Wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season from all of us at TechTO! While you enjoy a much-needed break, here are a few of the content pieces, headlines and reads to enjoy during your holiday season! 

Quick Takes: All the trends we are keeping an eye on for 2023

#ICYMI - here are a few of the trends we are forecasting for the upcoming year:

Generative AI: 2022 saw Generative AI breakout with new open-source projects, cool products, and a few breakthrough companies. 2023 will see an acceleration of this with new companies, new ways to use the technology, and more awareness of Generative AI among the general public. h/t Elena Yunusov

Web3: 2022 was the start of the latest Web3 bear market. 2023 will continue to see the decoupling of crypto (e.g. tokens) from Web3 as builders will focus on the long term and build products that take advantage of the strengths of blockchains and NFTs. 

Future of Work: Start-ups will continue to build the tech stack required to make fully distributed teams work. They will move beyond the skeuomorphic products that emerged at the height of covid and build new solutions. h/t David Huang

The metaverse becomes real: What is the Metaverse? It is whatever you want it to be. One area that is emerging and will solidify next year is real-time 3D in-browser technology leading to interactive experiences and marketing. h/t Alex St. Louis

3D printing reaches a tipping point: Improving quality and falling costs for 3D printed products coupled with climate concerns and logistics issues will lead to the continued adoption of 3D printing in key industries like Pharma, Automotive, and high-end consumer goods. h/t Dean Hopkins 

The end of hybrid: Companies will go all in on distributed or in-office and build strategies around their choice. Hybrid is a compromise whose costs and complexities outweigh its benefits. 

AI & Robotic augmentation of the workforce: Everywhere you look there are not enough workers from factory floors to programmers. AI is enabling robotics to be more flexible and affordable this will lead to the automation of tasks and the augmentation of humans. h/t Adam Delgado & Reuven Gorsht

Human connectivity: As people spend more time in the digital world there is a growing desire to have a reason to connect in real life. This will lead to many new companies helping people find a reason to connect and a strong resurgence of people attending events (get your ticket for January's Toronto event here). h/t Geoff Chan & Andrew Yeung 

M&A changes: With tougher funding markets M&A volume should increase but the anti-monopoly, anti-technology sentiment in governments around the world will impact this space more than expected. Unexpected acquirers will emerge and many would-be acquisitions may become partnerships + investments instead. - h/t Derek Szeto

Pro-active regulations: This may be the most unlikely but may still emerge. Governments will try to get ahead of tech changes (e.g. generative AI, metaverse) and create regulations to avoid adverse consequences like high unemployment or loss of tax revenue.

We will continue to monitor everything we see in 2023 and keep the community updated. Let us know what else you think we should be chatting about in the new year!

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Top Headlines and Content

• #ICYMI - Catch up on past newsletters if you hadn't yet subscribed!

• The Future of the Canadian Tech Ecosystem - A conversation with Mayor of Toronto John Tory - WATCH HERE

• The Importance of Marketing - A candid conversation with CEO of Conscia Sana Remekie - WATCH HERE

• The shift from selling products to selling experiences, and why it's necessary - WATCH HERE

• Year in Review: The Biggest Tech Stories of the Year - READ HERE

TechTO Talent

  B2B Lifecycle Marketing Specialist, Tour Radar (Toronto, Hybrid) 

Why is this cool? Tour Radar is disrupting a $200b industry with its custom Adventure Booking Platform. You will be part of a team of other B2B marketing professionals responsible for executing and influencing email marketing strategies to acquire, retain, engage, and reactivate TourRadar’s travel agent base. APPLY HERE

Lead Sponsorship, Platform Calgary (Calgary, Hybrid)

Why is this cool? Also helping to boost the Canadain Tech Ecosystem, Platform Calgary brings together the resources of Calgary's tech ecosystem to help startups launch and grow. Through collaboration and targeted programming, we are a hub and an engine for technology-focused economic diversification and job creation. APPLY HERE

Events and Links

Check out the interesting content, events, and happenings for the community here:

• TechTO Together: January 16, 2023 - Kick-off 2023 with us! - REGISTER HERE

• TechTO Together: February 6, 2023 - Announcements coming soon! - REGISTER HERE

• Google for Startups Accelerator Canada - NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS until February 1 - APPLY HERE

Want to showcase your company, events, and opportunities to 60,000 subscribers across the Canadian Tech Eco-system? Reach out to [email protected] to learn more!