Fintech Meetups Toronto

🦞 OpenClaw Hack Toronto Students - Win Internships and Mac Minis

Toronto AI agent hackathon: build, deploy, transact on-chain. Mac Mini prizes, internships, mentorship, free food. Apply to get in: 👉 [https://luma.com/2bntw4vd](https://luma.com/2bntw4vd "https://luma.com/2bntw4vd") **The Vision** ​We’re bringing the **OpenClaw** and **GOAT Network** stack to Toronto students for a one-day vibe coding sprint with the support of the **CanCode** grant program from the **Government of Canada**. Your mission: Build an AI agent that doesn’t just talk but owns its identity, manages its own wallet and transact with other agents. Leverage Bitcoin’s 99.9% uptime and BitVM2’s mathematical security (viat GOAT) to build agents that handle high-value transactions with zero human oversight. ​ **🏆 The Stakes** ​We aren't giving out stickers and socks. We are giving away **Mac Minis** to the top-performing teams to power your future AI development. We also are looking for the bright minds to join our team and our partner projects as an interns to continue developing what they started at the hackathon. We also will be mentoring and helping those who would like to develop their hackathon projects further as their own startups. ​ **🚀 The Challenge** ​Deploy a "vibe-coded" autonomous agent using: * ​**OpenClaw:** The brain and framework. * ​**ERC-8004:** On-chain identity (Give your agent a soul). * ​**x402:** Agent-native payments (Let your agent get paid). * ​**GOAT Network:** The infrastructure for the agent economy. ​ **📅 Event Details** * ​**When:** 10 am \- 9 pm \|\| March 28 2026 * ​**Where:** George Brown College (exact address will be posted). * ​**Who:** University students * ​**Perks:** Fuel provided (Pizza, snacks, and drinks) + On-site technical mentorship. ### ​ ### **🏆Prizes** * ​Mac Mini + internship opportunities + entrepreneurship opportunities ​​ 🍕 **Food & drinks are on us** — snacks and drinks will be served throughout the event. ​​ **11:00 AM** — 🚀 Doors close. Hacking begins! ​​**11:00 – 11:15 AM** — Welcome & Kickoff ​​ ## ​**​🔧 Workshop Track** ​​11:15 – 11:45 AM \| Why we are building this ​​​11:50 AM – 12:10 PM \| ClawUp \+ Messengers \(Telegram\, Slack\) ​1​​2:10 – 13:20 PM \| Build on GOAT Testnet 3 — Deploy an 8004 & x402 ​​Go from zero to a live, AI-powered transaction on GOAT Testnet fully vibe-coded. ​​**Getting started:** 1. ​​Register on 8004 — link and instructions in the onboarding checklist 2. ​​Confirm your registration on the [GOAT Dashboard](https://goat-dashboard.vercel.app/?utm_source=luma "https://goat-dashboard.vercel.app/?utm_source=luma") 3. ​​Use the Telegram Bot Onboarder to set up your x402 merchant payment 4. ​​Watch live demos and join the idea brainstorming session ## ​**​🛟 Support** ​​You're never stuck. Here's who to reach out to: * ​​**GOAT support team** is available in person and across both Telegram channels throughout the event ## ​**​🔨 13:20 – 6:30 PM \| Build Time** ​​Heads down. Ship something real. Prizes announced mid-session — stay tuned. ## ​**​🏁 6:30 PM \| Submissions Close** ## ​**​🎤 6:40 PM \| Demo Time** ​​Each team gets **3 minutes** to present. Everyone who wants to demo gets a slot — just keep it sharp! ​​After demos, judges have **15 minutes** to deliberate, then prizes are announced live. 🏆 ​​Physical prizes handed out on-site.**​** ## **🎉 Socials** ​​We'll wrap up with open hang time — meet the builders, the GOAT team, and the community. Stick around! ### **Let's get started!** Apply to get in: 👉 [https://luma.com/2bntw4vd](https://luma.com/2bntw4vd "https://luma.com/2bntw4vd")

