This workshop is intended for:

• Pre-seed and seed-stage founders building robotics, embodied AI, intelligent machines, autonomous systems, enabling hardware, or other Physical AI technologies.
• University researchers and technical teams exploring whether a major scientific or engineering breakthrough could become a venture-backed company.
• Founders preparing to raise capital who want direct feedback on their pitch, market framing, technical differentiation, and investor narrative.
• Researchers who may not yet have a conventional pitch deck, but have a strong desire to build a company around technology that could dramatically change an industry.

Selection will emphasize the strength and differentiation of the technology, the founding team, the scale of the potential market, and the value that the participant could gain from the session.

Space is available for a limited cohort of select ventures and research teams.

Startup founders should be prepared to discuss: 

• Problem
• Product
• Technical differentiation
• Market opportunity
• Evidence of customer demand
• Team
• Fundraising plans

Researchers are not expected to demonstrate commercial traction. Instead, they should help the mentor understand:

• What their technology makes possible.
• Why it could dramatically change an existing market or create a new one.
• Why the approach is technically differentiated.
• Who would care most about the breakthrough.
• What still needs to be proven.
• Why the technology may be best commercialized through a new venture.

Participants can expect candid but supportive feedback on:

• The clarity and strength of their story.
• How investors may interpret the opportunity.
• Technical differentiation and defensibility.
• Market size and category potential.
• Fundraising readiness.
• The most important questions they need to answer next.

The workshop is also an opportunity to begin a relationship with investors who are active in Canadian deeptech and Physical AI. Participants may be encouraged to send a revised and polished pitch deck to their mentor after the symposium, subject to the mentor’s preferred follow-up process.

Participation is by application and advance selection. Walk-in participation will not be available.
Interested founders and researchers should use the Google in-take Form: [CRC'26 Pitch Practice Workshop Intake Form]

Researchers do not need to submit a conventional investor pitch deck. A concise research commercialization summary or one-page description of the technology, its potential impact, and the proposed venture opportunity is sufficient.

You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your submission. Receipt of an application does not guarantee selection. Selected participants will receive a separate confirmation with their assigned session time and preparation instructions.

Application deadline:

• To be featured in the Symposium print program: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
• Final application deadline: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Early applications are strongly recommended. Applications received after the deadline may be considered only if space remains. 
 

• Help founders communicate complex Physical AI technologies clearly and efficiently.
• Help researchers translate scientific and technical breakthroughs into ambitious commercialization narratives.
• Give participants a better understanding of how early-stage investors evaluate deeptech ventures.
• Provide practical feedback that participants can immediately use to improve their pitch materials.
• Create meaningful relationships between promising founders, researchers, and investors in the Canadian robotics ecosystem.

Participants can expect to leave the workshop with:

• A clearer and more compelling pitch.
• Direct feedback from an experienced deeptech mentor.
• A stronger understanding of investor questions and decision-making.
• Specific recommendations for improving their deck or commercialization thesis.
• A clearer view of their next fundraising or company-building steps.
• The beginning of a relationship with an investor or ecosystem mentor active in Physical AI.