🔥 HOT TOPICS

Agentic and vertical AI are getting funded, acquired, and wired into critical workflows. Public money is tilting toward AI infrastructure and productivity, creating new leverage points for founders.

Here’s how four big moves are shaping the Tech Community right now.

🏠 Toronto’s Mave raises $5M to be real estate’s AI partner
Toronto-based Mave raised a $5M seed round to become the trusted AI partner for realtors and brokers across North America, building on MLS and brokerage data to automate compliant, brand‑aligned marketing and operations. Congratulations to the investors backing the round, including lead investor Staircase Ventures and returning investors Relay Ventures, N49P, and Alate Partners.

🤖 ConnectWise bets on agentic AI with zofiQ
ConnectWise is acquiring zofiQ, an agentic AI platform that automates high‑volume MSP service desk work directly inside PSA and RMM workflows, helping partners manage more endpoints per technician with fewer reactive hours. By turning AI into autonomous agents that act inside existing tools, zofiQ points to a future where humans oversee fleets of agents instead of manually triaging tickets.

🧠 Mila & Inovia bet big on Canadian AI
Mila and Inovia have launched a new early‑stage fund aimed at turning Canada’s “AI research diamonds” into globally competitive startups, closing the gap between academic excellence and commercial outcomes. Paired with calls from ecosystem leaders to seize Canada’s AI “moment,” this signals more capital and support for founders building deep, defensible AI companies here at home.​

💸 2026 grants and incentives for AI‑heavy companies
Updated 2026 grant and incentive programs are directing more non‑dilutive capital toward AI, productivity, and advanced manufacturing projects, including support for AI infrastructure and sovereign compute. For founders, that means bigger opportunities to fund R&D, pilots, and infrastructure without giving up equity; if they can align roadmaps with measurable efficiency and competitiveness gains.

🚨 JUST ANNOUNCED

Toronto Tech Week 2026 is back.

From May 25-29, Toronto Tech Week will bring together 120+ hosts across the ecosystem for a week of flagship events, bold ideas, and community-powered programming.

We are excited to share that TechTO will once again be hosting multiple events throughout the week; bringing our signature energy, conversations, and connections to this city-wide celebration of tech and innovation.

Want to stay in the loop as our events are announced?

Subscribe to our Events Calendar to get first access to what we are hosting during Toronto Tech Week.

Before the scale. Before millions of users.

In 2019, a founder named Ryan Marien stepped onto the TechTO stage to talk about a quiet but massive problem:

Life sciences was still operating like it was the Middle Ages.

In his talk, “Life Sciences: An Industry Stuck in the Middle Ages,” Ryan laid out a bold vision for how scientists should work - visually, clearly, and at speed - and how BioRender was building the tools to make that possible.

At the time, it was insight.
Today, it is proof.

BioRender is now used by millions of scientists globally, and that 2019 talk hits very differently in hindsight.

🎥 Watch the clip and see what breakout conviction looks like before the breakout.

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🎤 Know Someone Who Should Be on the TechTO Stage?

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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.

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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.