The Startupfest Village is one of the most unique and attractive aspects of the entire event. Our goal is to create an environment that encourages people to look away from their screens and make real-time connections. Unlike other events, where you’ll see a speaker onstage and then they’re whisked away to catch their flight, you can catch ours hanging out in the Village, perhaps with a beer in hand, eager to spend time with attendees. The Village provides attendees with unbeatable networking and opportunities we promise you haven’t experienced anywhere else.
The Startupfest Village
It takes a village…
The Village
Our village partners have yet to be announced for 2025. Browse some of the recurring opportunities you can expect to find in the village this year.
Prizes and Investment Opportunities
$100k Best of the Fest Investment Prize
Created by: Startupfest
The $100k Best of the Fest Investment Prize has always been the most coveted prize at Startupfest, where hundreds of founders pitch for the chance to be crowned "Best of the Fest". We bring together a fantastic team of angel investor to award one startup with a $100K investment based on the standardized investment terms (available May 2025).
Open to:
All startups in attendance. No application required.
When to pitch:
Details to come
The Investment Prize winner will also receive the Osler Startup Package from our partners at Osler, a prize valued at $5,000.
$100k Women in Tech Investment Prize
Funded by: The Firehood
The $100k Women in Tech (WiT) Investment Prize is back! The Firehood is bringing together an incredible team of angel investors who will award one female-led startup with a $100k investment. That means one female founder attending Startupfest will walk away with an important investment, and access to an amazing network of investors.
Open to:
Any female-led startup in attendance. No application required.
When to pitch:
Details to come
The Investment Prize winner will also receive the Osler Startup Package from our partners at Osler, a prize valued at $5,000.
$100k Black Entrepreneur Investment Prize
Created with: Rep Matters
Back for the fourth year, and funded by by Rep Matters, the $100k Black Entrepreneurs Investment Prize will bring together up to 10 angel investors ready to invest $100K in a Black-led startup.
Open to:
Any Black-led startup in attendance. No application required.
When to pitch:
Details to come
The Investment Prize winner will also receive the Osler Startup Package from our partners at Osler, a prize valued at $5,000.
2SLGBTQIA+ Investment Prize
Created with: QueerTech
Back for it’s second year in a row, Startupfest is proud to partner with QueerTech to bring you the 2SLGBTQIA+ investment prize.
Open to:
Startups with the most senior member of the executive team identifying as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. No pre-application required.
When to pitch:
Details to come
The Investment Prize winner will also receive the Osler Startup Package from our partners at Osler, a prize valued at $5,000.
$50k Student Entrepreneur Investment Prize
Funded by: Front Row Ventures
$50k Student Entrepreneur Investment Prize is back for its third year! Front Row Ventures (FRV) is Canada’s leading university-focused and student-operated VC firm with a presence on 20+ university campuses across Canada.
Open to:
Student-led startups
When to pitch:
Details to come
$25k Impact Grant
Funded by: Fonds de solidarité FTQ
Are you a startup in Quebec? This is your chance to shine! Fonds de solidarité FTQ is excited to once again launch the Impact grant, a $25,000 prize reserved for the most innovative impact startup.
Open to:
Québec based startups (see the full list of eligibility criteria here)
When to pitch:
Details to come
$10k Productivity Grant
Funded by: Fonds de solidarité FTQ
Are you a startup based in Québec? This is your opportunity to grow. The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is proud to launch, for the very first time, the Productivity grant — a $10,000 prize awarded to the startup that pushes the boundaries of efficiency.
Open to:
Québec based startups (see the full list of eligibility criteria here)
When to pitch:
Details to come
Grandmothers Choice Award
Created by: Startupfest
Our Illustrious Grandmother Judges are back. Countless entrepreneurs line up each summer to make their cases to the grandmothers—and for good reason. These ladies can see a good idea (or a bad one) from a mile away, and they certainly have no qualms about calling it as they see it. The winner of the (non-cash) Grandmothers’ Choice Award may not walk away with newfound riches, however, they will leave with a treasure trove of good advice and a ton of bragging rights.
Open to:
All startups in attendance. No pre-application required.
When to pitch:
Details to come
Audience Choice Award
Presented by BDO
The Audience Choice Award this year will be awarded to the best pitch out of the 7 winners of our investment prizes. During the closing ceremonies, the winner’s circle will each take the stage to vie for the one prize voted on by every attendee- and one will be crowned the Startupfest 2025 Audience Choice.
Networking Opportunities
Braindates
Champion: E-180
The perfect platform and space for knowledge sharing and connecting with peers.
Investor Lounge
Champion: Espace CDPQ
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 attendees registered with an Investor ticket.
Accelerator Zone
Find all accelerators and incubators in one place!
If you're an incubator or accelerator, this zone is your place to shine; a place to meet with your counterparts from across Canada and beyond.
If you're an entrepreneur, this is where you can find the best organizations to accelerate your startup.
Startup Services Zone
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.
Accelerator Zone
NEXT AI Montréal
For entrepreneurs looking to solve global challenges with AI-enabled solutions.
Meet NEXT AI Montréal at Startupfest! Come and discover our two flagship programs - Bootcamp and Acceleration - designed for entrepreneurs building AI-powered solutions. As every year, we'll be holding our pitch competition on site: the winning startup will win a place in NEXT AI Montréal's 2026 cohort!