As a founder, you have to navigate the startup ecosystem in ways that help you grow your company. Toronto has so much going on, and it’s incredibly noisy. This is especially the case for bootstrappers, as there’s a lot of blah blah in the ecosystem, fundraising this and fundraising that, and of course, the layoffs. This narrative dominates the ecosystem most of the time. Contrary to popular belief, these massive tech meetups in Toronto don’t deliver much value for founders. We need more value driven events in Toronto.
When it comes to going out there, you have to be selective with your time. One of the best networking tips out there is to always ask, “What’s your story?” instead of “What do you do for a living?”, which immediately puts people into pitch mode.
Here are some events to check out:
5. ConferenceX
If you love AI or are just curious about where it’s headed, ConferenceX is for you. Organized by University of Toronto students, this event aims to bring AI researchers and experts under one roof.
4. YNCN Career Fair University of Toronto
The University of Toronto hosts a strong fall career event that brings out top companies. Keep an eye out for the 2026 date.
3. University of Toronto Entrepreneurship Week
If you’re a University of Toronto student or alumni, be sure to take advantage of the programs and events offered by the university. When I was doing my undergrad, there was no such thing as a startup ecosystem. We had to build our own resources to grow our companies.
2. Techskis
This is something radically different. It’s not your typical conference. Techskis brings founders together in a very different environment. Organized by Jonathan Hillis and his team, it aims to help founders pause, reset, and refocus on what’s next.
1. Founders Collab
FoundersBeta is hosting an event for founders and talent called Founders Collab to bring the community together.
If you’re exploring more events in Toronto, check out Startup Events Toronto for all the listings. It’s the most up to date calendar of events. Are you attending any cool events? Let me know!
