The Elevate CIX Summit 2025 will be held on March 26 at Toronto’s Design Exchange, promising a key opportunity for Canadian tech startups and the broader ecosystem. The one-day event will feature discussions on industry challenges, investment trends, and growth strategies.
This year’s summit, condensed into a single day, maintains a familiar format. Opening remarks will be delivered by Laura Lenz from OMERS Ventures and Prashant Matta from Panache Ventures, focusing on the current state of the Canadian tech industry, including venture capital investments.
A series of pitch showcases will highlight startups at various stages:
- The Emerging category will spotlight promising businesses, notably including SXSW competition winner Xatoms, a Toronto-based water-sanitation startup.
- The Early category will feature young, high-potential startups like insurance-automation newcomer Quandri.
- The Growth category will showcase established, rapidly-scaling firms such as Float and Summit Nanotech.
Among the headlining speakers, Clio founder Jack Newton will receive the CIX’s Innovator of the Year award, sharing insights from building his legaltech brand. Vitaly Pecherskiy, CEO of StackAdapt, will discuss the adtech firm’s recent $235-million USD ($337 CAD) investment round from last month.
Panel discussions will explore various critical topics. These include the implications of the US’s trade policies and their impact on Canadian economic independence. Another panel will examine how Canada can capitalize on the situation to draw diverse talent. Other sessions will cover deep tech, regulation, proptech, semiconductors, and fintech.
A new-for-2025 Investor Forum, hosted by Kim Furlong, CEO of the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA), will provide a private session for high-profile investors. Additionally, there will be founder roundtables and dedicated meeting exchange blocks for startups and investors.
To facilitate networking, BetaKit and TechTO are co-hosting an official afterparty at the Scotland Yard Pub, where attendees can continue to have helpful conversations. Entry requires a CIX badge and advance reservation.
