Entrepreneur Hadi Jakmora has won the Cubs’ Lairs entrepreneurial competition — and a grand prize of $3,000 — for his mobile app that connects people looking for help with people who can provide that help.

Organized by the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas, the competition was held last Thursday (November 30) at downtown Peterborough restaurant and event venue Erben, which also sponsored the event along with Futurpreneur.

During the event, seven entrepreneurs pitched their businesses before a live audience to a panel of three judges: Prima IP founder and intellectual property expert Marcelo Sarkis, Calver Immigration Consulting Inc. CEO Jade Calver, and business-to-business marketing expert Jason Fiorotto.

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Winning entrepreneur Hadi Jakmora is the founder and CEO of the startup Quest It Inc., which has developed a mobile app that matches people in the community looking for help with specific tasks such as yard work, snow removal, or meal preparation with skilled people who can provide the help.

Available from the Apple Store or Google Play, the app offers over 25 different services, facilitated by intuitive map-based technology and custom task icons.

Prior to winning Cubs’ Lair, Jakmora was a client of the Innovation Cluster, receiving support and mentorship that helped him create a solid business plan, connect with people in the industry, and secure a business loan from Community Futures Peterborough that helped the startup fast-track its development.

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Matt Anderson of Chemong City Greens, which cultivates nutrient-rich organic microgreens year round, took home second place and a $1,500 prize. Nicholas Landon of Course Sync Inc., a platform for student academic management, was the third place winner and received a $500 prize sponsored by Futurpreneur.

The remaining four entrepreneurs participating in the competition were Zachary McCue of REPWR, Ashley Bonner of Community Pin, Yash Ramnani of Nectar, and Jayden Smith of Cub Storage Inc.

Similar to the format of reality TV shows like Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to investors, Cubs’ Lair was originally a student entrepreneurial competition. It was then expanded to include any entrepreneur in the Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes region with an innovative business idea.