TechTO

 is where the boldest founders, sharpest investors, and most innovative industry leaders collide. 

From unfiltered VC insights to game-changing startup pitches, this event is th

 stage for those shaping what’s next in tech and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re here to learn, invest, or compete, expect big ideas, real talk, and a high-stakes pitch competition.

, we shine a spotlight on the bold entrepreneurs who are creating world-class companies from coast to coast - and scaling them to global markets.

 is a rallying cry for founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders who believe in the power of Canadian ingenuity, diversity, and resilience to solve global challenges.

Joanna Griffiths, Founder & President, Knix. 

Thinking Global From Day One a conversation with 

Benjamin Bergen, President at Council of Canadian Innovators

Keynote presentation on The GeoTab Journey by 

 John Ruffolo, Founder & Managing Partner at Maverix Private Equity. 

 Upasana Sharma, President at TiE Toronto

Founders Building In Canada for The World, Panel featuring 

Ron Benegbi,CEO & Founder, Uplinq Financial. 

VCs Investing In Canada a panel featuring 

Matt Golden, Founder & Managing Partner, Golden Ventures

Prashant Mata ,Managing Partner, Panache Ventures; 

 Michele Romanow, Serial Entrepreneur, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman Clearco, Dragon on Dragons' Den. 

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

 Alex Norman, Partner at N49P and Co-Founder of TechTO

Carl Rodrigues, President & CEO of SOTI. 

Michael McDerment,  Co-Founder & Board Chair at FreshBooks. 

 Bharat Rudra, Former President at TiE Ottawa

Our VC's Investing in Canada panel will be hosted by, 

 – Entrepreneur, Investor, and Scale-Up Strategist

Michael Hyatt is a serial entrepreneur, celebrated investor, and trusted voice in Canada’s tech ecosystem. Best known as the co-founder of BlueCat—acquired for over $700M—Michael has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies and now helps others do the same.

 and a frequent advisor to top startups and scaleups, Michael brings sharp insight into what it takes to grow a business, lead through uncertainty, and think like an owner. He’s also a founding partner at the Hyatt Family Office, backing ambitious entrepreneurs across North America.

Whether you're just getting started or scaling your second venture, Michael’s perspective is a masterclass in focus, grit, and long-term thinking.

, Matt has focused on startups his entire career. He has been engaged in all aspects of building and guiding disruptive companies from their very early stages.

, one of the earliest micro venture capital funds, with the goal of supporting early stage founders in their journey of realizing their vision and potential. Many funds later, Matt brings the same excitement when meeting founders building transformative technology companies. Matt previously 

led deals at BlackBerry Partners Fund and Brightspark Ventures

. Matt cut his entrepreneurial teeth as a 

, a mobile games publisher and content deployment technology and services provider. Tira became a recognized industry leader in both mobile games publishing and content deployment. Matt is trained as a lawyer, specializing in business technology, financial services and M&A at Osler, one of Canada’s premier law firms. He has an LLB / MBA from the University of Ottawa, and a BA in Economics from York University.

 and data analytics. His passion for innovation, AI, IoT, and sustainability has driven 

Geotab’s exponential growth, reaching millions of subscriptions across 150+ countries

. Under his leadership, Geotab empowers businesses with insights to enhance safety, efficiency, and environmental impact. Neil’s entrepreneurial vision and commitment to technology continue to shape the future of fleet management and connected mobility, positioning Geotab at the forefront of 

digital transformation in transportation.

, a construction technology company transforming how contractors manage projects and resources. 

, a lightening fast food delivery service. Because of Mr. Kohli’s leadership and Fastbite’s incredible value to customers, 

Square (led by Jack Dorsey, Founder / CEO of Twitter) acquired Fastbite

 a few months since launch and has since integrated it into Square's own delivery product as "Fastbite by Caviar". Avlok Kohli also plays an active role in other rapidly growing technology companies as 

global platform improving credit access for small business owners

scale Canada’s fastest-growing tech company

. Inspired by his immigrant roots, he founded Uplinq to address the barriers small businesses face in 

, featured in podcasts and industry publications, known for his candid perspective on the challenges and opportunities in entrepreneurship. 

