Pitching, Fundraising & Billion-Dollar Ideas

 🔧 BUILDER’S PERSPECTIVE 

ICYMI — we are returning to Montreal in October to bring a variety of events to the forefront. Here’s why the tech community should be excited and what others involved are saying.

We’re excited to return to Montreal from October 20-24. This event series is more than just a collection of meetups; it’s a strategic effort to spotlight, educate, and inspire the next generation of Montreal builders and builders alike.

Here’s what’s on the calendar for the week:

October 20: Success Stories and Lessons for Founders

The centerpiece event, Made In Montreal: From Bagels to Billion-Dollar Ideas hosted at HEC Montréal, aims to explore the unique journey of building a global enterprise from the city. This session will provide founders with invaluable lessons drawn from icons Harley Finkelstein (Shopify) and David Segal (David’s Tea), showcasing success stories that validate Montreal's potential as a global tech hub. It’s a deep dive into the practical realities of building in Montreal, leveraging its distinct cultural and academic strengths.

Check out the significance of this event, straight from Harley himself:

October 21: Fundraising, Pitching, and Investing

For founders seeking capital, the series provides direct routes to investors. The Boast Funding Stage  and the Venture Showcase are critical events focusing on pitching and fundraising today. These stages allow emerging companies to present their vision directly to venture capitalists and strategic partners, driving crucial connections for securing seed, growth, or Series A funding.

Check out one of our previous Funding stages and the builders who shared their perspectives:

October 22: Market Overviews and Tech Trends

To ensure founders are building for the future, TechTO is offering specialized Market Overview sessions that dissect high-growth verticals. Sessions like the Market Overview — Gaming Tech and Market Overview — Travel provide in-depth analyses of specific tech trends, helping leaders understand sector-specific challenges, opportunities, and competitive landscapes.

Max Tremaine (our host of the Travel Market Overview) shared more about why this is an opportunity for any future builder:

October 23: Diversity and Community Building

Crucially, the series places a significant emphasis on supporting diverse founders. The TechTO x StandUp Ventures: Together With Women and The Founder's Collective: A Curated Dinner Series for Women Shaping the Future (presented by BDC Thrive Venture Fund) are dedicated to elevating and connecting women in tech, offering bespoke networking and mentorship to address the unique challenges they face in securing funding and leadership roles.

The full calendar of events can be explored on the official Luma page

 👀 JUST ANNOUNCED

CHECK OUT A FEATURED STOP DURING STARTUP OPEN HOUSE: CCRM

You may have heard about the Startup Open House happening NEXT WEEK! Check out more of the organizations and businesses “opening their doors” to the tech ecosystem during Elevate Week.

Tour the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine at MaRS.

This is a fantastic stop for an open house tour and a crucial learning opportunity for builders! Why? Because CCRM isn't just a building; it's a strategic gateway for the future of biotechnology and advanced medicine.

You’ll also gain insights into:

• Talent Pipeline: Offering a glimpse into the future workforce of the regenerative medicine field. Being near over 140,000 students and scientists provides an unparalleled, immediate, and deep talent pool, ensuring that innovations are always fueled by the brightest minds.
  

• Vibrant Biomedical Cluster: This stop validates Toronto’s status as Canada's premier health care innovation hub. Visitors will understand how CCRM acts as a critical connector within this thriving cluster, turning a collection of institutions into a powerful, collaborative network.

Check out their hourly tours and register for a chance to take part in a Q&A with real scientists. Registration required to participate.

Want to plan your route during Elevate Week? Check out the startups showcasing and opening their doors to the ecosystem.

💼 NEXT BIG GIGS

Check out the next big gigs in tech we think you’ll love:

• Alithya, a global network of trusted advisors, creating cutting edge solutions for today’s challenges, is hiring a Senior Java Developer, Capital Markets to join their team in Toronto.
  

• Loopio, one of our Startup Open House companies is hiring a Director of Machine Learning and Applied Science. Go and meet your future team during the SOH next week!
  

• Clio, another stop on our Startup Open House is hiring a Business Development Senior Manager in Canada.

Looking to hire or get hired? Check out the TechTO Job Board to see 1,000+ opportunities and learn how to get your companies jobs featured.

📆 MARK YOUR CALENDARS

• FAST APPROACHING: TechTO Together: Monday, October 6 at 6:00pm — REGISTER HERE 
  

• JUST ANNOUNCED — OUR TECH WEEK BUNDLE: Join our upcoming Together Event on October 6 + our Startup Open House After Party in one week, for just $55 (click the “two events bundle” selection) — REGISTER HERE
  

• MONTREAL EVENTS: We’re back in Montreal from October 20-24, and hosting 7 events over 3 days — SAVE YOUR SPOT
  

• Together Toronto — Monday, November 3 @ 6:00pm — REGISTER HERE
  

• Sales Toronto: Wednesday, November 12 @ 6:00pm — REGISTER HERE
  

• Health Toronto: Wednesday, November 19 @ 6:00pm — REGISTER HERE

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🚀 LEVEL UP YOUR NETWORK

Tired of the endless LinkedIn scroll? A TechTO membership is your shortcut to connecting with Canada's top founders and leaders. You'll get free event tickets, access to exclusive quarterly socials, and an invite to the members-only Slack community.

Stop scrolling, start succeeding.