Why Together Toronto Became the Room for Builders in 2025

If there was one constant in Toronto’s tech community this year, it was this:

on Monday nights, the city showed up at MaRS.

Together Toronto became the heartbeat of TechTO in 2025, a monthly town hall for builders, founders, operators, students, and investors to gather in one place, share real stories, and reconnect with the energy that keeps this ecosystem moving forward.

Builders telling the truth, and learning from each other in real time.

What Made Together Toronto Special This Year

Every edition followed a familiar rhythm, but never felt the same twice.

6:00 PM - The doors opened and the MaRS Auditorium filled with teams reuniting after big weeks, first-time founders looking for a spark, and operators swapping wins and war stories over drinks.

Next came the community open mic - two minutes of raw honesty from attendees sharing what they’re building, what they need, and what they’re learning. It became one of the most beloved parts of the night because it reminded everyone that every success story starts with someone standing up and saying what they’re trying to do.

Then the founder stories began.

In 2025, TechTO put the spotlight on leaders who were willing to talk about the messy middle - the setbacks, decisions, pivots, layoffs, rebuilds, and quiet breakthroughs that shaped their momentum.

Speakers like:

• Emily Hosie (REBEL), Zak Hemraj (Loopio), Simon De Baene (Workleap), Emma Stern (Felix Health)

• Founders from Skinopathy, Inference Labs, Penseum, and more sharing how they navigated uncertainty, found early traction, and rebuilt when needed.

• Demo Day editions where early-stage founders stood on the same stage as ecosystem veterans, and held their own.

And of course, every Together ended the same way:

with the “infamous” off-site after party, where conversations deepened, deals started, and friendships took root.

Why the Community Keeps Coming Back

Because Together Toronto became more than an event; it became a habit.

A checkpoint.

A reminder that while building is hard, none of us are doing it alone.

Across 2025, more than 500 people a night walked into the MaRS Auditorium and left with:

• A lesson they needed

• A connection they did not expect

• A burst of momentum to carry into the week

And that is exactly the energy we are carrying into the new year.

🚀 First Together Toronto of 2026

The first event of the year is always special, it sets the tone, shapes the momentum, and brings the community back together after the break.

If you want to start 2026 connected, inspired, and plugged into the people building what’s next in Canadian tech, Jan 12 is the room to be in.

🎟️ Early-bird tickets are live now, grab yours before they’re gone.

(This is always one of our fastest-selling events.)

🎧 NEW EPISODE: FOUNDER JOURNEY FT. SCOTT STEVENSON (SPELLBOOK)

EPISODE HIGHLIGHT Scott breaks down the instant “aha moment” that changed everything: realizing lawyers didn’t want another tool, they wanted AI embedded directly into their existing workflow.

That insight unlocked explosive growth.

MORE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE TALK

Build where users already are: The fastest adoption happens when you remove friction, not add new tools.

Chase the real signal: A product doubling revenue in months isn’t luck, it’s validation. Spellbook won by relentlessly prioritizing what users proved they loved.

AI hype isn’t enough: Founders need to solve painful, expensive problems, not just build shiny demos.

Resilience is a core skill: Scott shares the honest realities behind navigating hypergrowth, uncertainty, and momentum as a first-time founder.

Why it’s worth your time

This conversation is tactical, honest, and deeply relevant for anyone building in AI or pushing toward product-market fit.

Scott’s lessons will change how you think about customer discovery, early traction, and scaling something that really sticks.

BONUS CONTENT

We pulled a standout clip where Scott explains the moment Spellbook knew they had product-market fit - and what happened next.

Want to support the show?

If this episode resonates, here are three simple ways to help:

• Hit Subscribe in your podcast app

• Leave a rating or review

• Share this with a founder or teammate

Thanks for being part of the journey. You can leave us your feedback for 2026, and share who you think should join us in studio next year at [email protected] 

Love what you heard? A brand new episode drops next month!

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify 

🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS

• Together Toronto: Monday, January 12 @ 6:00pm - REGISTER HERE

• Commerce Toronto: Wednesday, January 21 @ 5:30pm - EARLY-BIRD TICKETS HERE

• Sales Toronto 2026: Wednesday, February 09 @ 6:00pm - EARLY-BIRD TICKETS HERE

• Health Toronto 2026: Wednesday, February 25 @ 6:00pm - EARLY-BIRD TICKETS HERE

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.

👀 OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH

🎉 For a Limited Time: Get 20% Off TechTO Membership

If you have ever thought about joining TechTO, this is the moment.

For a short time, you can unlock 20% off annual Membership using the code RESOLUTION at checkout; your invitation to start 2026 surrounded by the founders, operators, and community shaping Canadian tech.

A TechTO Membership gives you:

• Complimentary access to all Together Toronto events

• Priority seating + members-only networking lounges

• Exclusive access to our Slack community of builders, investors & operators

• Opportunities to share your story in our 60K+ subscriber newsletter

• Job board posting access for hiring teams

• Early invitations to limited-capacity gatherings, workshops, and private sessions

If you are serious about building in tech, this is where you meet the people who accelerate your next step; whether that is a co-founder, a job lead, a partner, or a breakthrough idea.

The discount ends soon.

Lock it in now, and make 2026 the year you move with momentum.

Use code: RESOLUTION