Policetech Accelerator Notes from the Field, April 2026

Nventure’s V13 Policetech Accelerator (a strategic joint initiative with the Cobourg Police Service) delivers the annual Pitch to the Chief™ competition which was won this year by Spectra Plasmonics. Spectra specializes in portable chemical analysis technology, with its flagship product, Amplifi ID, enabling rapid, on-site detection of drugs and other chemical substances. Last year’s winner, Hyper, who created an AI-driven non-emergency call centre solution was recently acquired by Motorola Solutions (read more via BetaKit), making it the second Pitch to the Chief™ winner to be acquired (the first being ChimeraXR, by Street Smarts VR in 2024).

Nventure’s flagship policetech start-up competition offers a $5K cash prize and $25K investment consideration from Nventure, along with industry and ecosystem connectivity and forward support. The project expanded in 2026 to the southwestern Ontario innovation corridor via new partnerships with SPUR Innovation Centre, Capita and Fresh Founders.

And out of the concurrent Youth Edition of Pitch to the Chief™, last year’s winner Sorora (a high school student team pioneering safety applications for women) after giving a keynote at this year’s competition finale, raised $35K, won a $1,000 pitch competition at Bring It Expo 2026, and will begin testing locally and at Mount Royal University in Alberta. Pitch to the Chief™ Youth Edition starts up again this week with the culminating pitch event scheduled for June, 2026 at Venture13 innovation centre in Cobourg. Throughout the process, Nventure’s Joe Miller works with area high school business classes, challenging students to come up with community safety innovations which they present to the Chief of Police and his panel, while learning entrepreneurship skills, building confidence and driving civic engagement.

“This is about the future of policing and the future of our community as well,” said Joe Miller, Nventure’s policetech accelerator lead. “We are passionate about inspiring young people to take on a leadership role through the lens of entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Current and upcoming pilot projects supported by the accelerator to field test Made in Canada solutions include:

• PolicyPal - AI Agent for Officers Explaining Policies and Procedures - with Cobourg Police Service

• Rugged Textiles - Taser Cartridge (completed) - Ergonomic Tactical Belt - finishing six month project with Cobourg and Port Hope Police Services

• Honour System - CCTV Visual Analytics - commencing with Cobourg Police Service

• Prevasum - Auto-Theft Prevention Technology - in discussion with Aylmer Police Service

• Loom Analytics - Search and Redaction using AI - in development

• Monerus - AI-integrated ALPR camera/light bar solution - in development

• Vantus - Body-Worn Camera Real-Time Video Analytics - under review by the ‘Innovation Platoon’, Cobourg Police Service.

All are potentially eligible for the Policetech Tested™ badge, issued upon successful completion of field testing and validation by the V13 Policetech Accelerator in coordination with participating police services.

Another highlight coming out of the V13 Policetech Accelerator is the growth of Rubicon: an Ontario-based law enforcement and security software venture. From start-up to leader in their sector, Rubicon provides non-emergency online reporting tools and other solutions for police operational efficiency and effectiveness. The company is not only active across Canada but is exporting their innovations to the world.

“The V13 Accelerator has such a high success ratio: from Pitch to the Chief™ to field testing, from market adoption to the scale up of new policetech ventures. These outcomes validate the programming we are proud to offer out of Venture13,” said Nventure CEO Wendy Curtis. “We look forward to continued momentum and expansion of impact across Ontario and beyond.”

The V13 Policetech Accelerator was funded in part by the Government of Ontario.

For more information and to learn more about how you can work with us to drive policetech and community safety innovation in Canada, please contact us today.