Petite Rivière Farms Wins INMC Bridgewater Pitch Competition

APRIL 15, 2026, BRIDGEWATER, NS — A local Bridgewater-area business, Petite Rivière Farms of Conquerall Mills, has won the International Network of Michelin Cities (INMC) Bridgewater Start-up Pitch Competition. Owner Gregg Curwin will now travel to Cuneo, Italy, this October to represent Bridgewater at the International Pitch Competition during the INMC Conference.

The Town of Bridgewater is a founding member of the International Network of Michelin Cities, an organization initiated by the Mayor of Clermont-Ferrand, France. The network brings together cities with Michelin plants to seek collaboration, share best practices, and support economic development.

As a member of the Corridor of Incubators, formed in 2024, Bridgewater is part of a seven-city team coordinating the International Pitch Competition. Through this collaboration, Bridgewater earned the opportunity to send one business to compete among 15 international finalists.

In partnership with Ignite Atlantic, the Town of Bridgewater hosted a local pitch competition to determine its representative. Nine businesses applied, with seven qualifying to pitch before the judges at an event held on Tuesday, April 14, at Rosewater Social in downtown Bridgewater.

Mayor David Mitchell, who also served as a judge, said the event exceeded his expectations. “This event clearly demonstrates that we have a diverse and vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurs here in our community. I’m thrilled that we are able to leverage our involvement with the International Network of Michelin Cities to create this unique and valuable opportunity.”

The judging panel included:

• Doug Jones, Ignite Atlantic

• Mayor David Mitchell, Town of Bridgewater

• Alexandre Lanteigne, Global Affairs Canada

• Valerie Caswell, Invest Nova Scotia

The seven pitching companies represented a broad spectrum of industries:

• Within the Hour Inc., Alex De Saint Sardo

• Petite Rivière Farms, Gregg Curwin

• Real Network, Danielle Oleahko

• Abundance Soil Amendment Inc., Rosmarie Lohnes

• D3 Technologies Ltd., Teri-Lynn Dempsey

• Digital Elder, Chase Sutherland & Krystal Retieffe

• New Voice Languages and Tutoring Inc., Elena Andrianova

Noting that the decision was difficult, Ignite Atlantic CEO Doug Jones announced Petite Rivière Farms as the winner.

Although still an early-stage start-up, judges noted the significant potential of the company’s product. Petite Rivière Farms grows, harvests, and produces micro broccoli containing sulforaphane, a compound anticipated to provide anti-inflammatory health benefits. Early research suggests it may also help block and inhibit the reproduction of cancer cells. Their product, Broccoli Bounty, is currently available for purchase online at gomicro.ca.

Company CEO and founder Gregg Curwin says he’s proud of what the business has accomplished to date. He credits his family and team for their success, acknowledging that farming is hard work. Curwin said they chose to start the company in rural Nova Scotia, in the Green Bay / Petite Rivière area because it’s a place they have loved for many years.

Participation in INMC Cuneo 2026 will provide Petite Rivière Farms with international exposure, access to global relationships, and opportunities to connect with municipal leaders, ecosystem partners, and fellow innovators from across INMC member cities.

Curwin is one of three Nova Scotia entrepreneurs who will be traveling to Cuneo. Bridgewater’s INMC sister communities, Kings County and Pictou County, are also hosting pitch competitions in partnership with Ignite Atlantic.