KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in Canada KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in Canada KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in Canada

From tech innovator to future tech titan – entrants will receive a unique platform to profile their businesses:

• Global Exposure: pitch your innovations and present your growth ambitions. Finalists will be featured in KPMG’s “Winners Report” and local media profiles. They will also receive global attention among key influencers as they compete at the Global Finals during the Web Summit 2022, Lisbon, in November.
• Recognition: profile your business throughout the competition, leveraging KPMG channels and local media.
• Networking: connect with like-minded peers, key industry professionals and influencers both locally and globally.

Entrants are typically technology entrepreneurs who are successfully making the transition from ‘startup’ to the next stage in the growth of their businesses. They have developed innovative, proven technologies, established robust business models, demonstrated traction and have the potential to scale up globally.

To be eligible for the competition, you must:

• Be a legally registered company/entity in Canada, where the National Finals are being held
• Be currently active, lawful, have all necessary and required licenses and registrations, and have been actively operating for 5 years or less (in the current form)
  Generate revenue between US $1 million and $15 million, or have raised at least US $500,000 in equity
• Be either a pure technology or a tech-enabled, tech-driven or tech-led business
  Not be majority-owned by a large corporation
• Be in good standing as of the date of the Application and must remain so through to the end of the competition
• Not be under bankruptcy protection or have registered liens, hypothecs, attachments or seizure
• Be an authorized agent of the company on behalf of which you apply, be a legal resident of Canada, and have reached the age of majority in the province or territory of residence
• Be able to conduct the pitches at the national finals and the global finals in English
• Be available to pitch at the Canadian Semi-Finals in the timeline outlined by the country of origin
• Available to pitch virtually at the Canadian National Finals in the timeline outlined by the country of origin
• If selected as a Finalist, be available to pitch at the Global Finals during the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in November 2022
• Entrants will be measured against a set of objective criteria and chosen by a panel that includes third parties to ensure independence in the selection of any audit clients

Each pitching competition will be judged by a panel of industry experts. All entrants will be scored based on five, equally-weighted criteria:

1. Innovation
2. Entrepreneurial spirit
3. Company growth and potential
4. Customer focused
5. Risk awareness

The decisions of the panel will be final.

Applications

Q: How can I participate in the competition?

A: To enter the competition, you must fill out the online application form for your company before the application deadline of June 27, 2022.

Q: Who can apply?

A: Any technology entrepreneur that has operated for less than 5 years and is registered and based in Canada can apply. Entrants must have innovative, proven technologies, robust business models, the ability to demonstrate traction in their activities and the potential to scale up. All entrants entering the competition on behalf of the company must be residents in Canada and aged 18 years or over. KPMG employees and contractors are prohibited from entering the competition. This competition is open to both Audit and non-Audit clients of KPMG.

Q: When can I apply?

A: Applications are open from May 16, 2022 and close on June 27, 2022.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of entries?

A: During the application period, there is no limit to the number of companies that can apply. However, a maximum of one application per company may be submitted.

Q: What information do I need to provide?

A: If you’d like to apply, here’s what we’ll need:

• Company details
• Name, address, company registration number, contact details
• CEO, founder and management team details
• A brief description of the company, business model, any media coverage and proprietary technology (maximum of 200 words)
• Details on funding raised to date, 2021 revenue figures and projections for 2022
• A high-resolution image of your company logo

Selection Criteria

Q: How do I know if my company qualifies?

A: We aim to be as inclusive as possible; whether you’re a pure technology company or tech-enabled, tech-led, or tech-driven, we want to hear about your growth ambitions.

Q: What stage should my company be at to be considered?

A: We are looking for companies that have been operating for 5 years or less, and must have a viable product or service.

Pitching

Q: What is the pitching format?

A: Each company will be given a total of approximately 10 minutes to both pitch and answer questions from a judging panel. All presentations must be in Microsoft PowerPoint or PDF file format. A detailed pack outlining requirements will be shared with shortlisted businesses when appropriate.

Q: What is the judging criteria?

