Jointly has won the BC Founder Faceoff: The $10K Pitch Competition at Web Summit Vancouver, adding another legaltech company to the spotlight during one of the world’s largest technology conferences.
Delivered as part of Innovate BC’s Road to Web Summit Vancouver initiative, the live pitch competition showcased 12 high-growth startups from across British Columbia before a global audience of investors, founders, and industry leaders.
Jointly, founded by Aimee Schalles and Amanda Baron, took home the $10,000 grand prize after advancing to the final round alongside KnowledgeKeepr, Butterfly Legal, and Farpoint Technologies.
For LegalTech.ca readers, the final lineup was notable for the presence of two legaltech companies: Jointly Solutions and Butterfly Legal.
Jointly offers an online platform that helps Canadians create legally valid relationship agreements, including prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements. The company is focused on lowering the cost and complexity of accessing family law services in Canada, while helping more families avoid costly and contentious separations.
“We’re honoured to win the BC Founder Faceoff: The $10K Pitch Competition and proud to represent British Columbia at Web Summit Vancouver,” said Schalles and Baron. “B.C. is home to a world-class innovation ecosystem, and we’re excited to help showcase the talent and ideas shaping the future from this province. We are also thrilled for the support to continue to bring our family law solutions to Canadians.”
Butterfly Legal also reached the finale, further underscoring the growing presence of legal technology companies within British Columbia’s startup ecosystem. The company was named one of four standout finalists in the competition, which brought together ventures working across sectors including AI, life sciences, cleantech, and legaltech.
Butterfly Legal, meanwhile, is focused on helping British Columbians represent themselves in Small Claims Court. The company provides tools and support for people navigating civil disputes without a lawyer, positioning itself around access to justice for self-represented litigants.
Following an initial round of rapid-fire pitches, the top four companies advanced to the main stage for a high-stakes final round judged by Darcy Matheson, Editor-in-Chief of BC Business Magazine; Melaniia Volkodav, Investor at Panache Ventures; Emily Cole, Growth Startup Manager at Web Summit; and Sheila Schindel, Managing Director of Commercialization and IP Programs at Innovate BC.
According to Innovate BC, the competition was designed to help B.C. companies use Web Summit Vancouver as a platform to reach international investors, partners, and customers.
“The BC Founder Faceoff: The $10K Pitch Competition is about more than a single win—it’s about showcasing the depth of talent and ambition coming out of British Columbia,” said Peter Cowan, President and CEO of Innovate BC. “Through Road to Web Summit Vancouver, we’re helping companies step onto a global stage and accelerate their growth beyond our borders.”
With Jointly Solutions taking the top prize and Butterfly Legal also advancing to the finale, this year’s BC Founder Faceoff offered a strong signal that legaltech is becoming an increasingly visible part of British Columbia’s innovation economy.