Over six weeks this July, the City of Canning Pre-Accelerator gave local founders the chance to validate their ideas, refine their business models, and build the confidence to pitch in front of an audience. Through hands-on masterclasses, tailored mentorship and peer support, participants were able to turn early concepts into investable opportunities.
Delivered by Spacecubed through our flagship Plus Eight program, and proudly supported by the City of Canning, this exclusive program designed for residents and businesses operating within the City of Canning offered participants access to expert mentorship and a supportive community to help them take their early-stage ideas to the next level.
The program culminated in a Pitch Night at The Hub, Bentley Technology Park, where each founder stepped onto the stage to showcase their progress. With a supportive audience and an expert judging panel, the evening highlighted the creativity and determination within the local innovation ecosystem.
Three standout startups were awarded prizes on the night, celebrating not only their pitches, but also the growth they achieved throughout the program. We recently caught up with the winners to hear their reflections on the journey.
1st place & Crowd’s Choice: Journey – Thomas Johnston
For Thomas Johnston, the Plus Eight Pre-Accelerator was an opportunity to level up his mission helping young people build healthy mental wellness habits.
Discussing what motivated him to apply for the program, he shared “I wanted to accelerate Journey and take it to the next stage. I’d heard so much about Plus Eight through IDEAcademy, which has been my main support system from the start, and knew it was the best way to keep pushing forward.”
Thomas noted that the most valuable thing he learned from the program was how powerful your network really is. “Every mentor session, every chat with someone new, every masterclass, it all adds up and makes such a difference to your startup journey.”
We asked Thomas how it felt pitching at the Final Showcase, where he shared, “At first, I was really nervous. But I had incredible support from my friends, family, and the entire cohort. Knowing that everyone in the room genuinely wanted the best for each founder was such a comforting and empowering feeling.”
Reflecting on his experience, Thomas thanks the program’s facilitator Britney Victor and the Plus Eight team, as well as IDEAcademy and Nicole Gazey for their support.
2nd place: Purelyte – Emily Cheung & Nathan Cheung
Hydration startup, Purelyte, cofounded by Nathan and Emily, applied for the program seeking honest feedback and strategic clarity. Purelyte delivers clean, sugar free hydration that replaces the key electrolytes lost in sweat.
“We needed to pressure test Purelyte’s strategy, access experienced mentors and be part of a WA founder community,” shared Emily.
Emily expressed the standout session for the team focused on Growth and Marketing, led by program mentor, Eduardo Morales.
“Eduardo’s energy was infectious, and his practical frameworks on how to stand out in the market clicked for us. We left with clearer messaging and a simple plan to show up where our customers actually are.”
When it came to Pitch Night, “the real highlight was the buzz in the room - genuine interest, people sampling Purelyte and giving instant feedback and lots of warm conversations with founders, mentors and supporters,” Emily reflected.
Emily and Nathan’s takeaway from the experience is how efficient the program is at compressing months of learning into just six weeks. “We left with momentum, a community we are grateful to be part of and looking forward to what is ahead,” Emily concluded.
3rd place: bRight Agent – Aaron Scott & Angelina Scott
Aaron and Angelina’s startup, bRight Agent, helps homeowners save money when selling their property by getting local real estate agents to lower their commission rates.
The pair wanted to join a startup program to help them validate different parts of their business model, enhance customer-focused messaging and prepare for external investment, and shared why they chose Plus Eight.
“Plus Eight has a great reputation for supporting entrepreneurs, so when the opportunity came up to apply for the City of Canning Pre-Accelerator, we jumped at the chance and were absolutely thrilled to be accepted into the program!”
The bRight Agent team were excited to pitch at the end of the program celebration, and were awarded the third place prize on the night. Their goal for the evening was to ensure that everyone clearly understood their value proposition, which the feedback indicated was well-received.
“It's great validation when complete strangers come up to you and say ‘I'd use your service’, or ‘I've just downloaded the bRight Agent App,’” shared Aaron.
“We would highly recommend the Plus Eight Pre-Accelerator program to any entrepreneurs who are thinking of taking the next step on their business journey,” Aaron concluded.
Learn more about Plus Eight’s world-class programs here or to express your interest in future programs, complete this form!
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