A: Each pitching competition will be judged by a panel of industry and KPMG professionals. All applications will be scored based on five, equally-weighted criteria. The criteria are innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, company growth and potential, customer-focused and risk awareness. The decisions of the panel will be final.

Winners

Q: What do winners get?

A: The winner of the National Finals will receive exposure and recognition through local media coverage and KPMG corporate channels. The winner of the National Finals will also be put forward as a finalist in the Global Tech Innovator competition.

The prizes cannot be substituted for cash or any other alternatives.

Q: How and when will the winners be notified?

A: The winner of the National Finals will be notified on the day of the event. The winner will also be profiled in the KPMG “Winners Report”, and in KPMG’s quarterly 2022 Venture Pulse report. The winner of the Global Finals will be announced at the event.

Further information

Q: What are the costs involved in participation?

A: There is no charge for entering into the Canadian portion of the competition.

Q: Is there any publicity involved?

A: KPMG Private Enterprise will be promoting the pitch heats alongside various connections throughout the course of the competition. By entering the competition, you agree that any personal information provided by you with your entry may be held and used by KPMG to administer the competition.

If you are a winner of any stage of the competition, you agree that KPMG may use your name, image and company branding to announce the winner of the competition and for any other reasonable and related promotional and marketing purposes.

Q: Will I receive feedback on my application?

A: All unsuccessful entrants will be notified. Due to the volume of entries received, we are only able to provide detailed feedback to a limited number of unsuccessful entrants.

We value the time and effort put into each submission and thank you for your participation.

Q: Who do I get in touch with for further information?
A: For any further information please email inquiries@kpmg.ca

The KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator 2022 competition (the "Competition") is sponsored and administered by KPMG LLP ("KPMG") an Ontario limited liability partnership with a registered office at Bay Adelaide Centre, 333 Bay St. #4600, Toronto, ON M5H 2S5. All references to 'KPMG', 'we' and 'our' within these Terms and Conditions shall mean KPMG LLP.

Read Carefully: This Competition will run in accordance with these Official Rules (the "Rules"). KPMG reserves the right, subject to any required approval of any regulatory authorities, to cancel, amend, modify or terminate this Competition or these Rules at any time in its sole and absolute discretion and without further notice. By submitting an Application, as defined below, you must comply with these Rules.

Application period:

The Competition will begin on May 16, 2022, and the deadline to submit Applications will end on June 27, 2022, at 11:59pm (DST) (the "Contest Period"). The winner of the National Finals of the Competition, as defined below, will be named in Toronto, Ontario on August 25, 2022, at 11:59am EST and will be subsequently notified by phone or email and publicly announced on August 29, 2022. All announcement dates are subject to change within KPMG's sole and absolute discretion. Winners may not communicate their winner status prior to KPMG's public announcement and winners may not issue their own press release without prior KPMG consultation and approval in writing.

How to enter:

In order to enter the Competition entrants must complete and submit an application form ("Application" or "Applications"). Entrants must fully complete the Application by accurately supplying all the required information. There is a limit of one (1) entry per person/company. If an entrant exceeds the permitted number of entries, the entrant will be disqualified. All Applications must be received before the Contest Period ends. Each fully completed Application will be considered an "entry" for purpose of the Competition, and only fully completed entries will be accepted and eligible for the Competition. Applications that are in any way fraudulent, illegible, altered, mutilated or tampered with, will in the sole and absolute discretion of KPMG be declared invalid.

Eligibility:

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Partners, employees or subcontractors of KPMG LLP or KPMG Management Services LP and all of their respective officers, directors and agents are not eligible to participate in the Competition and are prohibited from entering. The Competition is, however, open to any company which is a KPMG audit client or an affiliate or a connected party to the audit client, meaning that it sits on the board or holds a director position within an audit client organization.

This Competition is aimed at businesses typically in the start-up or scale up phase and which have innovative technologies, robust business models, the ability to demonstrate traction in their activities and the potential for global scale.

