2025 Agenda

Intellectual property remains one of the most strategic — and often least understood — levers for securing growth, attracting investors, and standing out in the market. This inspiring opening session sets the stage for the day: Why is IP more critical than ever? How is the ecosystem evolving? And what should tomorrow’s entrepreneurs be prioritizing now? See More.

Three entrepreneurs from Canada take the stage to openly share what went wrong in their intellectual property strategies. A rare chance to learn from failure — theirs, so they don’t become yours. See More.

Join Startupfest founder Phil Telio and content chair Alistair Croll as they kick off our landmark 15th anniversary edition with a no-nonsense preview of what's actually worth your time over these three days. See More.

Not all investors are interested in IP. In this session, you'll discover why it's crucial to choose an investor aligned with your vision - and in particular your IP strategy. You'll learn how to identify the right “fit” based on your stage of development, your financing needs and your IP approach. Best of all, you'll have the opportunity to connect directly with them. See More.

The economics of venture capital depend on the idea of a unicorn—a rare startup so successful it more than repays all of the money investors lost elsewhere. But as the barriers to entry and scale vanish, and small teams can create massive systems, the unicorn is going extinct. Smaller companies can target a microniche, and extract enough profit to fund a sustainable business without ever taking on venture funding. These “lifestyle businesses”, once derided by startup founders, are looking far more appealing in uncertain economic times. Hundreds of thousands of laid-off tech workers no longer believe the myth of profitable stock options. And the cost of experimenting is vanishingly small, so everyone can have a side hustle. See More.

Join us for an authentic fireside chat with Andrew Filev as he shares his entrepreneurial evolution with Startupfest content chair Alistair Croll. Andrew will discuss both his journey growing Wrike from a bootstrapped startup to a $2.25 billion exit and his current venture, Zencoder, which is fundamentally changing how software is created. See More.

Experts will be on hand to present the key issues involved in protecting, managing and leveraging data as part of an IP strategy. Meet our IP experts for expert advice for your startup. See More.

The Startup Showcase is where the art of the pitch takes center stage - literally. With the help of our partners, hand-selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase their startup on our main stage. Whether you're an aspiring founder seeking inspiration or an investor scouting for the next big thing, the Startup Showcase is not to be missed! See More.

We're transforming our popular Mentor Roundtables into something even more useful—permanent Office Hours where you can join our experts whenever you need them. We heard you when you said you love the chance at honest, intimate conversations with people that can make a difference to your companies, so this year we're building a dedicated Office Hours zone where founders, experts, and investors will be on hand to give you real advice. See More.

This training course is specifically designed for entrepreneurs who want to make intellectual property a central part of their strategy and put it into practice within their teams. It is often the founders who take the first steps towards protection - this session will arm you with the knowledge you need to lead your team to keep your IP strategy front of mind as you grow your company. See More.

HardtechFest 2025 kicks off with a bold invitation: to think bigger, push limits, and reimagine the future of innovation—both on this planet and beyond it. See More.

Georgian and NewtonX surveyed 600+ executives on how AI is actually being adopted in businesses today. Investor Evan Kerr breaks down the latest adoption trends, what’s driving (or blocking) AI rollout, differences in adoption between the US and Canada, and how it all impacts your sales strategy. If you're a B2B founder or building with AI, don't miss this. See More.

We're transforming our popular Mentor Roundtables into something even more useful—permanent Office Hours where you can join our experts whenever you need them. We heard you when you said you love the chance at honest, intimate conversations with people that can make a difference to your companies, so this year we're building a dedicated Office Hours zone where founders, experts, and investors will be on hand to give you real advice. See More.

As space emerges as the next trillion-dollar economy, it’s hardware developed here on Earth that will make it possible. This keynote explores how ground-based innovation powers our reach beyond planetary boundaries. See More.

Join us for the raw, unvarnished truth as founders ditch the glossy pitch decks and share what building a startup actually looks like—complete with midnight meltdowns, spectacular faceplants, and awkward pivots that never made their press releases. While other events showcase airbrushed success stories, our panel serves up the startup confessions usually reserved for therapy sessions and late-night drinking. Bring your burning questions for our battle-tested entrepreneurs who promise no rehearsed narratives or humble-bragging—just honest conversation about what it really takes to build something from nothing. Because if they survived their worst moments (and they'll tell you exactly what those were), maybe you can too. See More.

