A Headline Shook Canadian Founders. Data Brought the Calm.

Last week, Canadian YC alumni spoke up.

After headlines sparked confusion across the ecosystem, we wanted clarity - not speculation.

So we at TechTO, led by Jason Goldlist, Alex Norman, and Megha Kandoi, surveyed 52 Canadian YC alumni in under 48 hours.

If you are navigating YC, fundraising, or where to build your company, this context matters.

Together YC Was One of Those Nights

Last night at Together YC, alumni did not just validate the data - they put real stories behind it.

Founders spoke openly about:

• building YC companies from Canada

• fundraising in Canada vs. the U.S.

• deciding when (and why) to incorporate abroad

• and what actually matters at the earliest stages

Before the main event, a small group of founders actively applying to YC’s Spring batch joined a focused pre-session to unpack what YC looks for, how to think about traction and narrative, and where strong applications quietly fall apart.

Then the room opened up.

Founders who have built, scaled, raised, and invested shared real lessons:

- Ivan Tsarynny - CEO & Co-Founder of Feroot (YC W21)
- Myra Arshad - Co-Founder & CEO of ALT TEX (YC S22)
- Ryan Marien - Co-Founder of BioRender (YC W18)
- Devon Galloway - Co-Founder & CTO at Vidyard (YC S11) and General Partner at Garage Capital

The Community Open Mic did what it always does - honest questions, thoughtful answers, builders helping builders.

Last week, alumni gave us clarity through data.
Last night, they gave it context through experience.

A big thank-you to Rootly for sponsoring this edition and supporting the founder ecosystem, and to MaRS Discovery District for hosting us in such an iconic space for Canadian innovation.

👀 OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH

Limited Capacity - Final Spots Remaining

Our upcoming NuSession: Engineering at Scale for 127M+ Customers is nearing capacity, with only a small number of spots remaining.

This curated, in-person session brings together senior engineers and technical leaders for a practical, peer-level conversation with Nubank’s engineering team on how large-scale systems are designed, operated, and evolved in high-growth environments. The discussion will go beyond theory, focusing on real-world trade-offs, reliability challenges, architectural decisions, and lessons learned while serving over 127 million users across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.

Attendees can expect meaningful technical insights, thoughtful discussion with experienced peers, and direct perspectives from teams operating at global scale.

Event details

📅 Tuesday, February 24
🕕 6:00-9:30 PM
📍 StartWell – Main Campus, Toronto

Attendance is limited to preserve the quality and depth of conversation.

🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS

• Sales Toronto 2026: Wednesday, February 09 @ 6:00pm - REGISTER HERE

• Together Vancouver: Thursday, February 19 @ 6:00pm (PT) - REGISTER HERE

• Health Toronto 2026: Wednesday, February 24 @ 6:00pm - EARLY-BIRD TICKETS HERE

• NuSession: Engineering at Scale for 127M+ Customers: Wednesday, February 24 @ 6:00pm - APPLY 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.

🤝 GET MORE WITH TECHTO

If you’re looking for more ways to connect with the tech world, our TechTO Membership is a great way to interact with others building in the space.

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.