Pitch to the Chief

About

The V13 Policetech Accelerator is proud to present the 3rd Edition of Pitch to the Chief™ : a special opportunity and discovery day for young entrepreneurs to present their innovative ideas for collaboration with the Cobourg Police Service (CPS).

Chief of Police Paul VandeGraaf will consider adoption of new products, services, strategies and collaborative approaches to community safety and development from high school, post-secondary and youth entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs: register your readiness to pitch. Partners, supporters and members of the community: please join us as part of the general audience at the Innovation Commons at Venture13 on November 3rd, 2022, and cheer on the competitors! We'd love to have you with us.

Background: Read more about the V13 Policetech Accelerator.

Agenda

9:00 A.M. | Arrival (coffee, tea, juice and pastries in the community kitchen), networking

9:30 | Welcome, introductions and overview, Joe Miller (V13 Policetech Accelerator)

9:35 | High School Pitch to the Chief™ Competition begins (Flight #1)

11:30 | Chief and advisors retire for deliberation

11:40 | Announcement of winner, congratulations and photos

NOON | Light lunch and refreshments available in the community kitchen

1:00 PM | Break (Wi-Fi password and working space available for guests in the co-working VentureZone)

2:00 | Welcome, introductions and overview, Joe Miller (V13 Policetech Accelerator)

2:05 | Start-up/Post-Secondary Pitch to the Chief™ (Flight #2)

4:30 | Chief and advisors retire for deliberation

5:00 | Announcement of winner, congratulations, photos and wrap-up.

*Agenda subject to change.

How it Works

The Format

Six 20-minute slots are available on a first-come first-served basis for each of two Flights (subject to availability and applicant acceptance). Competitor slots will be confirmed by the V13 Policetech Accelerator. Approval to pitch is not guaranteed.

Typically each session will include a short pitch that won't exceed 10 minutes, followed by a Q&A with the Chief (and/or members of the accelerator, senior staff and entrepreneurial advisors comprising a judges panel).

A/V support is available for presentations (lecture hall format). Product and technology demos are welcome.

Winning pitches are determined by the Chief of Police in consultation with the judging panel.

Two Flights

1) High School Student Teams

Theme/Challenge Statement: How can the police work collaboratively to improve community safety? What new tools, platforms, partnerships or practices would enhance priority objectives such as: crime reduction, harm prevention, community safety and well-being.

Participant requirements: Currently enrolled in high school. Each pitch will come from a team of 5-6 students (teams can designate one speaker/presenter or share the mic). Presentations may be verbal or utilize digital/mixed media presentations/pitch decks, etc. Props and prototypes are allowed/welcome.

Readiness: Concepts can be at idea stage.

Scoring Criteria: Three equally weighted criteria (scored out of 10). 1) Presentation Skills 2) Strength of Concept/Idea 3) Viability/Implementation Plan.

Prizes. One winning team will receive a Prize Pack featuring $20 gift cards for each team member, V13 Policetech Accelerator swag, and assistance from the Cobourg Police Service in developing and testing a proof of concept version of their idea in a real-world policing environment.

Whether selected as the winning team or not, all participants can earn volunteer hours towards their high school diploma requirements.

2) Post-secondary students and start-ups.

Theme/Challenge Statement: Improving policing operational efficiencies. How can the police adopt new technologies, processes, or product/service innovations to reduce complexity, gain efficiencies, improve effectiveness and maximize the success of community policing operations?

Participant requirements: A minimum of 1 and a maximum of 6 individuals comprise a team (teams can designate one speaker/presenter or share the mic). Presentations may be verbal or utilize digital/mixed media presentations/pitch decks, etc. Props and prototypes are allowed/welcome.

Readiness: Concepts can be at idea stage but those that are further developed will be more competitive. Teams can be already incorporated as a startup/have businesses registered (or intend to in the near future).

Scoring Criteria: Five equally weighted criteria (scored out of 20). 1) How does the technology improve the operational efficiencies in policing. 2) Is it viable/does it have commercialization potential? 3) Competitor analysis/advantage - do you have a unique value proposition? 4) Team (collective experience, individual/complimentary strengths, knowledge/expertise) 5) Presentation Skills.

Prizes: Teams have the chance to win Prize Packs, with a top prize of $5,000, a pilot project opportunity with the V13 Policetech Accelerator program, and a one-year membership (one seat) in the Venture13 VentureZone co-working space.

Questions?

About your request or intention to pitch as part of the competition:

Joe Miller, Business Development Officer

NCFDC - V13 Policetech Accelerator Lead

E: jmiller@ncfdc.ca

Media enquiries:

Victoria Pichler, Marketing and Communications Coordinator

NCFDC

E: vpichler@ncfdc.ca

About Chief Paul VandeGraaf

Paul VandeGraaf was appointed as the thirteenth Chief of Police of the Cobourg Police Service on August 15, 2019 by the Cobourg Police Services Board. Paul began his policing career in 1991 as a member of the Belleville Police Service, working as a front-line Constable. Over the course of his career, Paul has held a number of progressively responsible positions including; Community Policing Officer, Bike Patrol, Traffic Services, Criminal Investigations focusing on sexual assault and child abuse investigations, Uniform Staff Sergeant, Inspector and finally was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Police for the Belleville Police in 2010. On November 10, 2014, Paul was appointed as the Deputy Chief for the Cobourg Police Service.

Chief VandeGraaf is a member of the Canadian and Ontario Associations of Chiefs of Police. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the National Joint Committee of Senior Criminal Justice Officials and a Board Member for the Ontario Police Technology Information Cooperative (OPTIC).

Paul has always been and continues to be a strong believer of community volunteerism and has been an active Rotarian with both the Rotary Club of Belleville and now Cobourg. Paul served as Club President in Belleville in 2013-2014 being recognized with a Presidential Citation with Distinction and being awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. Currently Paul is honoured to be a member of the YMCA Northumberland Board of Directors and Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre.

In September 2016, Paul was invested as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by his Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, then Governor-General of Canada. Chief VandeGraaf is committed to enhancing the effectiveness of operational policing services through effective deployment of resources in what has become known as 'Tiered Policing'. This shared vision with the Cobourg Police Services Board will ensure that there are long-term strategies to build a strong, innovative and fiscally responsible Service for the Town of Cobourg.

“Through the V13 Policetech Accelerator, a joint initiative between Cobourg Police Service and NCFDC, we seek to find innovative, sustainable solutions to the issues facing Cobourg Police Service and police services across Ontario. The Pitch to the Chief event extends this mandate by allowing students to be active participants in community safety and wellness, bringing their unique lens to propose new solutions to challenges we face at the service and as a community.”

- Chief Paul VandeGraaf, Cobourg Police Service