Canada’s Back in YC: Here's What's Next.

The last two weeks have been a ride. YC's policy change announcement, the confusion, then the reversal 10 days later.

We had "Together YC" (🎥YouTube playlist) scheduled before any of this happened - 442 tech professionals showed up to hear four YC founders share their experiences. We also hosted a Spring (X26) application session where 38 founders got live feedback from YC alumni. When the announcement hit, we added a survey to understand what was actually happening on the ground.

We reached out to 390 Canadian YC founders. 48 responses over 48 hours. 100% Canadian citizens.

What they told us: 75% opened US entities anyway. 77% came back to live in Canada after YC. Most common advice: "Don't be discouraged. You should still apply."

Applied to YC before the Feb 9 deadline or got an interview? Reach out - we'll connect you with alumni for support.

Read about our detailed findings and what’s next:  

Last Evening Sales Toronto was on 🔥🔥.

What happens when you pack a room with Toronto's hungriest sales leaders, founders, and go-to-market pros? Well, that was last night Sales Toronto.

Nearly 300 founders, operators, and sales leaders packed into BrainStation within minutes.

The conversations stayed practical and current, centered on what teams are dealing with right now, not theory or slideware. People came ready to participate, ask real questions, and compare notes.

Huge thanks to Kirsten Schmidtke, Paul Griffin, Diane Ring, Steve Dinner, and Justin Hudon for sharing from experience and keeping it grounded.

Thanks as well to Vasco for backing the community and extending the value beyond the night.

Attendee Perk: Get 20% off RevStar Summit with code TECHTO-20 (courtesy of Vasco)

Next One: Sales Toronto returns April 22… grab your ticket before it sells out!

TechTO members attend for free. Learn more at techto.org

👀 OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH

Building Our Future in AI: The Latin@ Summit brings Latin@ builders and allies together to explore responsible AI through real projects and community-led conversations.

The in-person summit takes place Saturday, February 28 (9:30 AM-5:00 PM) at the OCAD Rosalie Sharp Pavilion,with panels, fast demos, and awards; plus a virtual prep session the week before.

🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS

• Together Vancouver: Thursday, February 19 @ 6:00pm (PT) - GET YOUR TICKETS

• Health Toronto 2026: Wednesday, February 24 @ 6:00pm - EARLY-BIRD TICKETS (Last day❗)

• NuSession: Engineering at Scale for 127M+ Customers: Wednesday, February 24 @ 6:00pm - APPLY NOW

• Together Toronto: Monday, March 2 @ 6:00pm - GET YOUR TICKETS

Don’t forget to lock in your year of TechTO! Subscribe to our full events calendar

🎤 Know Someone Who Should Be on the TechTO Stage?

We’re always looking to spotlight founders, operators, and builders with powerful stories; the kind that inspire, teach, and move the Canadian tech community forward.

If you know someone whose journey deserves the mic - from early stumbles to breakout momentum - we want to hear from you.

Help us bring fresh voices and new perspectives to future TechTO events and podcasts.

🤝 GET MORE WITH TECHTO

If you’re looking for more ways to connect with the tech world, our TechTO Membership is a great way to interact with others building in the space.

Our membership program already supports hundreds of entrepreneurs and professionals building the next best companies in Canadian tech. Take advantage of exclusive members-only events, and opportunities to meet those who will inspire your next big idea. Learn more about our Membership options here.