After two years online, bringing Startupfest back to an in-person format was an adventure. We questioned every part of a live event: What classics should we keep? What should we throw out? And perhaps most importantly, what new things had we learned online that could be adapted to the physical world? We’ve often detailed formats …
This year’s Startupfest featured some amazing prizes and opportunities for founders. Hosting an in-person event after two years of being apart meant we had to shake things up for a Fresh Start. Many things changed, from matchmaking to talk formats to the venue itself. And while we didn’t change the on-site funding awards that have …
Startupfest 2022 is all about meaningful connections and serendipitous interactions. That means less on-stage content, and more networking opportunities with fresh faces. And while Startupfest is always packed with smart attendees, fellow founders, and seasoned investors, this year we’re stacking the deck. We reached out to dozens of experts—including past speakers who are serial entrepreneurs …
If you could ask a question to the whole audience, what would you ask? We’re harnessing the wisdom of the crowds by crowdsourcing questions and answers from the audience. Each year Startupfest brings in hundreds of innovators and founders with a wealth of knowledge, all in one space. Here’s your chance to ask them a …
Continue reading “Hive Mind: Harnessing the wisdom of the crowds”
Think you know Startupfest? Think again. With over a decade of history driving the Canadian tech ecosystem forward, we have plenty of stories. Do you remember all the places the event has taken place around the city? Can you name some of our most well-known speakers? How many different “fests” have been part of the …
Startupfest this year is all about engineering serendipity. We’ve already explained how we’re using an unwebinar philosophy and the six archetypes of the startup world to build unexpected experiences throughout the event. Last week, we walked you through our Five Fresh Faces matchmaking algorithm, and today, we want to share a bit about how we’re …
Continue reading “Every great conversation starts with a question”
We all have our reasons for participating in startup events: To find investors, or companies to invest in. To connect with the perfect teammate, or an advisor who can give you a new perspective. To learn from experts, in an inspiring talk or an unexpected chat in a line. All too often, however, we don’t …
Continue reading “Five Fresh Faces: Nobel Prize-level Serendipity Engineering”
Note: Great news! We’ve added a fifth Due Diligence judge, and a new step in our funnel, for the 100K Best of the Fest prize this year. We’ve updated this post with more details. Startup pitch contests seldom peek beneath the surface of a founder’s story. In the short amount of time available to judges, …
What’s an unwebinar? Let’s start with all the things a webinar is: One-way, scripted, two-dimensional. It doesn’t have to be that way, of course: Since 2020, the team behind Startupfest have been redefining what’s possible online across many events we run—and helping music festivals, governments, and more create the best experiences they can online. But …
It takes a wide range of talents, and not a little luck, to build a successful startup. Beyond the internal team, there are board members, ecosystem players, investors, and experts in finance, law, and staffing. But a vibrant startup environment has six distinct archetypes: Hackers, hustlers, designers, analysts, investors, and advisors. The original trio: Hacker, …