For the purposes of the Competition, entrants ("Entrants") must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a legally registered company/entity (including partnerships and equivalent for-profit corporate structures) in Canada.
2. Be currently active, lawful, have all necessary and required licenses and registrations and have been operating for 5 years or less (in current form).
3. Have annual revenue generating between USD $1-15 million, or have raised at least USD $500,000 in equity.
4. Operate either a pure technology, tech-driven or a tech-enabled business.
5. Not be majority-owned by a large corporation (more than USD $15 million in revenue and more than 100 employees).
6. Must be in good standing as of the date of the Application and must remain so through to the end of the Competition.
7. Must not be under bankruptcy protection or have registered liens, hypothecs, attachments or seizure.
8. The person submitting the Application on behalf of the Entrant must be an authorized agent thereof, must be a legal resident of Canada, and must have reached the age of majority in the province or territory of residence.
   

Entrants that are selected must be available to pitch their entries virtually at the following rounds of the Competition:

1. Successful Entrants will be informed of their participation in this first round of the Competition to be held between July 18 and August 5, 2022 (exact date to be confirmed) (the "Semi-Finals")
2. One Entrant from each Semi-Finals pitch of the Competition will go on to compete at the round of national finals to be held between August 15 and August 25, 2022 (exact date to be confirmed) (the "National Finals")
3. The winner of the National Finals will compete at the round of global finals (the "Global Finals")

Maximum one entry per company/entity. If it is discovered by KPMG (using any evidence or other information made available or otherwise discovered by KPMG) that any person, company or entity has attempted to: (i) obtain more than one (1) entry; and/or (ii) use multiple names, identities, email addresses and/or any or other information to enter or otherwise participate in or to disrupt this Competition, that person, company or entity may be disqualified from the Competition in the sole and absolute discretion of KPMG.

KPMG reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to require proof of identity and/or eligibility (in a form acceptable to KPMG – including, without limitation, government issued photo identification): (i) for the purposes of verifying an individual's eligibility to participate in this Competition; (ii) for the purposes of verifying the eligibility and/or legitimacy of any entry or other information entered (or purportedly entered) for the purposes of this Competition; and/or (iii) for any other reason KPMG deems necessary, in its sole and absolute discretion, for the purposes of administering this Competition in accordance with these Rules. Failure to provide such proof to the complete satisfaction of KPMG within the timeline specified may result in disqualification in the sole and absolute discretion of KPMG.

Assessment process

All valid Applications will be assessed once the Contest Period closes. During the Semi-Finals, Applications will be collated and assessed by KPMG professionals under three categories with equal weighting to each. The three categories are:

1. Innovation and disruption
2. Market potential
3. Traction and momentum

Entrants who are successful after this initial assessment and subject to KPMG screening checks will be invited to pitch as finalists at the National Finals where they will be judged by a panel of industry experts made up from within KPMG and outside of KPMG.

All Entrants selected to pitch at the National Finals will be scored under five categories with equal weighting to each. The categories are: (1) innovation, (2) entrepreneurial spirit, (3) company growth potential, (4) customer focussed, and (5) risk awareness. The decision of the industry expert panels will be final.

One of the winning Entrants from the Semi-Finals will be selected as the winner of the National Finals (the "Finalist"). This Finalist will advance to the Global Finals where they will pitch to industry experts for a chance to win the Global Finals. The overall winner of the KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator 2022 Competition will be chosen from the finalists in attendance at the Global Finals (the "Winner").

Written feedback will be provided to each of the Entrants in relation to their respective scores at the Semi-Finals, the National Finals, as well as at the Global Finals.

There are no costs to enter the Competition. Entrants will be responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary technology and internet access to participate in all virtual/online aspects of the Competition.

Finalist prizes

The odds of winning will depend on Entrants' individual skills and abilities to meet the judging criteria.

The Finalist will receive the following prizes (the "Prizes"):

• The opportunity to attend and exhibit at the Global Finals in Lisbon including a dedicated, prominent booth. This includes flight, accommodation, exhibiting platform and conference, if required and permitted by local travel restrictions.
• A Profile for their business within certain media outlets, leveraging various KPMG channels.
• The possibility to attend future KPMG events with business executives from leading fast-growth private global business.