OpenClaw Toronto Hackathon

Apply to get in at https://luma.com/2bntw4vd The Vision We’re bringing the OpenClaw and GOAT Network stack to Toronto students for a one-day vibe coding sprint with the support of the CanCode grant program from the Government of Canada. Your mission: Build an AI agent that doesn’t just talk but owns its identity, manages its own wallet and transact with other agents. Leverage Bitcoin’s 99.9% uptime and BitVM2’s mathematical security (viat GOAT) to build agents that handle high-value transactions with zero human oversight. 🏆 The Stakes We aren't giving out stickers and socks. We are giving away Mac Minis to the top-performing teams to power your future AI development. We also are looking for the bright minds to join our team and our partner projects as an interns to continue developing what they started at the hackathon. We also will be mentoring and helping those who would like to develop their hackathon projects further as their own startups. 🚀 The Challenge Deploy a "vibe-coded" autonomous agent using: OpenClaw: The brain and framework. ERC-8004: On-chain identity (Give your agent a soul). x402: Agent-native payments (Let your agent get paid). GOAT Network: The infrastructure for the agent economy. 📅 Event Details When: May 26 2026 during the Toronto Tech Week Where: Toronto Metropolitan University (exact address will be posted). Who: University students Perks: Fuel provided (Pizza, snacks, and drinks) + On-site technical mentorship. 🏆Prizes Mac Mini + internship opportunities + entrepreneurship opportunities 🍕 Food & drinks are on us — snacks and drinks will be served throughout the event. 11:00 AM — 🚀 Doors close. Hacking begins! 11:00 – 11:15 AM — Welcome & Kickoff 🔧 Workshop Track 11:15 – 11:45 AM | Why we are building this 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM | ClawUp + Messengers (Telegram, Slack) 12:10 – 13:20 PM | Build on GOAT Network mainnet — Deploy an 8004 & x402 Go from zero to a live, AI-powered transaction on GOAT mainnet fully vibe-coded. Getting started: Register on 8004 — link and instructions in the onboarding checklist Confirm your registration on the https://goat-hackathon-2026.vercel.app/ Use the Telegram Bot Onboarder to set up your x402 merchant payment Watch live demos and join the idea brainstorming session 🛟 Support You're never stuck. Here's who to reach out to: GOAT support team is available in person and across both Telegram channels throughout the event 🔨 13:20 – 6:30 PM | Build Time Heads down. Ship something real. Prizes announced mid-session — stay tuned. 🏁 6:30 PM | Submissions Close 🎤 6:40 PM | Demo Time Each team gets 3 minutes to present. Everyone who wants to demo gets a slot — just keep it sharp! After demos, judges have 15 minutes to deliberate, then prizes are announced live. 🏆 Physical prizes handed out on-site. 🎉 Socials We'll wrap up with open hang time — meet the builders, the GOAT team, and the community. Stick around!

TiEQuest Summit 2026 | May 25, 2026

🎟 **This is a paid event. Tickets must be purchased on Luma.** **Get yours: [https://luma.com/tiequest-2026](https://luma.com/tiequest-2026)** #### TiEQuest Summit 2026 - Building in Canada for the World A morning of big ideas, honest conversations, and real momentum, right in the heart of Toronto Tech Week. **🧠 What to Expect** Sharp talks and practical insights from founders, operators, and investors who are actually doing the work. No fluff, just the real story of what it takes to scale ambitious companies from Toronto to the world. **🤝 Who's in the Room** Founders at every stage. Operators building something meaningful. Investors looking for what's next. If you're shaping the future of Canadian tech, you belong here. **📍 Where** U of T Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, one of Canada's most exciting hubs for tech and entrepreneurship. **📅 Monday, May 25, 2026** **⏰ 8:30AM – 12:30PM** **📍 108 College St, Toronto, ON**