In this unfiltered AMA, startup founders share real lessons from launching bold ventures—navigating funding deserts, tech complexity, and the unknowns of frontier building. See More.

In this no-fluff conversation, Emily Walsh (Lead Investor, Georgian) joins Isaac Souweine (Partner, Pender Ventures) and Elizabeth Yin (General Partner & Co-Founder, Hustle Fund) to unpack the patterns, red flags, and breakout signals they’ve spotted while backing AI startups. From early traction to technical moats, learn what makes an AI company stand out to potential investors. Moderated by David Tingle, Head of Platform Operations at Georgian. See More.

In this talk, product strategy expert Tam Danier presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating and developing successful product ideas. See More.

What does it actually take to bring an agentic AI product to life? Asna Shafiq, ML Engineer at Georgian’s AI Lab, shares a behind-the-scenes look at building and deploying a real-world agentic product for a Georgian portfolio company. From architecture decisions to unexpected hurdles, you'll get practical insights, lessons learned, and a closer look at what it means to go from idea to implementation. See More.

Designing for the harshest conditions—on Earth or in orbit—requires the same bold thinking. This session explores how innovations built for extreme environments like the Arctic or deep sea are paving the way for space applications, and how space tech is finding its way back home. See More.

Join Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, as he digs into data from over 45,000 startups from Canada and the US to see how founders are diluted as they raise venture capital. He'll touch on co-founder equity splits, advisor equity, early employee equity, and how valuations in early stage rounds affect the founding team. See More.

Materials science is unlocking breakthroughs in both sustainability and survival. Learn how innovations in material engineering are solving urgent Earth problems while enabling life in space. See More.

By any standard, Roblox is a tech juggernaut. The gaming platform has 380 million monthly active users, and 85 million people use it every day. It has over 40 million games created by 2.5 million developers, and brought in $3.6 billion in revenue in 2024. It's currently valued at more than US$40B. And yet it employs only 3,000 people. See More.

Founders ask each other the big questions—fast. Expect sharp takes, emerging ideas, and a glimpse into what’s next in hardtech. See More.

Venture capitalists bet on power laws—but should founders? Investors court founders but answer to LPs. Founders court investors but answer to their own vision. This talk unpacks how VCs view founders, how founders view VCs, and why the gap between them is risky. A little more empathy on both sides could lead to far better outcomes (and far less conflict) for everyone involved. See More.

We're transforming our popular Mentor Roundtables into something even more useful—permanent Office Hours where you can join our experts whenever you need them. We heard you when you said you love the chance at honest, intimate conversations with people that can make a difference to your companies, so this year we're building a dedicated Office Hours zone where founders, experts, and investors will be on hand to give you real advice. See More.

For its ninth edition, Cooperathon and its program leaders are celebrating the teams that have distinguished themselves during the 2025 journey. The winning teams will take the stage to pitch their projects. A unique opportunity to showcase the next generation of leading startups transforming the future of Quebec and Canada with innovative solutions that tackle challenges in sectors such as health, agriculture, manufacturing, urban living, and more. Powered by Desjardins, Cooperathon is the platform for the creation of impact entrepreneurs, driven by science, technology and data, and the competition with the greatest potential for societal impact in Canada. The Cooperathon has helped create more than 750 startups and brought together 8,000 participants since its inception. See More.

Deeptech requires more than capital—it demands vision, patience, and a risk-tolerant mindset. This panel dives into how investors back what most see as impossible. See More.

Is space exploration a distraction from the climate crisis—or a path to solving it? This Oxford-style debate tackles the tension head-on. See More.

A final reflection on the day’s themes, and a reminder that the future is still ours to build—on Earth and beyond. See More.

Cocktails offered thanks to National Bank of Canada. See More.

Climate action and the growth of the sustainable ocean economy are deeply interconnected. This session will explore how cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches are driving progress at the intersection of these two critical fields. From carbon capture, utilization and storage to renewable energy and beyond, learn how ocean tech can address climate challenges while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth. Join us to discover how innovation is shaping a future where the health of our oceans and sustainable economic growth go hand in hand. See More.

