Launch Point Pitch Competition
Launch Point 2026 took place at the Lethbridge Polytechnic on March 6th, 2026, bringing together student and local entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges in front of an audience. The competition aims to launch entrepreneurs at any phase of their business idea, with the opportunity to showcase their ideas, receive expert feedback, and compete for prize money.
Student Stream Winners
1st Place - Huroca Inc.
Student Pitch of the Day Winner
Huroca Inc.
Founded by University of Lethbridge students Emilio Hurtado, Chandra Suryadevara, and Naveen Vadlamudi.
Automating the Beef Industry
Huroca is developing a mechanical arm–based autonomous injection system designed to reduce the cost and labour required for cattle injections in large feedlots.
Learn More About Huroca Inc.
Learn more about Huroca and their work in livestock automation.
2nd Place - Park My Pet
Park My Pet
Founded by Patricia Wannamaker from the Lethbridge Polytechnic.
“We exist for animal safety and owner peace of mind”
Park My Pet provides pop-up supervised kennel stations that help dog owners keep their pets safe by offering a convenient alternative to leaving dogs in vehicles.
3rd Place - Southpaws Rescue
Southpaws Rescue
Founded by Kiana Jans and Gavin Warmink.
Southpaws Rescue provides a centralized adoption platform that helps prospective pet owners and rescue organizations connect more easily by consolidating regional Southern Alberta adoption listings in one place.
Kiana Jans, a Biology student at the University of Lethbridge, and Gavin Warmink, a Business Administration student at Lethbridge Polytechnic, combined their expertise to develop Southpaws Rescue.
Community Stream Winners
1st Place - Bear Vice
Bear Vice
Founded by Colton Vanhooren, inspired by his work in outdoor search & rescue.
Travel Safe With Bear Spray
Bear Vice is a clamp for standard bear spray canisters designed to help carriers store their spray securely, prevent accidental discharge, and support workplaces that require consistent bear spray safety protocols.
Stay Updated
Subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed about Bear Vice.
2nd Place - Prairie Sun Farms
Community Pitch of the Day Winner
Prairie Sun Farms
Founded by Kirk Boehmer and Twyla Olsen Boehmer, who combine their experience and knowledge in business management, civil engineering, marketing, and multimedia design.
Building Local Food Security Through Scalable Vertical Farming
Prairie Sun Farms is exploring vertical farming as a way to shorten supply chains, reduce long-distance food transport, and strengthen resilience in regional food systems.
3rd Place - Ruck It
Ruck It
Founded by Andrew Kolasko, fitness and longevity coach, and YouTube content creator.
"I. Love. Rucking."
'Rucking' is walking with a weighted pack on. Ruck It provides modular weighted bags for rucking packs that help users distribute weight more comfortably, encouraging accessible strength and endurance training through weighted walking.
Product Overview
Learn how Ruck It uses modular weighted bags to improve weight distribution and comfort for rucking.
Fan Favourites
Determined by public online voting from February 4–18
Rent Ready
Winner of the Student Fan Favourite award. Founded by Seth Barrios.
Magnificent Workwear
Winner of the Community Fan Favorite award. Founded by Ikeoluwa Olumuyide.
Cancer Courage
Winner of the Community Fan Favourite award. Founded by Steve Pedersen.
Pitch of the Day
Determined by in-person audience voting at the competition.
Huroca Inc.
Winner of the Student Pitch of the Day award.
Prairie Sun Farms
Winner of the Community Pitch of the Day award.
Stay Updated on Local Entrepreneurship Opportunities
Visit the links below for student and community entrepreneurship resources.
U of L Entrepreneurship Mailing List
Lethbridge Polytech AgENT Instagram
A word from our donors Howard and Suzanne Heil
Innovation is at the heart of mankind’s success. Entrepreneurs are the driving force of innovation. Suzanne, as an Interior Decorator, has been an entrepreneur most of her working life. Howard, as a practicing lawyer has endeavoured to assist entrepreneurs in reaching their full potential.
“It is our hope, in some small way, with this competition more entrepreneurs can be helped to achieve their goals and in so doing improve and better mankind.”
Although we are both graduates of other institutions, we feel the U of L is closely connected to the City of Lethbridge, a community we appreciate and love. The University’s mandate in providing a liberal education is important and one we whole heartily support.
