AGENDA

Doors officially open for Startupfest. Premium Fest participants may have earlier start times; consult your Premium Fest agenda details. See More.

The Women in Tech Bootcamp has been a staple in Startupfest’s Premium Fests for 5 years. Hosted by BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, this half-day event is looking to connect women founders and leaders of technology companies with the resources they need to grow their businesses. See More.

Pascale Audette, President of the Board of Québec Tech and seasoned entrepreneur, kicks things off. See More.

Find all accelerators and incubators in one place! See More.

The perfect platform and space for knowledge sharing and connecting with peers. See More.

A Startupfest first, the Investor Lounge, brought to you by Espace CDPQ, offers the investment community a private space to meet and mingle. Open to registered attendees of GPFest and LPFest. See More.

Here you’ll find a variety of service providers looking to connect with startups! From legal experts to accounting, these service providers are here to help and provide founders with valuable business advice. See More.

Richard Chénier, Executive Director of Québec Tech, highlights the key strategies that will enable Quebec to deploy its full potential and establish itself as a world leader in technology entrepreneurship. See More.

Enjoy a meditation break, a moment dedicated to inner peace, body and mind thanks to YogaTribes. Come relax in the Zen Zone and let yourself be guided through simple but profound meditation and breathing techniques. These sessions are open to all! See More.

Anna Chif, co-founder of Dialogue, reveals the winning strategy that has propelled Dialogue to the position of telemedicine leader in Canada, overcoming barriers in the healthcare sector. See More.

Come and watch a live recording of the TechPoutine podcast with Canadian technology veterans Gabriel Sundaram, Ian Jeffrey, Nectarios Economakis and Eleonore Jarry (currently on maternity leave). The show is four friends getting together and talking about the latest in Canadian tech. See More.

Serial entrepreneurs Julie Lacasse and Fred Bastien share their inspiring stories of exporting their companies internationally. But that's not all! Now venture capitalists, they reveal their investment vision and the key criteria they examine. Thanks to this dual role, they can provide you with invaluable insights! See More.

How to craft novel go-to-market strategies that give you an unfair advantage and put your competitors on the defensive. See More.

The Startup Showcase on the Startupfest Pitch Stage will be run as a series of 4 separate showcases, each with a unique vertical or focus. More info on the pitching startups coming soon! See More.

Dominic Gagnon and Anne Martel lend themselves to the game of answering burning questions about the international success of their companies. See More.

Alongside Nathalie Morin of Polystyvert and Kalthoum Bouacida of AQC Capital, discover how a deep understanding of cultural nuances can transform your business approach and catalyze your startup's success abroad. See More.

We share one of the world's largest borders with our neighbors to the south. 63.4% of our Canadian exports go to the U.S... Everything points to the fact that the U.S. is unavoidable or even inevitable as the first market to explore in an export strategy. Our two teams of export-savvy entrepreneurs will debate this hot topic in an Oxford-style debate. Which team will influence or even change your opinion? Moderated by Étienne Crevier, this interactive segment is not to be missed! See More.

For Simon De Baene, co-founder and CEO of Workleap, a technological product has no borders, and exporting is an integral part of its DNA. See More.

Enjoy a meditation break, a moment dedicated to inner peace, body and mind thanks to YogaTribes. Come relax in the Zen Zone and let yourself be guided through simple but profound meditation and breathing techniques. These sessions are open to all! See More.

Got that big meeting and need to know you or your team can knock it out of the park? See More.

Join Content Co-Chairs, Stuart Kozlick and Laurence Audette-Lagueux, as they welcome you to the first edition of HardtechFest. See More.

Right here, right now is where you consume Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. We live at the receiving end of endless information, a flood that's about to become a torrent thanks to Generative AI. See More.

Are we coming out of the cognitive dark age into a new dawn, or will AI drive us more deeply into obfuscated intellectual darkness? See More.

Dive into the heart of the hardtech ecosystem with our keynote address. We'll shed light on the Canadian hardtech landscape, the reality of engaging with VCs, and realities of raising capital as a hardtech startup. A must-see for anyone looking to understand where the industry is now and where it's going. See More.

Explore the transformative power of hard tech in fostering a sustainable future in our dynamic talk. See More.

Against the backdrop of ongoing market turbulence, it’s never been a better time to be an early-stage founder. See More.