Collaboration between established companies and agile startups is a powerful driver of innovation. This session will explore how these partnerships create win-win outcomes, from accelerating R&D to solving complex challenges and opening new markets. Featuring insights from successful partnerships, panellists will share their experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for building impactful partnerships. Whether you’re a startup looking to scale or a corporate leader seeking fresh ideas, this discussion will inspire you to think differently about collaboration and its potential to transform the ocean economy. See More.

Join us as we kick off day 2 and make sure you're up to date on what's going on on site today! See More.

It's all about the revenue - from storytelling to founder selling to building a repeatable machine. Two hours. Zero fluff. Join the partners of Enjoy The Work for a tactical deep dive into what it really takes to go to market. You'll learn how to tell a story that moves people, how to sell as a founder (and why no one else should do it first), and how to build systems that turn early traction into repeatable growth. These are the same lessons time tested across the nearly 200 venture-backed startups we've supported over the last decade. See More.

Oceans and space represent two of humanity’s most exciting and challenging frontiers. But which holds the greatest potential for innovation, investment, and impact? In this session, we’ll pit space against oceans in a lively debate, exploring the biggest opportunities, challenges, and synergies between these sectors. From satellite monitoring of ocean health to deep-sea robotics inspired by space exploration, discover how cutting-edge technologies are bridging these two worlds. Join us to hear from leading experts, uncover cross-sector collaborations, and decide which frontier will shape the future of our planet and beyond. See More.

Join us for an unfiltered conversation about the harsh realities of today's venture landscape—from Canada's notorious capital conservatism to the painful correction happening across tech. Our investors will spill the tea on what's really happening behind closed partner meetings, which metrics actually matter in 2025, and why that warm intro you worked so hard for probably won't save you. Come armed with your toughest questions because unlike your last pitch meeting, these VCs won't dodge them with vague feedback about "needing more traction." See More.

We're transforming our popular Mentor Roundtables into something even more useful—permanent Office Hours where you can join our experts whenever you need them. We heard you when you said you love the chance at honest, intimate conversations with people that can make a difference to your companies, so this year we're building a dedicated Office Hours zone where founders, experts, and investors will be on hand to give you real advice. See More.

In this session, Elizabeth will provide insights on identifying and connecting with the right investors, effectively navigating the entire fundraising process step by step, building relationships with potential backers from cold, addressing common challenges (such as ghosting) along the way, and ultimately closing the round successfully. See More.

The Ocean Startup Showcase is an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, investors, government funders, and entrepreneurs as we shine a spotlight on some of the most innovative ocean technology startups in Canada. We will feature rapid-fire pitches from emerging ocean companies, sparking meaningful conversations and networking opportunities among attendees. See More.

I spent years building a company that was, in many ways, both wildly successful and personally unsustainable. This time, I’m doing it differently. In this fireside chat, I’ll share the lessons I wish someone had handed me before I started — about power, pace, people, and self-preservation. This isn’t a teardown or a walk down memory lane. It’s a gift — from one founder to another — a blueprint most people don’t realize they need until it’s too late, and the foundation I’m building my next venture on. If you’ve ever asked yourself “How much should I get paid?”, or signed a document thinking “It’s fine, that probably won’t happen”, or been told “Don’t worry, it’s standard” — this talk is for you. See More.

As OceanFest draws to a close, join us for an inspiring keynote highlighting the power of leadership and innovation in shaping a sustainable ocean economy. Learn insights into how bold vision, collaboration, and cutting-edge solutions are driving transformative change in ocean industries. From tackling global challenges to unlocking new economic opportunities, this session will leave you energized and ready to take action. See More.

Join your host Isaac Souweine as he kicks off FundFest 2025! See More.

This session will be delivered exclusively in french. Quels sont les véritables moteurs de l’innovation au Québec? Quelle place occupe notre écosystème tech à l’échelle nationale… et mondiale? Dans ce segment d’ouverture, Québec Tech et Dealroom vous dévoilent les grandes tendances, les données clés et les entreprises qui façonnent la tech québécoise. Un tour d’horizon vivant et éclairant, qui allie chiffres percutants et perspectives d’avenir — pour mieux comprendre où nous en sommes, et surtout, où nous allons. See More.

The Startup Showcase is where the art of the pitch takes center stage - literally. With the help of our partners, hand-selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase their startup on our main stage. Whether you're an aspiring founder seeking inspiration or an investor scouting for the next big thing, the Startup Showcase is not to be missed! See More.