TechTO Summer Social | May 27

**🎟 This is a paid event. Tickets must be purchased on Luma. Get yours:** [luma.com/techto-summer-social-may-27-2026](https://luma.com/techto-summer-social-may-27-2026) TechTO is BACK with its annual Summer Social at Bobby Bermuda's Sunset Bar. 🌊 **The setup** 600 people. Tacos. Drinks. Sunshine on Toronto's waterfront. One of the most coveted outdoor venues in the city. Need we say more? 🤝 **The crowd** Founders, operators, investors, and builders from across Canada's tech scene - all in one place, all in a good mood. This is the event where real connections get made. 🌮 **What's included** Every ticket comes with food and one drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Just show up and make it happen. 📍 Bobby Bermuda's Sunset Bar (formerly The Slip), 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto 📅 Wednesday, May 27, 2026 · 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Toronto Tech Mixer and Social (Tech / AI / Data / IT) ✨

Whether you're a seasoned tech veteran or just starting out, let's create the ideal afterwork place to meet and chill with other workers in tech - find that new job, expand your network, share ideas, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry. Let's inspire, innovate, and shape the future of technology in Toronto! Tech, AI, Data, IT, and more \~ ​ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Event Details 💰 Cost: Free 🍺🥃 Afterwork drinks and social 📍 The Goodman Pub and Kitchen (Inside, or ask for Tech Social) - 207 Queens Quay W 🕕 6:00pm onwards every Friday ​ **Or RSVP on the website for our Discord / WhatsApp communities, and to see who else is going and what their backgrounds/seniority/interests are:** 🔗 [Link to Website](https://techsocialtoronto.com/event/meetup) ​ If you cannot find us, ask staff about Tech Social, or ask in the WhatsApp community above. ​ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Who Should Attend? Perfect for **Toronto tech professionals** including: * **Software Developers & Engineers** (Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, React, Node.js) * **Data Scientists & Analysts** (Machine Learning, AI, Data Visualization, SQL) * **Cybersecurity Professionals** (InfoSec, Ethical Hacking, Cloud Security) * **Product Managers & Tech Entrepreneurs** * **Students & Tech Graduates** looking to break into tech * **Career Changers** entering tech industry * **Remote Workers & Digital Nomads** in Toronto * **Startup Employees & Entrepreneurs** * **Digital Marketing & Product Professionals** * **Senior Engineers** looking to mentor and network \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### What You'll Experience * 🤝 **Network with Toronto tech community** * 💼 **Job opportunities** and referrals from peers * 🚀 **Career acceleration** through peer networking * 🎯 **Skill sharing** and tech discussions * 🧠 **Knowledge sharing** on latest tech trends * 🎉 **Social activities** and games * 🧠 **Learn from peers** about real-world challenges * 🚀 **Collaborate** on projects and ideas * 🎯 **Mentorship connections** (both ways!) * 🍻 **Fun, casual atmosphere** \- no matter your seniority level \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ### Event Guidelines * Support the venue by purchasing drinks/food (no outside items allowed) * Maintain appropriate behavior and respect for all attendees * Bring physical ID if required by venue (call ahead to confirm) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ​ ​ *Toronto Canada tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup software development machine learning python javascript professional networking career development it professionals developers mentorship ai sql analytics data engineering business intelligence deep learning tensorflow pytorch data visualization data analysts ml engineers Toronto Canada tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup software development machine learning python javascript professional networking career development it professionals developers mentorship ai sql analytics data engineering business intelligence deep learning tensorflow pytorch data visualization data analysts ml engineers*

OpenClaw Toronto Hackathon

Bitcoin Bay Sauga Meetup

Join us in person to discuss Bitcoin & cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology and more. Meetup with other community members to learn, build, collaborate on projects and more. IN-PERSON LOCATION: Chuck's Roadhouse Westdale Mall, 1151 Dundas St W Mississauga ON L5C 1C9 Join our[ Bitcoin Bay WhatsApp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/0HBLzxrIlUuE5E928DOHe9) for more online discussions \*\*\* When you have a moment please read the original Satoshi Nakamoto Whitepaper, that started it all: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/bitcoin \*\*\* About Bitcoin Bay: Welcome to Canada's longest-running Crypto Community. Our mission is to grow the Crypto Ecosystem globally – beginning from our home base in Canada. Bitcoin Bay is a starting point for your crypto journey. If you have something to share, you can find an interested audience. Looking to learn? you can find a great source of knowledge. Do you have a brilliant idea? You could find the perfect partners!

