sponsor: Baker Tilly 

The Regional Business Centre congratulates all participants for their outstanding pitches, creativity and commitment to growing their businesses within Greater Sudbury’s entrepreneurial community.

About the Greater Sudbury Business Incubator Program

The Business Incubator Program is a six-month mentorship program delivered by the Regional Business Centre for early-stage for profit businesses from any sector offering innovative, creative or unique products or services. The program offers one-on-one mentorship from experienced mentors and community business leaders, tailored workshops, networking and events and more. This mentorship-focused program is delivered in English and French.

Since launching in June 2022, the Business Incubator Program has supported 65 companies, leading to the creation of approximately 106 full-time equivalent positions in our community. A collaboration between the City of Greater Sudbury, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and NORCAT, the program was established with support from FedNor and continues to be supported by the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation.