RECAP

What. A. Night.

For those who couldn't make it, we're excited to give you a glimpse into the magic that unfolded.

Here’s some key takeaways from our speakers who took the stage throughout the night to present in front of a packed room at MaRS Discovery District.

The Highlights:

• Andrew Graham, Co-Founder and CEO of Borrowell led a fascinating exploration of the burgeoning intersection between Fintech and FitTech. Andrew painted a compelling picture of how these seemingly distinct sectors are increasingly converging, creating unique opportunities to empower individuals on their journeys to both financial and physical well-being.
  

• Keith Loo, Founder and CEO of Skinopathy, shared a deeply personal and inspiring story that fueled his mission to revolutionize access to dermatological care. His vulnerability in sharing his own experiences resonated deeply with the audience, underscoring the power of personal connection in driving impactful innovation. Keith's unwavering commitment to making timely and effective care a reality for patients left us all feeling motivated to tackle challenges with purpose and empathy.
  

• Samit Khalsa, the Founder and CEO of Penseum, offered a captivating look into the world of EdTech and the incredible journey of scaling a high-growth startup. Samit shared practical insights into navigating rapid expansion, building a strong team, and staying true to the core mission while embracing significant growth. His story served as a powerful reminder of the potential for technology to transform education and the exciting possibilities that come with bold vision and relentless execution.
  

• Finally, the evening culminated in a highly anticipated fireside chat with Andrew D'Souza, the former founder of Clearco and the current Founder of Boardy. Andrew, known for his insightful and often unconventional perspectives, shared invaluable takeaways for those wrestling with the question of whether they have what it takes to build. He candidly discussed his own journey, including the genesis of the idea for Boardy, offering a refreshing and honest look at the often-messy reality of entrepreneurship. His message was clear: self-doubt is normal, but passion, resilience, and a willingness to learn are essential ingredients for taking the leap and building something meaningful.

The Biggest Takeaways:

• You don’t have to be built for entrepreneurship, you just have to be crazy enough to try and build something

• Don’t be afraid to create something that’s never been done before

• If you have a gut feeling and are told you are “crazy”, you’re probably onto something

We're already buzzing with ideas for our next TechTO event and can't wait to bring you more opportunities to connect with the brightest minds in our ecosystem.

Last night was a testament to the vibrant and dynamic tech community we have here in Toronto. The energy, the ideas, and the genuine connection amongst attendees were truly inspiring.

Check out what some of the attendees had to say:

WHAT’S NEXT AT TECHTO? 👀

We have some BIG names gracing our stages across our upcoming vertical events. Here’s why you should be excited about who is joining us.

April Dunford, product positioning champion and author of Sales Pitch and Obviously Awesome will be leading the charge at our sales event on May 20. If you struggle to pitch your product or company, this is the talk you need to hear

Alex Baker, Managing Partner at Relay Ventures, will be sharing investor knowledge and insights at our Travel event on May 21. If you are looking for great perspective or just to get in front of one of the top VC's supporting today's Founders, this is your chance.

Michael Millar, a health tech legend, and Founder of Verto Health, will offer invaluable insights on the health tech space and share how he is advancing care and access for Canadians and the world. If you're curious about the space, and want to learn from one healthcare's most brilliant minds, join us in person at our Health event on June 9.

Keep up with all upcoming events TechTO has to offer, including everything we’re doing for Tech Week

ANNOUNCEMENT

The TechTO team is growing…

We are excited to welcome Megha Kandoi to the TechTO team as our new Community & Membership Director.

We’re thrilled to welcome Megha to the team in a role dedicated to supporting our members with the resources they need to grow and succeed, while also building strategic partnerships with the mentors, partners, and organizations that drive our ecosystem forward. Megha is a true champion of the startup community, and we’re excited to bring her energy, expertise, and bold vision for Canadian tech to our mission.

Join us in giving her a warm welcome—and meet Megha in person at an upcoming in person event.

Check out the full announcement below:

COMMUNITY

Explore all our Tech Week events including opportunities to apply to attend some of our more intimate curated content opportunities at TechTO HQ.

Today, we're highlighting a standout event from Tech Week that’s a must-attend for anyone interested in the art—and challenge—of building globally competitive companies from within Canada.

In collaboration with TiEQuest, this event will feature some of the most influential voices in tech, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. Together, they’ll share hard-earned insights on what it takes to build, scale, and position world-class products from a Canadian base.

This event is stacked with LEGENDARY innovators and Founder from across tech including:

• Joanna Griffiths, Founder & President, Knix
  

• Jack Newton, CEO & Founder, Clio - Cloud-Based Legal Technology
  

• Carl Rodrigues, President & CEO, SOTI
  

• Neil Cawse, CEO & Founder, Geotab
  

• Avlok K.,CEO, AngelList
  

• Mallorie Brodie, CEO & Founder, Bridgit
  

• Michael Hyatt, Investor & Entrepreneur. Current Executive Chairman, DataStealth.io
  

• Matt Golden, Founder & Managing Partner, Golden Ventures
  

• Prashant Matta, Managing Partner, Panache Ventures
  

• Ron Benegbi CEO & Founder, Uplinq Financial Technologies
  

• Benjamin Bergen, President, Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs (CCI) 
  
  
  
  

The full-day Summit is happening at MaRS Discovery District on the Thursday (jUNE 26) of Toronto Tech Week.

PARTNER CONTENT

Badal.io continues to make waves in the Canadian tech scene! 

Last year, we were honoured to be named Google Cloud’s Canadian Partner of the Year – Services and claimed the #1 spot on Canada’s Top 100 Startups to Watch.

And the momentum continues — We're thrilled to share that we've been recognized as #3 on the Top 100 Startups to Watch list this year

These achievements reflect the dedication and vision of our team, our strong partnership with Google Cloud and TELUS, and the trust our clients place in us to deliver transformative results-whether it’s powering digital health breakthroughs or scaling mission-critical infrastructure across Canada’s most regulated sectors.

A huge thank you to our team, partners, and customers who believe in what we’re building every day. Your trust powers our innovation. 

From empowering some of the most regulated industries with secure cloud solutions, to scaling data strategies that drive real business results — we’re not slowing down.

Here’s to bold ideas, bigger goals, and another year of transforming the cloud landscape in Canada.

*this is sponsored content

INTERESTING READS 📚

• Why the lean startup is dead
  

• Accelerators vs. Incubators. What is the better choice for your startup?
  

• Why AI is the new social media
  

• The ultimate guide to securing your ideal comp

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 📆

• Sales Toronto, Tuesday, May 20 at 6:00pm — REGISTER HERE
  

• Travel Toronto, Wednesday, May 21 at 6:00pm — REGISTER HERE
  

• WEB SUMMIT: Vancouver Demo Day + WebSummit Social, Tuesday, May 27 — REGISTER HERE
  

• Health Toronto, Monday, June 9 at 6:00pm — REGISTER HERE
  

• The Summer Social, Wednesday, June 25 at 6pm — REGISTER HERE
  

Check out our full Tech Week Calendar here

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