Nine high-growth companies from diverse regional sectors took the stage yesterday to pitch their businesses to a panel of seasoned investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, competing for a grand prize of $20,000 at WEtech Alliance’s ScaleUP Showcase & Pitch Competition.
The companies are part of the ninth cohort to graduate from WEtech Alliance’s award-winning ScaleUP Accelerator, powered by Libro Credit Union, in partnership with Communitech, FedDev Ontario, and the Government of Ontario. The accelerator program offers growth coaching, strategic insights, entrepreneurial education, connections, and financial support to help regional entrepreneurs scale their businesses.
“Yesterday’s ScaleUP Showcase and Pitch Finale marked a new level of growth for the program and a strong signal of what’s ahead,” says WEtech Alliance President & CEO Yvonne Pilon. “With nearly double the number of companies, expanded geographic reach, and an exceptional level of talent, this year’s cohort brought incredible depth and energy to the stage, reflecting a growing pipeline of founders building and scaling across Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent, and Ontario.”
“The energy in the room was a powerful reminder of how an ecosystem comes together to support founders.”
The event was the largest celebration of the program to date, with the ScaleUP teams pitching in front of 200 guests in the stunning Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Windsor in Downtown Windsor.
Attendees also had the opportunity to have their say with the addition of a $2,500 People’s Choice Award, powered by Baker Tilly.
After an 8-minute Dragon’s Den-style pitch that reflected the cohort companies’ growth over the course of the program, Stratus Agro took home the evening’s top prize as determined by the panel of judges, and TransitRewards.ca was named the People’s Choice Award winner.
Stratus Agro Wins $20,000 ScaleUP Top Prize
TransitRewards named $2,500 People’s Choice Award winner
“ThermaRoot proves that world-class agtech innovation starts right here in Southwestern Ontario. Libro Credit Union’s investment in ScaleUP gives founders like us the backing to turn great ideas into real impact — better crops, lower energy costs, and stronger communities,” says Colby Wu of Stratus Agro. “This win means everything to our team.”
With renewed support from Libro Credit Union and new partnerships with Communitech, FedDev Ontario and the government of Ontario, this year’s ScaleUP program expanded its reach beyond regional borders. WEtech Alliance was proud to welcome three companies from outside Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent into Cohort 9, recognizing that innovation knows no geographic limits. While based outside the region, these companies demonstrated a strong commitment to contributing to the local economy and driving meaningful impact within the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent communities.
“We’re so excited to see ScaleUP continuing to grow. At Libro Credit Union, we know that when regional businesses thrive, our communities thrive. The success of this ninth cohort highlights the incredible potential of local entrepreneurs, and we’re proud to support a program that sparks bold, creative problem-solving and drives meaningful economic and social impact across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent” says Lori Atkinson, Regional Manager (Windsor-Essex) at Libro Credit Union.
Beyond the pitch competition, attendees connected with WEtech’s growth coaches, regional entrepreneurs, and talent while exploring a showcase of ScaleUP participants.
Cohort 9 companies
The graduating class of ScaleUP Cohort 9 also includes: Adopli AI, Chocovate Labs, Decades Development, Estare, JSB Innovations, Quotograph, and USpeak.
To learn more about the ScaleUP Accelerator visit www.wetech-alliance.com/scaleup.
Adopli AI is simplifying the journey to Al adoption for businesses of all sizes. Their focus is on practical, hands-on training, workflow automation, and custom Al solutions that drive real operational efficiency.
Chocovate Labs is pioneering the world’s first scalable, cocoa-free chocolate alternative, an innovative, plant-based ingredient that looks, melts, and tastes just like traditional chocolate without the ethical, environmental, or supply chain challenges tied to cocoa. Positioned as a B2B ingredient platform, Chocovate Labs sells in bulk to food manufacturers, bakeries, and foodservice operators.
Decades Development’s MyProjectWorld revolutionizes industrial project management with the Project Wheel, an AI-driven execution and cost management framework tackling the $12T construction industry’s chronic delays and overruns. The Canadian-based company converts estimates into precise, schedule-driven tasks using proven project intelligence. Project Wheel’s proprietary AI delivers real-time optimization, what-if planning, and unmatched procurement intelligence with AI enhanced Canada Buys API integration and 30+ industrial apps.
Estare is a Canadian advanced materials company redefining how packaging and manufacturing are done. Through its flagship product, PackSeries+, Estare delivers high-performance fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) solutions that are lightweight, durable, and environmentally responsible. Designed to replace traditional materials like metal and plastic, PackSeries+ empowers manufacturers to reduce waste, lower emissions, and improve efficiency—without compromising strength or scalability. With a growing footprint across North America and a commitment to Sustainable Capitalism, Estare is building the future of industrial design, one smart material at a time.
JSB Innovations specializes in AI-powered smart wearable sensors designed to deliver clinical-grade data and actionable insights into patient health. Their patented technologies combine advanced materials with artificial intelligence to create comfortable, non-invasive, and scalable solutions for monitoring a range of health conditions, including sleep disorders. Beyond sleep medicine, their platform technology can be adapted to monitor additional respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic conditions, offering broad potential to transform remote patient care and expand access to preventative healthcare worldwide.
Quotograph is a construction technology company transforming how general contractors manage progress tracking, safety reporting, and permitting. With their construction analysis technology, contractors simply upload site videos of their construction sites to receive detailed reports highlighting project progress, risks, and actionable insights, or upload floorplans to generate digital measurements and automated takeoffs. By reducing the need for frequent on-site visits, eliminating manual reporting, and preventing blueprints from being printed, Quotograph helps contractors save valuable time, lower costs, and achieve meaningful CO2 reductions across projects.
ThermaRoot, developed by Stratus Plastics International’s Agri Division, is an innovative root-zone heating and cooling technology designed for commercial greenhouses. By delivering precise climate control directly to the plant’s root system, ThermaRoot helps growers reduce energy costs, improve yields, and protect crops from extreme weather. With successful pilot trials in Ontario’s greenhouse cluster and collaborations with leading research institutions and technology partners, ThermaRoot is redefining sustainable climate control for high-value crops.
TransitRewards.ca is an innovative digital platform that helps public transit agencies and their rider communities turn everyday commuting into real value. By rewarding frequent riders with points, discounts, and local offers, TransitRewards.ca strengthens rider loyalty, increases engagement, and encourages more people to choose sustainable, low-carbon mobility — all while helping transit systems boost ridership and deepen connections with their communities. The company is closely aligned with cutting-edge work in zero-emissions transit technologies, electrification, hydrogen fuel cell systems, autonomous shuttle deployment and broader clean transportation and mobility innovation.
USpeak is a cross-platform mobile app that solves the biggest hurdle for high-stakes English exam candidates: the speaking test. They instantly connect learners from around the world for live video and audio practice, providing exam-specific topics and a safe environment to build real confidence. After launching in August, their community grew to over 5,000 users in the first week, proving a massive market need for a dedicated, specialized practice tool.
Cohort 9 in the news
Windsor auto supplier wins $20K top prize with pivot to farm sector
Story and photo via Windsor Star | March 22, 2026
“A Windsor-based father-and-son custom injection moulding company that has traditionally supplied parts to the automotive sector is betting on its future in the region’s agricultural industry.
That pivot just earned them a $20,000 boost.
ThermaRoot, a root-zone heating and cooling technology developed by Stratus Plastics International’s agri division, took top prize Thursday at a live pitch competition hosted by WEtech Alliance at Caesars Windsor. […]”
Via AM800 | March 20, 2026
Questions about ScaleUP?
Contact Susy Kustra, our Manager of Programs and Client Experience.