The approximate retail value of the Prizes to be awarded to the Finalist ranges from CAD $0 – 5,000.

The Finalist, if selected as the Winner, will receive the right to identify their business as the KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator 2022. The Winner's announcement will be made using KPMG International's internal and external channels.

Publicity and personal information

The Finalist agrees that KPMG may use their name and image, and the name and branding of the company/entity that they are entering, to announce that they are the Finalist and, as the case may be, the Winner of the Global Finals, for any other reasonable and related promotional and marketing purposes.

KPMG will collect and use personal information to administer this Competition, including for the purposes of contacting selected Entrants and awarding the Prizes. By entering this Competition, Entrants consent to the collection, use, storage, sharing and disclosure by KPMG (and its partners, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives) of the personal information provided the whole in accordance with KPMG's privacy policy. This section does not limit any other consent(s) that an individual may provide KPMG or others in relation to the collection, use and/or disclosure of their personal information.

Intellectual property

Entrants represent, warrant, covenant and undertake that any submissions entered as part of the Competition shall be their own original work and shall not infringe any intellectual property rights of any other person or entity.

Entrants hereby grant to KPMG a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, transferable, sub-licensable (to multiple sub-tiers) license to use all content provided to KPMG related to the Competition including, without limitation, their submissions, pitch materials and any intellectual property included in the submissions, for the purpose of administering the Competition, for KPMG's business purposes and for sharing such content with its network of KPMG member firms and Global entities for their incorporation with or further development of solutions to KPMG's business.

Entrants agree to indemnify and hold KPMG harmless and accept all responsibility for any and all third-party claims regarding copyright or other intellectual property infringement, damages or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from their submissions or in connection with the Competition, or for a breach of these terms and conditions or of any applicable laws.

COVID-19

The current circumstances mean that KPMG may find it prudent to make changes to the Competition, including without limitation, to the timing or structure of the Competition at any time without prior notice. It may be necessary to conduct the Global Finals virtually or to delay the Global Finals if travel to Lisbon is not feasible for some or all participants.

If Entrants are unable to attend the Global Finals due to local travel restrictions or other epidemic or pandemic Covid-19 related reasons, KPMG will make efforts to facilitate their participation virtually. KPMG cannot, however, guarantee such virtual involvement, and all decisions made by KPMG with regard to the operation and timing of the Competition shall be final.

KPMG reserves the right to substitute the Prizes in whole or in part in the event that all or any component of the Prizes are unavailable. All characteristics and features of the Prizes, except as otherwise explicitly stated above, are at KPMG's sole and absolute discretion. Each prize winner is solely responsible for all costs not expressly described herein.

Breach of rules

If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these Rules or any law or regulation, KPMG may, at its sole and absolute discretion, reserve the right to exclude Entrants from participating in the Competition and future competitions operated by KPMG. By entering the Competition, you are agreeing on your own behalf, on behalf of the company or entity you are entering as well as all of its directors, to be bound by these Rules.

Disclaimers

Before being awarded the Prizes, the potential Finalist will be required to sign and return within the time stipulated by KPMG, a full declaration and release form stating that, among others, he/she has read and understood these Rules, grants all consents required, authorizes KPMG to broadcast, publish, disseminate and otherwise use his/her name, city/town/village and province/territory of residence, photograph, voice and any other likeness, in connection with any promotion and/or publicity, and/or for general news, entertainment and/or information purposes at no additional compensation to the potential Finalist, beyond the awarding of the Prizes or participation in the Competition, accepts the Prizes as awarded and releases KPMG, KPMG Management Services LP and each of their respective officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, representatives, successors and assignees (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all liability in connection with this Competition, his/her participation therein and/or the awarding and use/misuse of the Prizes or any portion thereof.

