Scaling Since the Stage: We Caught Up with the 2022/23 Finalists of The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch

Two months after The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch Finale, we checked in with the 2022/23 Finalists, who took the stage on April 27 to share the visions they have for their impactful businesses.

The Forum’s CEO, Paulina Cameron, reconnected with Carlyn Loncaric, Founder & CEO of VodaSafe Inc., Mehrsa Raeiszadeh, Co-Founder & COO of MintList, and Kelly Thomson, Co-Founder of QUIL.

They chatted about the recent wins that they’ll build upon in the year ahead; and how The Forum community and the capitals it provides access to have been powerful catalysts for their success.

After just two months, the Finalists have made incredible progress.

Carlyn explained that she and the VodaSafe team have been leveraging their presence on social media, expanding into new markets, and have even launched a pilot program in California that could revolutionize water safety and lead to the wide-scale adoption of its life-saving technology.

Mehrsa shared the exciting news that MintList is expanding to Toronto and that the company received a $2 million contribution from Pacific Economic Development Canada to grow its team and scale its innovative car selling and trading platform.

And Kelly spoke of QUIL’s focus on growing its customer base and shared that she and Co-Founder Mehwish Panjwani had the opportunity to meet with multiple brands throughout Vancouver after the April 27 celebration, which are keen to support its sustainable packaging.

Building upon their communities has been one of the top priorities for all of the Finalists, as they’ve seen the immense impact it has in creating opportunities and driving change.

As Mehrsa explains, “When I was working with my mentor, Rebecca Johnson, she really helped me [nail down] my pitch. It was something I had been working on for three years and was already confident in, but she showed me how I could make it even better. After The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch, we had so many people approach us–both investors and new customers. Being a part of this process really made me see the impact of The Forum community, at all stages of the program. It was beyond what I expected.”

Carlyn and Kelly agreed with the ripple effect that community capital creates. From the feedback that helped them improve to getting the word out to customers who kept the conversation going, their networks have been pivotal to opening doors that lead to growth.

Catch the full conversation to learn more from the Finalists, and join us in supporting their businesses by practicing community as a verb.

Be first to know when applications for The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch 2023/24 open by joining our waitlist.