Fundraising in 2026: Panel & Mixer

What does fundraising look like in 2026? The capital landscape has shifted. The "growth at all costs" era is over, replaced by a focus on sustainable unit economics, AI-driven efficiency, and strategic resilience. Whether you are raising a pre-seed or gearing up for a Series A, the rules of the game have changed. Join Startup Grind Toronto on May 28th at Startuptive for a tactical deep dive into the current state of venture capital. We’ve assembled a powerhouse panel to give you a 360-degree view of the fundraising journey: Swish Goswami (CEO and Founder, Stealth Startup, formerly Head of Growth @ Boardy, CEO of Surf) breaks down how to leverage modern growth tactics and AI to build the traction that investors can't ignore. Kayli Smith (Co-Founder & CEO of Friendlier) shares the raw, "boots-on-the-ground" experience of successfully raising capital and scaling a circular economy startup in today’s evolving economy. Miryam Lazarte (Founder & CEO of Global Startups Accelerator; General Partner, GSA Ventures): Offers a unique dual perspective as both an accelerator leader and a venture capitalist focused on global scale. Wael Jabir (Moderator | Chief of Staff at Hustle Fund): Represents an early-stage venture firm investing in "hilariously early" startups. Wael brings insights from Hustle Fund’s massive 600k+ media ecosystem and their 2,600-member global angel community. This isn't just a panel; it’s a masterclass in modern storytelling and financial strategy. Come for the insights, stay for the high-energy mixer with fellow founders, beer, and pizza. The Agenda: 6:00 PM: Doors Open & Pre-Event Networking 7:00 PM: Fundraising in 2026: Panel Discussion & Q&A 7:45 PM: Founder & Investor Mixer (Pizza & Beer provided) Stop pitching like it's 2021. Come learn how to win in 2026. About Our Venue Partner Startuptive is a collaborative coworking community designed for ambitious founders, remote teams, and independent professionals. We offer flexible workspace options, high-speed internet, curated events, and a supportive environment that helps you focus, connect, and grow your business. Whether you’re launching your first startup or scaling your next big idea, Startuptive is where productivity meets community. Sponsor Highlight Deel is the all-in-one global HR platform helping companies hire, pay, and scale international teams from day one — no local entities required. From onboarding contractors and employees in 150+ countries to running compliant payroll in 100+ currencies, Deel simplifies global hiring, HR, equity, and equipment management through one centralized platform — so founders can focus on building, not paperwork. As part of the Startup Grind community partnership, eligible new clients can access up to $5,000 in Deel credits through Startup Grind Toronto. Learn more: Startup Grind x Deel Credits Agenda --- Hosted By Ankur Sethi, Director Ankur Sethi is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with over 17 years of experience building and scaling consumer businesses across technology, finance, and healthcare. He has led ventures from inception to over $350 million in annual revenue and $2 billion in valuation, combining operational excellence with a deep understanding of evolving consumer behavior. Daria Tilikanova, Co-Director Daria Tilikanova is a business and startup coach who helps founders and service-based entrepreneurs build scalable businesses with clear strategy, strong positioning, and predictable revenue systems. Originally from Russia, she founded and sold two education companies before moving to Canada, where she shifted into full-time mentoring for early-stage and growing founders. Daria has worked with 200+ entrepreneurs across tech, education, wellness, and agency-based businesses, guiding them from first clients to stable growth and team building. Alongside her private practice, she is a Venture Fellow at Winner Capital, supporting startup evaluation and founder readiness for investment. Her coaching combines business structure, mindset work, and execution clarity - helping entrepreneurs grow without burnout or chaos. Lydia Emanuel, I run a consultancy that focuses on Talent Strategy and Operations for fast-moving companies. Instead of just hiring people, I build the systems that help businesses scale without the chaos. I also lead Events and Sponsorships for Startup Grind Toronto, connecting the best brands to our local tech community. Diana Subbotkina, I help grow the Toronto startup ecosystem through Startup Grind Toronto, connecting founders, investors, and operators through curated events, partnerships, and community initiatives. My work focuses on bringing the right people into the room and creating opportunities for meaningful connections and growth. Shabs Badsha, Sukanta Goswami, Inquisitive entrepreneur connecting and collaborating with earlystage ventures by investing time and energy in bringing new ideas and concepts to the market. --- Global Partner Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind) Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com. Partners Startuptive (https://startuptive.com/) Startuptive is a collaborative coworking community designed for ambitious founders, remote teams, and independent professionals. We offer flexible workspace options, high-speed internet, curated events, and a supportive environment that helps you focus, connect, and grow your business. Whether you’re launching your first startup or scaling your next big idea, Startuptive is where productivity meets community. Winner Capital (https://winner.capital) Winner Capital is an early stage to growth stage syndicate fund investing across North America --- Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-toronto-presents-fundraising-in-2026-panel-amp-mixer/.

