On October 20th, 2022, Startup Canada hosted its flagship event Startup Day, where we gathered entrepreneurs, government representatives, and private sector partners from across Canada to discuss the state of entrepreneurship and the trends for the future. Over 1,200 people from 242 cities across Canada attended in-person and virtually to this exciting event. Did you miss out on the day? Keep reading to see some of the highlights.
1) Panels
The day was filled with insightful panels with top tier speakers. From entrepreneurs, to government representatives, and private sector leaders, we heard from a diverse range of perspectives on topics such as building an inclusive ecosystem, the impact of the pandemic on small businesses, and the future trends in entrepreneurship. To watch any of our panels, check out our full event recording of the day here.
2) Startup Global 2022 Pitch Competition
During the day, 11 of our Startup Global pitch competition finalists took the stage to compete for $30,000 (1st place), $15,000 (2nd place), and $10,000 (3rd place) to grow their businesses. After a tough deliberation from the judges, Julia St. Amand from RetinaLogik took home first place followed by Bronwyn Bridges from PragmaClin taking home second, and Stephanie Tien from Arbre taking home third. To see the full announcement, click here.
3) Exhibitor Booth
Throughout the day, 24 entrepreneur support organizations from across Canada set up in our exhibitor area to showcase their services and how they support entrepreneurs. From startup legal services to government support and export services, there was something for everyone regardless of their stage of business.
4) Startup Communities
Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. But did you know that we have a grassroots network of over 40 Startup Communities across all of Canada and various industries? These local chapters help connect you with other entrepreneurs in your area as well as regional support and resources. Several of these communities were in attendance at Startup Day, strengthening their relationships with their community members. Interested in seeing which community you can join? Check out our list of chapters here.
5) Parentpreneur Lounge
Finally, our last highlight was our parentpreneur lounge hosted by Mixing Babies And Business™ supported through our Community Empowerment Fund presented by UPS, Mastercard, and BDC. This was a dedicated space for caregivers and their families at the event to support working parents who were interested in attending the event. This parent-friendly space was designed for pre-school aged kids and had toys to support parents if bringing their child to the event. It was also an opportunity to network with other working parents to share tips and lessons learned.
Startup Day Photos
Do you want to see more highlights and photos from the day? Check out our photo album to see some of the panelists, attendees, exhibitor booths, and more!
Wrap-up
Whether you attended in-person or virtually, we hope you enjoyed Startup Day 2022 and left feeling inspired and empowered with the connections you made. Do you want to be the first to know when early bird tickets are available for Startup Day 2023? Sign up to our mailing list to not miss out. We hope to see you next year!