Nick Zarzycki
Toronto’s weather is cooling, but the city’s business community is only heating up, thanks to world-leading vaccination rates and the return of thousands of jobs. As entrepreneurs and small businesses enter a new economy with new opportunities, Canada’s institutions are rushing to provide them with networking and fundraising events, as well as symposiums on cutting-edge trends.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur just starting out with a new idea, or a well-established business looking to add diversity to your supplier base — and everything in between — these business-community events are can’t-miss this fall.
Canada FinTech Forum
When is it: October 27–29
Why you should attend: Learn about new global trends in fintech and new applications of the technology for the financial industry. You can also meet high-potential fintech startups and network with established financial institutions, technology providers and other key players in the financial-services sector.
Cost to attend: Single ticket — $149; Package of 50 tickets — $5,000
2021 WBE Canada Conference
When is it: November 9 and 10
Why you should attend: WBE Canada brings together corporate and government leaders, procurement professionals and women-owned businesses to connect, inspire and celebrate achievements in supplier diversity. This year's conference will bring together champions from both sides of the diversity conversation to share what they’ve learned, the best practices that they’ve adopted and what we must do to mitigate future supply-chain crises, like the ones suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cost to attend: General public — $282.50; WBE Member — $226
AMA: Scaling Your Business into the U.S.
When is it: November 16
Why you should attend: Entering the U.S. market is a big priority for many local startups, but the hard truth is that most market entry efforts fail. In this conversation hosted by Kitchener-Waterloo’s Communitech, attendees will learn the most common mistakes that ventures make when pursuing a U.S. entry strategy — and learn useful tactics for avoiding them.
Cost to attend: Free
Founders & Funding: Relay Ventures
When is it: November 19
Why you should attend: TechTO’s Founders & Funding series sheds light on both sides of the fundraising process, sharing stories from both founders and investors. In this edition, attendees will hear from Relay Ventures managing partner Alex Baker about the untold stories of successful fundraising rounds, with first-hand accounts from the people in the room.
Cost to attend: Free
AAGEF Entrepreneur Challenge 2021
When is it: November 24
Why you should attend: Now in its seventh year, the AAGEF Entrepreneur Challenge gives Ontario-based entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their startup to a jury of investors and top executives for cash gifts, prizes and networking opportunities. (AAGEF Ontario represents more than 2,000 French Elite Graduate Schools alumni, living and working in Ontario, however this event is open to all startups and will be conducted in English.)
Cost to attend: Free
Synthetic Data for Health Symposium
When is it: November 25
Why you should attend: A.I. algorithms and intelligent systems could decrease the cost of supporting an aging population, spur the discovery of new therapies and improve patient management. But before that happens, barriers to data access and privacy must be addressed, and many scientists are turning toward generative models and synthetic datasets for innovative solutions to do so. At this symposium, Canadian and international experts will address the opportunities and challenges around the use and deployment of synthetic data in healthcare.
Cost to attend: Free
Plus, here are some more online events you might want to check out:
- The Globe and Mail presents Before the Breach: Cybersecurity Essentials for Canadian Businesses, October 14, online
- Strategies to Protect Your Intellectual Property, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, October 19, online
- Small Business Big Growth, Halifax Chamber of Commerce, October 22, online
- The Vector Institute’s Computer Vision Symposium, October 27, online
Looking to get more exposure? Get your upcoming event featured in a future roundup by submitting it to our events calendar.