We're transforming our popular Mentor Roundtables into something even more useful—permanent Office Hours where you can join our experts whenever you need them. We heard you when you said you love the chance at honest, intimate conversations with people that can make a difference to your companies, so this year we're building a dedicated Office Hours zone where founders, experts, and investors will be on hand to give you real advice. No more strategic hovering or awkward networking to access people who know what they're talking about. Just drop in whenever your startup crisis hits—whether it's your imploding team, that pitch that makes investors wince, figuring out if your AI idea is just ChatGPT in a trench coat, or dealing with a board that questions your every move. No sign-ups, no gatekeepers—just direct access to people who've survived the startup gauntlet and can help you do the same. See More.

Peter Walker is one of the leading authorities on North American venture capital trends. John Rikhtegar is carving out a similar place in the Canadian market. Returning to the FundFest stage, Peter and John will each present original data on fundraising and investment returns, followed by a facilitated discussion See More.

This session will be delivered exclusively in french Et si la clé de la performance durable résidait dans l’équilibre ? Ce dialogue entre deux univers, l’athlétisme et l’entrepreneuriat, explore les parallèles entre la quête de performance et la préservation de la santé mentale et physique. Une conversation riche en réflexions sur l’endurance, l’écoute de soi, et les stratégies pour aller loin… sans s’épuiser. See More.

As global economic and political uncertainty reshapes innovation priorities, this panel will explore the evolving role of Canadian corporates in driving national innovation. Panelists will share their perspectives on fund investing, corporate venture strategies and how collaboration with the VC ecosystem can unlock long-term competitiveness for Canada. See More.

Informed by 30 years of investing in technology and venture capital, Brice Scheschuk explores themes about fundraising including the limited scenarios where venture capital makes sense, the concepts of outlier founders and venture scale growth, and numerous alternative capital paths that are applicable to most founders. See More.

This session will be delivered exclusively in french. De jeune ingénieure à CEO d’une startup medtech à succès, Jade nous plonge dans les coulisses de Puzzle Medical Devices. À travers des anecdotes percutantes, elle déconstruit le mythe de la légitimité, brise les barrières mentales qui freinent trop souvent l’ambition, et rappelle qu’on ne construit rien de grand sans bien s’entourer. Un échange inspirant pour celles et ceux qui rêvent d’innover… sans s’excuser d’oser. See More.

In a world where everything from infrastructure to coding to distribution can be bootstrapped from scratch, and where AI is draining every competitive moat, go-to-market strategy and differentiation are how you stand out. We've summoned marketing experts for lightning-round answers to your most pressing questions. Come armed with a problem, and expect some unconventional, media-savvy, and slightly subversive answers! See More.

Many early-stage founders fall into the trap of overbuilding their MVPs, leading to wasted resources, slow validation, and missed funding opportunities. In this talk, I'll introduce a fresh approach to building Minimum Viable Products by shifting the focus from feature development to market validation. Instead of building a "mini version" of a full product, founders will learn how to create a lean, strategic Proof of Concept that speaks directly to both user needs and investor expectations. The goal is simple: build just enough to prove your concept, demonstrate traction, and secure that crucial first cheque. See More.

How can I attract top talent on a shoestring budget? How can I avoid bad apples and find diamonds in the rough when interviewing? What AI tools and techniques can I use to save time and money on talent acquisition? Join Brett Martin, cofounder of Fonzi.ai, and Charge Ventures, NYC’s premier pre/seed VC, as he shares battle-tested strategies for hiring scrappy, relentless people on the cheap. From “pair recruiting” to “Always Be Selling (ABS)” to the latest AI recruiting stack, Brett offers practical guidance on identifying, seducing, and supporting the talent you need to drive your business forward. See More.

Back by popular demand, our emerging manager showcase will feature five up and coming managers who are building the next generation of Canadian venture capital platforms. See More.

Georgian's AI Lab works with Georgian's portfolio of software scaleups to develop and deploy AI solutions across a variety of verticals and use cases. David's talk will cover some of the most important lessons learned across this work, covering trends we've seen, design & development patterns, and some key factors that impact the overall success or failure of an AI initiative. See More.

We're transforming our popular Mentor Roundtables into something even more useful—permanent Office Hours where you can join our experts whenever you need them. We heard you when you said you love the chance at honest, intimate conversations with people that can make a difference to your companies, so this year we're building a dedicated Office Hours zone where founders, experts, and investors will be on hand to give you real advice. See More.