Everyone’s a Builder Now: AI Across Product, Engineering & Security

🚨👉 To RSVP for this event, head to our [Luma event page](https://luma.com/sbd5tsj6). RSVPs are intentionally closed on Meetup.👈🚨 [https://luma.com/sbd5tsj6](https://luma.com/sbd5tsj6) To stay up-to-date with our latest events, please subscribe to our luma calendar here: [https://luma.com/techtank](https://luma.com/techtank) **Everyone's a builder now.** PMs are shipping prototypes. Marketers are building tools. Sales reps are automating their own workflows. Everyone's a builder now, and the velocity is real (but also insane). So is the sprawl of AI tools, data, and decisions happening across every function. Join us for a candid conversation with **[Kyle Lacy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/)** (CMO), **[Scott Peacock](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sptechnology/)** (SVP & Head of Product), and **[Nitin Chopra](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitinnitin/)** (CIO & CISO) of the **[Docebo](http://www.docebo.com?utm_source=meetup&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=ai_panel_june1)** leadership team about what AI is actually doing inside companies, the leverage, the risks, and the roles quietly reshaping around it. Whether you're building AI into your work or just trying to keep up with the pace of change around you, this one's worth showing up for. *** ## About the Panelists **[Kyle Lacy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/)** is the Chief Marketing Officer at Docebo. He drives global brand strategy, demand generation, and go-to-market execution, and has spent nearly two decades building and scaling high-growth software companies. **[Scott Peacock](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sptechnology/)** is the SVP & Head of Product at Docebo. He leads the vision, strategy, and execution of Docebo's product portfolio, blending technical depth with go-to-market alignment and deep customer empathy. **[Nitin Chopra](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitinnitin/)** is the CIO & CISO at Docebo. With over 15 years of experience in technology and cybersecurity, he leads the strategic development of IT and cybersecurity strategy, focusing on reliable, scalable, and secure SaaS solutions. *** ## Event Sponsor This event is sponsored by **[Docebo](http://www.docebo.com?utm_source=meetup&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=ai_panel_june1)**. Docebo (TSX: DCBO, NASDAQ: DCBO) is an AI-powered learning platform helping organizations train employees, customers, and partners at scale. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Toronto, Docebo combines advanced AI capabilities with an intuitive platform to deliver personalized learning experiences across a wide range of industries and audiences worldwide. Docebo is hiring in the Toronto area! Check out open positions **[here](www.docebo.com/careers?utm_source=meetup&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=ai_panel_june1)**.  *** ## Venue Partner Our venue partner for this event is **[BrainStation](https://brainstation.io/)**. BrainStation is a global leader in digital skills training and workforce transformation. Founded in 2012, BrainStation has certified over **35,000 professionals** and worked with some of the largest companies in the world through cutting-edge digital skills training delivered online and in person from campuses in **New York, London, and Toronto**.  *** ## Important Notes for RSVPs **RSVP Commitment** ​If you RSVP and can no longer attend, please update your RSVP at least 24 hours in advance. No-shows may affect your ability to attend future TechTank events. ​​ **Photography & Video Disclaimer ​** By attending, you acknowledge that photos and/or videos may be taken and used for future promotional content. If you’d prefer not to be included, please inform the TechTank organizers when you arrive. ​​ *** ## About TechTank **[TechTank](https://www.techtankto.com/)** is a Toronto tech community bringing developers, designers, product managers, and builders together through talks, workshops, and community events. Join our vibrant community for the latest updates and continued discussions: [https://linktr.ee/techtankto](https://linktr.ee/techtankto)  *** **Interested in Supporting TechTank?** If you or your company are interested in sponsoring a TechTank event or supporting the community, we’d love to hear from you. 📩 **Email us:** [techtankto@gmail.com](https://techtankto@gmail.com)