If the potential Finalist: (a) cannot accept (or is unwilling to accept) the Prizes (as awarded) for any reason; and/or (b) is determined to be in violation of these Rules (all as determined by KPMG in its sole and absolute discretion), then he/she may, in the sole and absolute discretion of KPMG, be disqualified (and, if disqualified, will forfeit all rights to the Prizes) and KPMG reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion and time permitting, to select an alternate eligible entrant from among the remaining eligible entries submitted and received in accordance with these Rules (in which case the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to the new potential Finalist).

By entering this Competition each Entrant agrees to accept and abide by these Rules. All decisions of KPMG with respect to any aspect of this Competition, including without limitation the eligibility of entries, are final and binding on all Entrants in all matters as they relate to this Competition.

All entries become the property of KPMG. This Competition is subject to all applicable federal, provincial/territorial and municipal laws. The decisions of KPMG with respect to all aspects of this Competition are final and binding on all Entrants without right of appeal, including, without limitation, any decisions regarding the eligibility/disqualification of entries and/or Entrants. Anyone deemed by KPMG to be in violation of these rules for any reason is subject to disqualification in the sole and absolute discretion of KPMG at any time.

KPMG will not be liable for: (i) any malfunction or other problems of any nature whatsoever; (ii) the failure of any entry or other information to be received, captured or recorded for any reason whatsoever; (iii) any injury or damage to an entrant related to or resulting from participating in the Competition; and/or (iv) any combination of the above.

In the event of a dispute regarding who submitted an Application, KPMG reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to deem the Application to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the person who is assigned an email address by an internet provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational institute, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. An entrant may be required to provide proof (in a form acceptable to KPMG – including, without limitation, government issued photo identification) that he/she is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the Application in question.

KPMG reserves the right to withdraw, amend or suspend this Competition (or to amend these Rules) in any way, in the event of any cause beyond the reasonable control of KPMG that interferes with the proper conduct of this Competition as contemplated by these Rules, including, without limitation, any error, technical problem, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud or technical failure. Any attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of this Competition in any way (as determined by KPMG in its sole and absolute discretion) is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, KPMG reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Without limiting the generality of the forgoing, KPMG reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to administer an alternate mathematical test of skill as it deems appropriate based on the circumstances and/or to comply with applicable law. KPMG reserves the right to adjust any of the dates, timeframes and/or other Competition mechanics stipulated in these Rules, to the extent necessary, for purposes of verifying compliance by any entrant or Application with these Rules, or as a result of any technical or other problems, or in light of any other circumstances which, in the opinion of the KPMG, in its sole and absolute discretion, affect the proper administration of the Competition as contemplated in these Rules, or for any other reason.

All intellectual property, including but not limited to trademarks, trade names, logos, designs, promotional materials, web pages, source codes, drawings, illustrations, slogans and representations are owned by KPMG and/or its affiliates. All rights are reserved. Unauthorized copying or use of any copyrighted material or intellectual property without the express written consent of its owner is strictly prohibited.

For entrants domiciled in Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec)

These Rules are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

For entrants domiciled in the Province of Quebec

(APPLICABLE TO ENTRANTS DOMICILED IN THE PROVINCE OF QUÉBEC ONLY) Any litigation respecting the conduct or organization of this Competition may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Any litigation respecting the awarding of a prize may be submitted to the board only for the purpose of helping the parties reach a settlement.

Release and indemnity:

By entering this competition, you hereby release and hold harmless each of the released parties from any liability, claim or damage (including but not limited to personal injury, bodily injury, disability, death, property damage and loss or damage of any other kind) arising directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from or in connection with (I) this competition or participation in any competition-related activities, (ii) any use, collection, storage and disclosure of personal information, (iii) any copyright or other intellectual property infringement, damages or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from their application, or (iv) if declared a winner, any prizes (including any use or misuse of any prizes). You will hold all of the released parties harmless in the event it is discovered that you have departed from or not fully complied with any of the rules or any applicable laws. This release and indemnity shall continue in force following the termination of the competition and/or the awarding of any prize.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and as it relates to the Competition, is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular entrant, individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one, including Entrants, should act on such information, including without limitation, entering the Competition, without appropriate professional medical or independent legal advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation and Rules.