You are receiving the community edition of today’s newsletter. Become a member to receive exclusive perks and event invites.

He had no budget and no network when the Raptors’ head of entertainment slid into his DMs. What he asked for next put his app in front of an arena crowd for $0.

Every founder in this edition grew by using a market, a partner, or a relationship they already had. Here’s how you can do the same.

Isabella Baboury spent a decade as a luxury fashion executive, and for her next company, she picked chewing gum. She and co-founder Theodore Essery saw that a familiar product, made better, comes with a market that already exists, so they built VitaGum with 12 essential vitamins and no sugar.

Their growth started in Toronto, through local events, partnerships, and a private members' club, so early customers feel part of the brand from day one.

You don't need a brand-new problem to build a company. Pick something people already buy, make it better, and win one community before you try to reach everyone.

Axel Villamil started StageKeep as a dancer studying computer science at U of T, with no network and no funding. His approach to getting noticed fits into three questions.

When a partner with a big audience wants to work with you early, their reach can do more for you than a cheque. Know exactly what visibility you want, and make it easy to say yes.

Vaza started as a Messi vs. Ronaldo argument that Adel Rahman and his friends could never settle. The debate app reached 450,000 users in about 11 months, and Adel credits most of that early growth to partnering with creators and pages that already had big followings.

One partnership with XXL ran a bracket to crown the top rapper of 2025, and fandoms like anime and music brought in people with strong opinions to share.

Building an audience from zero is slow. If the people you want are already gathered around a creator or community, partner with whoever is hosting that conversation.

Reactiv hired eight engineers before it raised a dollar, and Ross Correia covered payroll himself, first by selling his watches and then his Shopify shares.

Six months in, a former client called him at 11:30 p.m. Within a week, Reactiv went from $0 to roughly $100K in ARR.

Your first big break often comes from someone who has already seen your work. Keep past clients and colleagues in the loop as you build, so you're the first person they think of when they need help.

And if you want to be in the company of such people, Together Toronto is where you’ll find them.

Select the General Admission: Full Access ticket type to attend the entire event. Only the Ecosystem Showcase is free.

📣 Calling all CPG brands: Sample your products, sell on the spot, collect live feedback, and walk away with new leads and connections. Reach out to [email protected] to get your brand in the room.

Nov 2 – Together Toronto & Ecosystem Showcase: Explore 35+ startups, share what you’re building with the room, and hear from founders of some of the fastest-growing companies in Canada.

Nov 3 – What Happens After Dark | TechTO Welcome AfterParty (Ottawa): Be part of the SAAS NORTH AI welcome afterparty and hang out with people building cool things in tech.

Nov 4 – 5 – TechTO x SAAS North AI 2026 (Ottawa): Join 2,500+ SaaS founders and operators building the future of AI. Get your all-access pass at a heavily discounted price through TechTO.

Nov 4 – The Growth Table (Ottawa): An exclusive dinner for founders at $3M+ in revenue or venture-backed.

Nov 10 - Future of Education: Impact of AI on Learning (Toronto): ​Join founders, investors, educators, and parents for an honest look at how AI is changing every stage of learning, from a child’s first reader to the last semester of a degree.

Hiring? Currently looking for your next gig? Browse 400+ jobs on our job board or post yours.

Want to showcase your company, events, and opportunities to thousands of tech leaders, professionals, and investors across the country?

Reach out to us for partnership and advertising opportunities.