Hub Incubator Awards
Warren and Deborah Jestin Impact Award
Two awards are presented annually
- IgniteLab (Fall): $500 prize
- LaunchLab (Winter): $500 prize
Award Description: The Warren and Deborah Jestin Impact Award is given annually to a student in the Hub Incubator program. The award recognizes the business that demonstrates the highest community and social benefit along with a sustainable and profitable business model. The winner is decided each year by a panel of judges.
Navkiren Ghag, Throne Room (Winter 2025)
Kimia Mehrafshan, VitaMaker (Fall 2024)
Jessica Ulbikas, Code Red (Winter 2024)
Jessica Ulbikas, Code Red (Fall 2023)
Arianna Sultani, Whisk & Co. (Winter 2023)
Jessica Xu, Omochu Studios (2022)
Best Pitch Award
Two awards are presented annually
- IgniteLab (Fall): $500 prize
- LaunchLab (Winter): $500 prize
Award Description: The Best Pitch Award is given to the team that delivers the most compelling and well-structured pitch during the competition. Recipients of this award demonstrate strong storytelling, a clear and persuasive ask, and the ability to confidently address questions from the judges. This award recognizes not only the strength of the business idea but also the team’s ability to communicate its value effectively.
Nick Dernovsek and Sam Heard, Crown Kombucha, and Sammy Rutherford, Boosted Bouillon (Winter 2025)
Nick Dernovsek and Sam Heard, Crown Kombucha (Fall 2024)
Abdullah Al-Hayali, Dice Health (Winter 2024)
Zach Cymbaluk and Josh Jones, Unident (Fall 2023)
Segun Odumosu, ShopSurer (Winter 2023)
Jacob Claessens, Oriole AI (Fall 2022)
People's Choice Award
Two awards are presented annually
- IgniteLab (Fall): $250 prize
- LaunchLab (Winter): $500 prize
Award Description: The People’s Choice Award is given to the pitch that resonates most with the audience. Voted on by competition viewers, this award recognizes the team that delivers the most engaging, memorable, and impactful presentation.
Will Cheng, SeaSEAL (Winter 2025)
Sammy Rutherford, Boosted Bouillon (Fall 2024)
Marco Pepe, Myco-Phyto Bio Labs (Winter 2024)
Christine Mariathasan, Brainiome (Fall 2023)
The John F. Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise is developing innovators and entrepreneurs at the University of Guelph. We look for innovative and sustainable solutions to economic, social and environmental problems. It is through this mission that we empower a new generation of business leaders committed to community engagement and a sustainable future. We instill in our students a sense of social responsibility and leadership, character-building values that help develop citizenship. We help to bring ideas to life!