North Forge

🚀 It’s officially RampUp Weekend! Over the next three days, big ideas will come to life — from quick pitches to full business plans and live prototypes. Here’s what’s happening: 🎤 Today: Pitch, vote, and form dream teams. 🔥 Saturday: Build, pivot, and refine ideas with help from mentors. 🏆 Sunday: Pitch to expert judges for the grand prize of $10,000. It will be an intense, exciting, and inspiring weekend and we can’t wait to see what Manitoba’s next generation of entrepreneurs will create. 📋Not signed up yet? Registration is free - https://lnkd.in/efyJCJVx Are you participating this weekend? #RampUpWeekend #NorthForge #WPGevents #MBstartups

What a throwback! Big shoutout to Ramp up Weekend. If you're thinking about launching a company in Winnipeg, it's worth attending!

We’re almost there, and we couldn’t do it without our sponsors. 🚀 A huge shoutout to the amazing sponsors supporting RampUp Weekend 2025! Manitoba Innovates RRC Polytech Knowledge Gap SR&ED Consulting Futurpreneur University of Manitoba - Partnerships, Knowledge, Mobilization & Innovation  University of Manitoba - Smartpark Research & Technology Park Your belief in innovation, entrepreneurship, and fresh ideas powers events like this and helps Manitoba’s next generation of startups take their first big steps. Thanks to you, this weekend will be filled with creativity, bold thinking, and game-changing ideas. We can’t wait to see it all come to life. Let’s build the future, together. #RampUpWeekend2025 #WPG #NorthForge

🚀The RampUp Weekend Finale is happening this Sunday! After an intense 50+ hours of innovation and collaboration, RampUp 2025’s top teams will pitch their game-changing ideas for a chance to win $10,000. Join us at the RampUp Weekend Finale and experience the energy, creativity, and ambition that could shape the future of our startup community. Here’s what’s waiting for you: 🎤 Live pitches from emerging founders 💡 Fresh, innovative solutions 🤝 Opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators If you’re passionate about ideas, startups, or building a stronger community, you'll want to be in the room. 🗓 Sunday, April 13, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Desautels Concert Hall, 150 Dafoe Rd W, Winnipeg 🎟 Free to attend - Get your tickets here➡️https://lnkd.in/es4_ZdjR Let’s support the next generation of entrepreneurs and see where bold thinking can take us. Will you be there? Let us know in the comments. #RampUpWeekend #NorthForge #SupportLocalStartups #WinnipegEvents

Nermin Sa'd is a senior mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, and valued member of the North Forge team directing Programming and Global Initiatives. She founded the first virtual engineering company for women in the Middle East, opening new pathways for women in STEM. Her innovative work was also featured in Forbes for developing the Smart Detection Bra, a device designed to support early breast cancer detection. We’re proud to have Nermin bring her expertise and passion for innovation to the Ramp Up Weekend Finale judging panel. #RampUpWeekend #NorthForge

Allana Schmidt brings over 18 years of leadership experience in Operations, HR Excellence, Organizational Strategy, and Enterprise Transformation. She’s led global cross-functional teams across tech, academia, healthcare, and retail — and was recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch in 2024. We’re excited to have her share her expertise with the teams at this year’s Ramp Up Weekend Finale. #RampUpWeekend #NorthForge

👩⚖️Our judges are ready. Are you? ⭐ Allana Schmidt ⭐ Catherine Metrycki ⭐ Nermin Sa'd After 50+ hours of building and creating, our teams will pitch their ideas to this incredible panel at the Finale. The judges will be looking for bold thinking, real-world solutions, and the next big idea to come out of Manitoba’s startup community. 🗓 Finale Date: Apr 13, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m 📍 Venue: Desautels Concert Hall, 150 Dafoe Rd W, Winnipeg Come be part of the energy, cheer on the teams, and see what innovation looks like up close. 🎟 Free to attend — bring a friend! Get your tickets here https://lnkd.in/es4_ZdjR

💡Noah Palansky had an idea — and a weekend to bring it to life. What began as an idea pitched under pressure at RampUp Weekend has grown into Taiv, a multi-million dollar company based right here in Manitoba. Noah’s journey with Taiv is a reminder that innovation doesn’t always need perfect conditions. Sometimes, it just takes an idea, a little risk, a lot of hard work — and the right community behind it. We’re proud to have been part of Taiv’s early story — and we can’t wait to see what’s next. 🚀 If you’ve got an idea you believe in, this is your chance. Join the next RampUp Weekend and see where it can take you. Sign up here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e7akBZvC 📸: Noah and his TAIV team at RampUp 2018 Finale moments after they won.

🤝 We’re proud to continue our partnership with Pow Wow Pitch as a local partner for the Manito Ahbee Festival Pow Wow Pitch, a grassroots initiative supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. As part of our ongoing commitment, North Forge is offering one participating entrepreneur a 1-year membership to our Fabrication Lab — providing access to tools, technology, and support to help bring their business idea to life. We’re also excited that Nermin Sa'd , our Director of Programming and Global Initiatives, will return for a third year as a first-round judge. Her insight and encouragement have been a valued part of this journey. If you’re an Indigenous entrepreneur in Manitoba — or know someone with a powerful business idea — now’s the time to apply. 📣 Applications for the Manito Ahbee Pow Wow Pitch are open. Let’s keep building opportunity, together. 🔗 www.powwowpitch/manito-ahbee #MAF200 #ManitoAhbeeFestival #PowWowPitch #IndigenousEntrepreneur #Treaty1Territory‬ ‭ #Winnipeg #IgniteYourSpirit‬ ‬

Women & Gender-Diverse Carpentry Workshop Almost Full! Ready to build skills and confidence? Our five-part carpentry workshop (with three-hour classes over two weeks) is back—with limited spots still open! Whether you're diving into a new hobby or testing the waters for a future in the trades, this is your chance to learn in a hands-on, supportive, and empowering environment. Past participants have called it transformative, practical, and a great way to connect with community. This cohort begins April 23. Lock in your place today! North Forge CME Manitoba Carol Paul Andrea Aiello https://lnkd.in/gmrQ-SBB