Cortex Code (CoCo) hands-on lab

🚨📢 **Please register using this link:** 👉 https://usergroups.snowflake.com/e/mwgfby/ **Bring your laptop fully charged. No prior CoCo experience needed.** Join the Snowflake Toronto User Group for **CoCo Labs** — a hands-on evening dedicated to **Cortex Code (CoCo)**, Snowflake's AI coding agent that takes data teams from natural language to production-ready code. ​You'll get a live demo from Snowflake SMEs, guided hands-on lab time, and the chance to build real things: fix a data pipeline and create your first Cortex Agent — all through conversation with CoCo. Wrap up the night by showcasing what you built (only for the brave!), then stick around for networking and happy hour. A light meal and refreshments will be served. **Agenda 🗓️** ​5:00 – 5:15pm - Arrival and check-in ​5:15 – 5:30pm - Welcome + Cortex Code Overview ​5:30 – 5:45pm - Account sign-up and set up of Cortex Code ​5:45 – 6:30pm - Cortex Code Workshop * ​Diagnose a stale pipeline, fix it, and onboard new sources * ​Build your first agent: enable business users to ask natural language questions on our data ​6:30 – 7:00pm - Explore Cortex Code on your own ​7:00 - 7:20pm - Brave Soul Showcase ​7:20 - 8:00pm - Networking & Happy Hour

Breakfast Masterclass @ Goodmans LLP: Venture Financing and Term Sheets

Hear from Kathleen Chan (Founder and CEO at Calico), Jonah Midanik (Managing Partner at Forum Ventures) and Goodmans Partner, Danielle Levesque, as they share their experience of venture financing as a founder, investor, and lawyer to growing technology companies. This session is curated specifically for Seed+ founders and active venture investors looking to navigate their next funding round. The Agenda: 8:30 AM: Arrival & Networking 9:00 AM: Keynote Masterclass 10:00 AM: Refreshments & Networking The Perks Spend the morning with a founder, investor and lawyer who have extensive experience with venture financing. Network with a select group of growth-stage peers and institutional investors - high-level conversation without the noise is guaranteed! Enjoy refreshments provided by our hosts at Goodmans. Secure your seat to master your venture capital strategy. Agenda --- Hosted By Ankur Sethi, Director Ankur Sethi is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with over 17 years of experience building and scaling consumer businesses across technology, finance, and healthcare. He has led ventures from inception to over $350 million in annual revenue and $2 billion in valuation, combining operational excellence with a deep understanding of evolving consumer behavior. Daria Tilikanova, Co-Director Daria Tilikanova is a business and startup coach who helps founders and service-based entrepreneurs build scalable businesses with clear strategy, strong positioning, and predictable revenue systems. Originally from Russia, she founded and sold two education companies before moving to Canada, where she shifted into full-time mentoring for early-stage and growing founders. Daria has worked with 200+ entrepreneurs across tech, education, wellness, and agency-based businesses, guiding them from first clients to stable growth and team building. Alongside her private practice, she is a Venture Fellow at Winner Capital, supporting startup evaluation and founder readiness for investment. Her coaching combines business structure, mindset work, and execution clarity - helping entrepreneurs grow without burnout or chaos. Lydia Emanuel, I run a consultancy that focuses on Talent Strategy and Operations for fast-moving companies. Instead of just hiring people, I build the systems that help businesses scale without the chaos. I also lead Events and Sponsorships for Startup Grind Toronto, connecting the best brands to our local tech community. Diana Subbotkina, I help grow the Toronto startup ecosystem through Startup Grind Toronto, connecting founders, investors, and operators through curated events, partnerships, and community initiatives. My work focuses on bringing the right people into the room and creating opportunities for meaningful connections and growth. Shabs Badsha, Sukanta Goswami, Inquisitive entrepreneur connecting and collaborating with earlystage ventures by investing time and energy in bringing new ideas and concepts to the market. --- Global Partner Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind) Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com. Strategic Goodmans LLP (https://Www.goodmans.cq) Canadian Corporate Law Firm Partner Winner Capital (https://winner.capital) Winner Capital is an early stage to growth stage syndicate fund investing across North America --- Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-toronto-presents-breakfast-masterclass-goodmans-llp-venture-financing-and-term-sheets/.

