Propel ICT, the Atlantic Canadian tech accelerator, will hold a series of demo days for its current cohort in the next month, culminating with the main Demo Day June 21 at Neptune Theatre in Halifax.

Twelve companies will pitch at this event – including all the companies that are completing the Propel Build program for more advanced startups. In addition to these eight companies, Propel will select one team from each of the local demo days, which will be held May 31 and June 2. Propel will announce the 12 teams in early June. 

The main Demo Day will take place on the eve of the Atlantic Venture Forum, the annual conference that draws investors to Atlantic Canada to witness pitches from the region’s companies. There will be 15 companies pitching at the AVF June 22 and 23, so with some overlap it means that about 25 companies will pitch over the three days.

The companies pitching at Neptune Theatre will represent all four Atlantic Provinces, and for the first time ever at a Propel demo day will include a company from Cape Breton.

The local demo days will feature presentations by the companies that have gone through the Launch program, which is for early stage companies. While the Build program companies have been meeting in Moncton for the past two months, the Launch participants have been meeting in each of the provincial capitals. The local demo days will all take place on May 31 in Charlottetown and Fredericton, and on June 2 in Halifax and St. John’s.

In some cases, the local demo days will include pitches by one or two Build companies so they can practise for the main event on the 21st.  The local demo days will be invitation-only events that give the younger companies a chance to experience pitching before a group of supporters and mentors.

“Not all our mentors, stakeholders and supporters can make it to Halifax for the final event on the 21st,” said Propel CEO Anita Punamiya in an email. “Having Local Demo Days allows them to be included in the journey of the participating companies and also our program.”

The Propel Demo Day starts at with a reception at 5:30 pm. Tickets for the event are available here.