This session will be delivered exclusively in French. Entrepreneure engagée et fondatrice de Braindate, Christine Renaud partage sans filtre les moments clés qui ont façonné son parcours : aligner ses valeurs à son entreprise, faire rimer impact et ambition, et bâtir un projet porteur de sens. Une discussion authentique avec une femme qui redéfinit le succès à sa manière. See More.

Startups can’t control markets, money, or timing—but they can control how fast they learn. In 30 minutes, this talk arms founders with a battle‑tested experimentation playbook that turns chaos into compound growth: spot the highest‑leverage question, test it fast, read the data, and hard‑wire the habit across the team. See More.

Competition at the growth stage is intense. Domestic investors rely on deep local networks and government backing, while international players bring substantial capital reserves and risk appetite. In this panel, three leading Canadian late-stage investors discuss how they navigate and succeed in this landscape—where the stakes go beyond financial returns to include the future shape of the national economy. See More.

These pitches will be delivered exclusively in french. La vitrine des startups est l'endroit où l'art du pitch prend le devant de la scène - littéralement. Avec l'aide de nos partenaires, des entrepreneurs triés sur le volet auront l'occasion de présenter leur startup à un public captivé. Que vous soyez un fondateur en herbe à la recherche d'inspiration ou un investisseur à l'affût de la prochaine grande opportunité, la vitrine des startups est à ne pas manquer ! See More.

Join us for the 3rd yearly edition of the impact investor's breakfast See More.

Host and Content chair, Hilary Kilgour, welcomes you to ImpactFest Second edition! See More.

With an impressive track record in impact investing, Lise shares her insights on the current state of the field through the lens of BKR Capital. She highlights the opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned in recent years. While progress has been made, there is still significant work ahead to drive meaningful and lasting change. See More.

How can Canada lead the way in investing in opportunities that yield positive outcomes for People and the Planet amidst global political and macroeconomic instability? See More.

Monumental art transcends words and becomes a driving force for raising awareness about environmental crises, inspiring communities to engage and take action. Discover the unique journey of Benjamin Von Wong, a visionary artist whose creations raise awareness and inspire change. See More.

Meet promising founders in the heart of innovation, startups that serve as powerful engines for social, environmental, and economic transformation. By embracing bold ideas and disruptive solutions, these entrepreneurs create businesses that not only generate financial returns but, more importantly, extra financial benefits. See More.

Tired of the hype around early funding? This workshop, inspired by the practical and insightful real world experience and approach of excited SaaS founders (and brothers) David and Chris Sinkinson, will challenge the myth that you need early funding and that your startup needs to "get big fast". The Sinkinsons will equip you with the strategies to build a sustainable and profitable business from the ground up, without relying on external investment. See More.

A conversation between Sévrine Labelle, BDC Thrive Lab, and Kathryn Worstman, Amplify Capital, offering a unique perspective on the journey of the Amplify Capital fund, from its early days at MaRS to the recent announcement of its third fund. Through the lens of one of Canada’s pioneering impact investment funds, this discussion will explore the evolution of the country’s impact investing ecosystem, highlighting key milestones, lessons learned, and unplanned discoveries that have shaped its early growth phase. See More.

Details coming soon. See More.

Achieving impact requires a shared vision and practical strategies that foster collaboration and measurable results. By finding common ground, Startups and investors can align their strategies for greater social, environmental, and economic returns. See More.

Come and cheer on the finalists vying for the $100K Women in Tech Investment Prize. They'll be facing the investor judges in a live Q&A before they make their final decision on who will take away the prize! See More.

Come and cheer on the finalists vying for the $100K Best of the Fest Investment Prize. They'll be facing the investor judges in a live Q&A before they make their final decision on who will take away the prize! See More.

Come and cheer on the finalists vying for the $100K LGBTQIA+ Investment Prize. They'll be facing the investor judges in a live Q&A before they make their final decision on who will take away the prize! See More.

Come and cheer on the finalists vying for the $100K Black Entrepreneur Investment Prize. They'll be facing the investor judges in a live Q&A before they make their final decision on who will take away the prize! See More.

Details coming soon. See More.

Startups have been pitching for all of our amazing prizes over the last three days. Come and find out who's taking home the trophies and get your vote in for our Audience Choice Award! See More.