Reverse Pitch Night @ Smart & Biggar

Tired of being the one in the hot seat? We’re flipping the script. On May 26th, Startup Grind Toronto is heading to the Smart & Biggar offices for a Reverse Pitch Night. We’ve invited a panel of active investors to step up to the mic and pitch you. Who should be in the room? Venture-scale Founders: Especially those in the "build and scale" phase looking for the right capital partners. Founders Navigating a Raise: If you’re preparing a term sheet or refining your pitch, come see how the other side thinks. Deep Tech & Product Innovators: Founders building IP-heavy products who need to bridge the gap between innovation and legal defensibility. The Tech Ecosystem: Investors and builders looking to connect during the height of Toronto Tech Week. What you’ll take away: Watch top-tier VCs reveal their 2026 thesis—what industries and stages they are actually betting on right now. Gain insights into the legal foundations of a successful scale-up, from corporate structure to navigating venture deals. Learn how to treat your intellectual property as a strategic asset that drives your valuation. Direct access to the partners at LaBarge Weinstein and Smart & Biggar alongside Toronto’s leading founders and investors. Agenda 5:00 PM: Drinks, Pizza & Networking 5:45 PM: Reverse Pitches & Q&A 6:30 PM: More Networking About Our Partners Smart & Biggar: Canada’s leading intellectual property firm, dedicated to helping innovative companies protect and maximize the value of their IP assets on a global scale. LaBarge Weinstein: A premier boutique law firm specializing in the startup lifecycle, from venture capital financing to high-profile M&A and IPOs. Stop guessing what investors want. Come hear them pitch it to you. Agenda --- Hosted By Ankur Sethi, Director Ankur Sethi is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist with over 17 years of experience building and scaling consumer businesses across technology, finance, and healthcare. He has led ventures from inception to over $350 million in annual revenue and $2 billion in valuation, combining operational excellence with a deep understanding of evolving consumer behavior. Daria Tilikanova, Co-Director Daria Tilikanova is a business and startup coach who helps founders and service-based entrepreneurs build scalable businesses with clear strategy, strong positioning, and predictable revenue systems. Originally from Russia, she founded and sold two education companies before moving to Canada, where she shifted into full-time mentoring for early-stage and growing founders. Daria has worked with 200+ entrepreneurs across tech, education, wellness, and agency-based businesses, guiding them from first clients to stable growth and team building. Alongside her private practice, she is a Venture Fellow at Winner Capital, supporting startup evaluation and founder readiness for investment. Her coaching combines business structure, mindset work, and execution clarity - helping entrepreneurs grow without burnout or chaos. Lydia Emanuel, I run a consultancy that focuses on Talent Strategy and Operations for fast-moving companies. Instead of just hiring people, I build the systems that help businesses scale without the chaos. I also lead Events and Sponsorships for Startup Grind Toronto, connecting the best brands to our local tech community. Diana Subbotkina, I help grow the Toronto startup ecosystem through Startup Grind Toronto, connecting founders, investors, and operators through curated events, partnerships, and community initiatives. My work focuses on bringing the right people into the room and creating opportunities for meaningful connections and growth. Shabs Badsha, Sukanta Goswami, Inquisitive entrepreneur connecting and collaborating with earlystage ventures by investing time and energy in bringing new ideas and concepts to the market. --- Global Partner Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind) Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com. Partners Smart and Biggar (https://www.smartbiggar.ca/) Winner Capital (https://winner.capital) Winner Capital is an early stage to growth stage syndicate fund investing across North America LaBerge Weinstein (https://www.lwlaw.com/) --- Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-toronto-presents-reverse-pitch-night-smart-amp-biggar/.