Let's get real: truth may not have a great business model - or can it? Join us for a panel in which we dive into the business of truth: what is it? See More.

The Startup Showcase on the Startupfest Pitch Stage will be run as a series of 4 separate showcases, each with a unique vertical or focus. More info on the pitching startups coming soon! See More.

Witness the cutting-edge of healthcare as three innovative companies pitch their solutions designed to revolutionize patient care, diagnostics, and wellness. This session showcases the latest in health-focused hardtech, highlighting the potential for technology to transform lives. See More.

We have amassed an incredible group of founder, experts, investors, accelerators and authors to help you solve your most pressing problems - we can't wait to introduce them to you! See More.

Join us for a deep dive into the unique challenges and opportunities facing hardtech startups as they grow within the Canadian ecosystem. From the complexities of navigating regulatory landscapes to harnessing the potential of emerging technologies, our panel of industry experts will share invaluable insights, strategies, and real-world experiences. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a greater understanding of what it takes to thrive in one of the world's most dynamic startup environments. See More.

Every startup must master a range of skills, from hiring and selling, to delivering products, to crafting superb communications that compel and entice. See More.

The transformative power of AI in business is undeniable, necessitating a shift towards an AI-first strategy for every startup. See More.

Achieving net zero is our paramount challenge, one that can't be tackled solely through SaaS. Scaling up climate hardware solutions is critical if we want to reach our climate goals. Join us for this session featuring visionary entrepreneurs who will give us hope for a brighter future. See More.

Shingai's not trying to sell you on Blockchain, but if we imagine a future with AI agents— See More.

Reasoning Engines, Collective Human Super Intelligence, and the Parenting of AI. See More.

Unlock the secrets of securing hardtech funding in "Where does the money go?" A must-attend panel for startups aiming to understand the investor mindset. Find out what makes a startup bankable, from investment criteria to strategic positioning. Learn directly from financial experts and top hardtech investors how to prepare your venture for success. This session offers the tools to transform your startup into an attractive investment, bridging innovation with financial viability. See More.

In this talk, we will cover a practical toolkit for orchestrating a seed raise. Specifically, we will cover the nuts and bolts around key elements for fundraising preparation, outreach, meeting effectiveness, and closing. See More.

If you put an infinite number of monkeys in a room, they might write Shakespeare. See More.

The world’s water supply is finite – there is no new water – so, how can we protect this shared, precious resource? HardtechFest Community Partner,  AquaAction, presents their most innovative hardtech startups, working and succeeding in solving one of our most pressing crises, the preservation of fresh water.  See More.

We’ll cover key metrics to think about, building a model, and what you can do to keep burn in check as you grow. See More.

Securing a 10x boost in hardware financing proves challenging; it's less about venture capital and more about navigating the realm of corporate and project development. Join us for an engaging Oxford-style debate where venture capitalists and corporate development experts will go head-to-head, discussing the challenges and opportunities in funding hardware projects. Explore the role of venture capital versus corporate partnerships in driving innovation and navigating the complexities of hardware financing See More.

What truths did we discover? What rang true for you? Is truth attainable at all? Perhaps that's all up to you. See More.

Ask a room full of investors to describe what makes a great founder, and the answers will be remarkably consistent. "Grit!" "Tenacity!" "Courage!" "Insight!" But then ask that same audience what makes a great CEO and the answers suddenly wildly shift from attributes to skills. See More.

Chair, Stuart Kozlick is joined by Hardtech veteran, Nicholas Nadeau for a fireside chat on what it will take to build a thriving hardtech ecosystem for startups and innovators. See More.

Join Alistair as he recaps the day and tells you what we have instore for day 2! See More.

Sponsored by MNP and Miller Thompson. See More.

Doors officially open for Startupfest. Premium Fest participants may have earlier start times; consult your Premium Fest agenda details. See More.

The blue economy and indigenous communities See More.

Find all accelerators and incubators in one place! See More.

The perfect platform and space for knowledge sharing and connecting with peers. See More.

A Startupfest first, the Investor Lounge, brought to you by Espace CDPQ, offers the investment community a private space to meet and mingle. Open to registered attendees of GPFest and LPFest. See More.

Here you’ll find a variety of service providers looking to connect with startups! From legal experts to accounting, these service providers are here to help and provide founders with valuable business advice. See More.

