COMPANY SPOTLIGHT ⭐️ 

🔁 8 Years After Predicting It, Benjamin Alarie Proves Canada’s AI Dominance as Blue J raises $122M

Eight years ago nearly to the day, Benjamin Alarie stepped onto the TechTO stage to tell us about a bold idea he’d been working on for a few years already: use machine learning to bring clarity to tax law.

Fast forward to today, and that vision just got a $122M boost. Blue J has closed a Series D round led by Oak HC/FT and Sapphire Ventures, after more than doubling its revenue and customer base in the first half of 2025.

But let’s rewind. Eight years ago, Ben was like many of you - just getting started. He’d recently graduated from Creative Destruction Lab and just moved into OneEleven.

Ben had many takeaways about his early days but the biggest one was the title of his talk was “Toronto, Machine Learning Capital of the World.” 

He backed this up with conviction:

• 🌍 Global talent - the most diverse city on Earth

• 🎓 Academic muscle - U of T, Waterloo, and Geoffrey Hinton (the Godfather of Deep Learning)

• 🧠 Startup support - with big shout outs to TechTO, CDL, NEXT 36, OneEleven

• 📍 Strategic location - close to major U.S. markets, with a massive local base

Today, he stands by that claim - and then some. Here’s what Benjamin shared with us this week:

“Eight years ago, I called Toronto the Machine Learning Capital of the World because of its world-class talent, deep academic roots, and collaborative energy. Today, the city has surpassed even those early expectations. Toronto is now a true global hub for responsible AI, with companies like Blue J proving that real innovation happens where expertise and ambition intersect.

The story is about technology, of course, but it’s also about a community that values inclusion, rigour, and building for impact. Toronto’s edge is its people. I wouldn’t want to build anywhere else. The next chapter will be even bigger.” - Benjamin Alarie

📹 Watch Ben’s 2017 TechTO talk

📰 Read more about the Series D

OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH 👀 

👋 Founders: Open Your Doors. Spark What’s Next. Startup Open House is back and we want you to be part of it.

This fall, we’re reviving one of the most beloved traditions in Canadian tech: a night where startups across Toronto open their doors to students, talent, investors, and the next wave of builders.

Whether you’re five people in a co-working space or fifty in your own office, this is your chance to:

✅ Show off your space

✅ Share your story

✅ Meet future team members, collaborators, and champions

✅ Give back to the ecosystem that helped you grow

You never know who’s going to walk through the door.

The best hires, advisors, and partners often come from unexpected conversations and Startup Open House is designed to create them.

This city-wide event will enable participants to visit the offices of Toronto’s most innovative companies, meet directly with decision-makers, and make meaningful connections with tech visionaries. This year’s event will take place Oct 9 during Elevate Festival 2025 from 3:00pm -7:00pm.

Interested in hosting?

Apply to host by filling this expression of interest form- we’ll follow up with everything you need to make it easy and fun.

Interested in attending?

Stay tuned to the TechTO newsletter and subscribe to the TechTO event calendar as registration is set to open early September.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 📆

🎟️ These are the events everyone will be talking about. Don’t miss your chance to be in the room.

• Rocketships Tour + Together Toronto, August 11 at 5:00pm - REGISTER HERE

• Sales Toronto: Monday, August 18 at 6:00pm - REGISTER HERE

• Together Toronto: Monday, September 8 at 6:00pm- REGISTER HERE

• Health Toronto: Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00pm- REGISTER HERE

• Commerce Toronto: Monday, September 15 at 6:00pm- REGISTER HERE

• Startup Open House Toronto @ Elevate Festival: October 9 at 3:00pm - REGISTRATION TO OPEN SOON

• SAAS NORTH (Ottawa): November 4th-6th- REGISTER HERE
  
  

NEXT BIG GIGS 💼 

🎯 Hiring or job hunting? Explore fresh roles on the → TechTO Job Board Here.

• StackAdapt is the leading AI-powered marketing platform used by the most exceptional digital marketers. They’re currently hiring for 47 roles across many departments.

• Motion is the creative strategy demand center. Motion is hiring a Customer Success Manager (Remote) and a Senior Backend Engineer (in Toronto).

• Koru is a first of its kind venture studio funded by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan to build and invest in businesses with a clear right to win. Koru is currently hiring for a Principal Engineer in Toronto, ON.

• Inference Labs is building decentralized, composable AI powered by Web3 to democratize access and challenge big tech’s dominance- secured by Proof of Inference and they’re on the lookout for a Web3 Marketing Coordinator.

  
  

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