, leading brands in intimate apparel and activewear. She 

pioneered the leakproof underwear category

, transforming the lives of millions globally. In 2022, Joanna made history with the 

largest publicly disclosed sale of a private Canadian company by a solo female founder when Essity acquired 80% of Knix

. She holds an MBA from INSEAD, multiple patents, and 

, has spearheaded efforts to educate the legal community on the security, ethics, and privacy issues surrounding cloud computing, and has become a 

 on these topics. Jack has set a mission for himself and Clio to transform the practice of law, for good, and for over a decade, his commitment has been unwavering. Jack’s tremendous vision has already made a deep impact on one of the world’s oldest professions. 

of Canada’s fastest growing homegrown technology scale-ups. CCI is focused on optimizing the growth of Canada’s innovation-based sector, and 

Benjamin leads the execution of its ambitious economic development agenda

Carl Rodrigues, is the President and CEO, SOTI, 

a global leader in Enterprise Mobility Management. From a basement startup in Mississauga, Canada, he built SOTI into a multi-billion-dollar company with zero venture capital – an extraordinary achievement in today’s tech space. For over 25 years, Carl has transformed his vision into a global enterprise, growing SOTI to over 17,000 customers across 170 countries, building a network of 6,500+ partners and managing more than 22 million devices worldwide. With over 2,200 employees across 46 countries, SOTI supports major brands like McDonald’s, Trek Bicycle Corporation, American Airlines, iDC Logistics, Delivery Hero and more. Following 118+ quarters of consecutive profitability, Carl stands out for his long-term, customer-first mindset, creating solutions that automate workflows, reduce downtime and boost productivity. 

 and technology leader best known as the 

 built for small businesses. He founded FreshBooks in 2003 after accidentally overwriting an invoice, growing it into a global SaaS company serving over 30 million users. In 2016, McDerment 

 offering a unified API for commercial insurance distribution. He serves as 

, helping bridge insurance carriers with digital platforms to streamline policy quoting and binding. McDerment remains active in supporting entrepreneurs and scaling digital infrastructure for small business ecosystems. 

 which invests in visionary founders and helps them transform their ideas into successful high-growth companies. Prior to launching Panache Ventures, Prashant 

. He actively supports Canada’s startup ecosystem 

as a board member at CVCA and Junior Achievement

venture capital program director for Executive Education at the Schulich School of Business

is a leading Canadian businessman and entrepreneur. He's the Founder and Managing Partner of 

, focusing on technology-enabled growth. Previously, John founded and led 

, investing in over 40 tech companies including Shopify. He also co-founded the 

 and was a Global Thought Leader at Deloitte. His impactful career has earned him numerous accolades, recognizing his significant contributions to Canada's innovation and economic landscape.

 is a highly successful serial entrepreneur, investor, and "Dragon" on CBC's hit show 

, having invested over $5 billion into thousands of entrepreneurs globally. Known for her innovative approach and passion for empowering founders, Michele has been recognized as one of 

"Young Global Leader" by the World Economic Forum

. She's a dynamic speaker who shares invaluable insights from her journey in building multiple successful companies.

strong background in technology and venture capital

held leadership roles at Element AI and Real Ventures

, focusing on AI, IoT, and FinTech investments. Omar also has experience as a consultant at Accenture and McKinsey, and has co-founded businesses. He also teaches in UBC's EMBA program.

, the publication of record for Canadian tech and innovation. She began her career as a journalist with leading Canadian newspapers and 

has held senior advisory roles for both an Ontario Premier and the Mayor of Toronto

, a Toronto incubator dedicated to scaling high-performing technology companies. She is a compelling communicator with extensive experience at the highest levels of government, media, and the private sector.

If you would like to know more about our partners, please visit:

An extra big thank you to our venue partner 

We are officially part of Toronto Tech Week 2025, a weeklong citywide collection of events to connect and celebrate the builders. June 23 → June 27, 2025 | 

TiEQuest Summit 2025: Building in Canada for the World