Together, we can grow Canada’s ocean economy by 5X by 2035! Canada has the longest coast line in the world and 4 major cities are in the top 30 Blue Economy startup ecosystem ranking. Discover how you can help us move the needle and change the way we interact with our ocean utilizing the best technologies and talents. See More.

Canada is revolutionizing the blue economy by adapting to industry needs and nurturing a dynamic startup ecosystem. Featuring representatives from La Zone Bleue, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, COAST, and Oneka Technologies, this session will delve into the strategies and collaborative efforts that are driving growth and sustainability in the ocean sector. Discover how these organizations support startups, address global ocean opportunities, and position Canada as a blue economy leader. See More.

Enjoy a meditation break, a moment dedicated to inner peace, body and mind thanks to YogaTribes. Come relax in the Zen Zone and let yourself be guided through simple but profound meditation and breathing techniques. These sessions are open to all! See More.

LPFest is an exclusive gathering for High Net Worth Individuals (HNI), Family Offices (FO) and Institutional Investors to explore innovative investment strategies and network with industry leaders. See More.

People want to do the right thing. But in a complicated and confusing world filled with contradictions, no one’s sure what the right thing is. Spoiler Alert: The focus needs to be growth. Personal growth to team growth to organizational growth. I’ll share how you can achieve it. See More.

The blue investment landscape is quite different than in other tech sectors. In the Blue Economy, Europe is leading the way. In North America, CleanTech VCs are slowly capturing this new growth opportunity. Discover the emerging trends with top investors in the field. See More.

Welcome back! Join us as we kick off day 2! See More.

The so-called Tech Industry is overwhelmingly a Software Industry. This has been a great ride, but there are a lot of important problems that won't be solved with just software. See More.

The Startup <> Investor Match-Ups, powered by Cultivator, gives top VCs a chance to meet with high-growth startups from across Canada in one-on-one meetings (20 mins) to discuss fundraising, challenges, strategies, direction, and to share insights and expertise. See More.

BDC's Thrive Lab will be hosting a stage at Startupfest for women in the Impact space. See More.

In the startup world, we mostly hear about the success stories. To a startup, "be like Netflix" is pretty hard if you're not Reed Hastings in the late nineties. What's really valuable, however, is tales of honest failure. See More.

When it comes to our deep understanding of nature and oceans, indigenous communities have been leading the way for centuries. We still have much to learn! Discover amazing ventures and technologies coming from top Canadian indigenous communities. See More.

From Seaweed farming to coral restoration all the way to marine biotech and smart navigation, AI is at the forfront of the Blue Economy revolution. Discover actionable AI applications - an ocean of opportunities, litterally - and discuss the main entry barriers for industry partners and startups trying to scale. See More.

Join an amazing panel of creators to learn how to create attention and turn it into profitable demand. See More.

Discover top global Blue Economy leaders and new innovative growth business models that are rapidly transforming the global landscape See More.

Brought to you by Pinch Talent, this private lunch for attendees of GPFest and LPFest is designed to foster meaningful discussions and partnerships between LPs and GPs in an informal setting. See More.

Our second annual GPFest presents a half-day of content and networking designed for venture capital investors. The goal of the conference is to educate, inspire and build community, with a special focus on creating more cross-border ties. See More.

CIVIC is inviting all impact entrepreneurs to renew their positive energy at the impact startup meetup lunch. Come and share your lunch (BYO) at the reserved tables and meet purposeful peers, who shall inspire you and willing to be inspired by your impact mission! See More.

10 reasons to dive into the Blue Economy. Will you surf this giant wave with us. See More.

Enjoy a meditation break, a moment dedicated to inner peace, body and mind thanks to YogaTribes. Come relax in the Zen Zone and let yourself be guided through simple but profound meditation and breathing techniques. These sessions are open to all! See More.

Come and watch a live recording of the TechPoutine podcast with Canadian technology veterans Gabriel Sundaram, Ian Jeffrey, Nectarios Economakis and Eleonore Jarry (currently on maternity leave). The show is four friends getting together and talking about the latest in Canadian tech. See More.

There's no such thing as a stupid question—but there are plenty of questions nobody asks, because they're taboo. See More.

