For 55 hours straight, creativity took center stage at RampUp Weekend 2019: Fresh Ideas, where nearly 50 competitors transformed early-stage concepts into viable startup ventures.
Hosted at The Commons at Maples Met School, this exciting edition of RampUp Weekend brought together high school students, post-secondary learners, and professionals from all walks of life. Over the course of the weekend, nine teams collaborated, strategized, and pitched real-world business solutions.
By Sunday night, the top ideas were awarded a combined $15,000 in prizes, and several teams had already set plans in motion to move their ventures forward.
A New Venue, a New Energy
This marked the first time RampUp Weekend was held at Maples Met School, which proved to be an ideal location for high-impact collaboration. The energy was contagious, as teams fine-tuned business models, built slide decks, and practiced their final pitches in preparation for the Sunday Pitch Finale.
The finale featured a panel of esteemed judges—Eric Bjornson, Lori Wheeler, and Jeff Ryzner—with comedic duo Stephen Sim and Caity Curtis keeping the crowd of 125 energized and on time as hosts.
2019 RampUp Weekend Winners
1st Place – $6,500
Cellar2Sellar
An AI-powered platform that lets users photograph items in their home and automatically generates listings for resale—complete with descriptions and pricing suggestions.
Clean Tech Winner – $6,500
Hot Bunz
A mobile-controlled heated seat insert that warms your car without starting the engine, reducing emissions while keeping drivers comfortable.
2nd Place – $2,500
Task Share
A community-based task-bidding app that lets people outsource their to-do lists and receive competitive offers to get the job done.
Fan Favourite – $500
STEAM Kidz
A hands-on STEM activity center for youth, blending guided learning with creative exploration in science, technology, engineering, and math.
More Than a Competition
While the prizes were meaningful, the mentorship, connections, and momentum built during the weekend were priceless. Each team received support from seasoned entrepreneurs and subject matter experts who helped shape their business strategies.
RampUp Weekend: Fresh Ideas was a true community effort, thanks to dedicated mentors, volunteers, the planning committee, and generous sponsors who made the event possible.
Get Involved in the Next RampUp Weekend
RampUp Weekend continues to be a launchpad for new ventures across Manitoba. If you have an idea, we want to hear it—and help you build it.