The Startup <> Investor Match-Ups, powered by Cultivator, gives top VCs a chance to meet with high-growth startups from across Canada in one-on-one meetings (20 mins) to discuss fundraising, challenges, strategies, direction, and to share insights and expertise. See More.

The Startup Showcase on the Startupfest Pitch Stage will be run as a series of 4 separate showcases, each with a unique vertical or focus. More info on the pitching startups coming soon! See More.

Every professional, and every team, is inundated with short-term demands. But in order to be successful – and make sure we’re accomplishing the right things - we have to find a way to balance the ‘urgent’ with strategic, long-term thinking. Dorie shares several actionable strategies that you and your team can adopt today to become better strategic thinkers. See More.

It's hard to read the current economic climate. Sustained inflation chased money from stocks into savings, while spooked investors fled a crypto collapse. Almost overnight, the launch of ChatGPT changed every startup product. See More.

The biggest challenge a startup will face has nothing to do with product; it's getting anyone to care. In this talk, Emily explains the superpower that is subversive thinking. See More.

Let's explore the intricacies of building your dream team from the ground up. From defining roles to assessing cultural fit and fostering growth, we'll uncover the key considerations that can shape the trajectory of your organization. See More.

With the clock ticking on our decade of action, a certain breed of funders is stepping away from isolated quick fixes and narrow tech-centric visions. See More.

Join Alistair as he recaps the day and tells you what we have instore for our final day! See More.

Doors officially open for Startupfest. Premium Fest participants may have earlier start times; consult your Premium Fest agenda details. See More.

The perfect platform and space for knowledge sharing and connecting with peers. See More.

Host and Content Chair, Sylvain Carle, welcomes you to ImpactFest! See More.

Think you can be the world's best VC? Prove it at Startupfest. Join a high-stakes game of Swagger.vc, the competitive venture capital game. Fri Jul 12th 10-12pm at a secret location. A small number of interesting people will be giving out invites at the festival... See More.

AcceleratorFest is back for an 11th edition as a forum for discussions on best practices and challenges faced by those running acceleration programs. See More.

Find all accelerators and incubators in one place! See More.

A Startupfest first, the Investor Lounge, brought to you by Espace CDPQ, offers the investment community a private space to meet and mingle. Open to registered attendees of GPFest and LPFest. See More.

Here you’ll find a variety of service providers looking to connect with startups! From legal experts to accounting, these service providers are here to help and provide founders with valuable business advice. See More.

Our opening keynote will share invaluable insights into the evolution of impact investing, hear real-world challenges and achievements and get a glimpse at where we're headed in this crucial space. See More.

Enjoy a meditation break, a moment dedicated to inner peace, body and mind thanks to YogaTribes. Come relax in the Zen Zone and let yourself be guided through simple but profound meditation and breathing techniques. These sessions are open to all! See More.

Join our panel of seasoned impact investors to find out what it takes to get them to write a check to an impact startup. See More.

Oneka is an impact-driven company that uses the power of ocean waves to sustainably and affordably produce freshwater for coastal communities. Join us for an information exchange that will explore possibilities to collaborate together! See More.

Oops. There goes the punchline. No matter who you are or what size your organization is, this Think:Idea is a requirement! In today’s world, brands who hide behind a logo are still asked where they stand on our greatest systemic and political issues. 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! This will also be your opportunity to vote in the Audience Choice Award. See More.

This hard hitting panel will feature seasoned impact startup founders - join us to hear about their challenges, their successes and how they've paved the way for the next generation of impact founders. See More.

We're going to cap off our morning with key takeaways and actionable insights into what you can do today to deliver impact at scale. See More.

The content may be over but the networking is just getting started! Head to the food trucks and take this time to get to know your fellow impact peers. See More.

Enjoy a meditation break, a moment dedicated to inner peace, body and mind thanks to YogaTribes. Come relax in the Zen Zone and let yourself be guided through simple but profound meditation and breathing techniques. These sessions are open to all! 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.

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! This will also be your opportunity to vote in the Audience Choice Award. See More.

Big Shot is an archive and celebration of Jewish entrepreneurs who took risks, overcame the odds, and created legendary businesses that changed the game. See More.

Join Neil as he unveils the insights gained from his journey through three successful startups, that are shaping his investment strategy at Storytime Capital, a $17.5M early-stage fund founded in late 2022. 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! See More.