After two years glued to our screens, staring at streams and unmuting Zoom, it’s time for a Fresh Start. So our Startupfest 2022 creative brief was pretty simple: Build an unwebinar. We’ve engineered everything about the event to get you moving, talking, and rebuilding those networking muscles.
The “Big Picture” Agenda is an overview of what’s happening when, so you can start planning your stay in Montréal and make the most of your time here. Between the Tent Village, morning keynotes, expert mentorship, and investment opportunities, Startupfest is jam-packed with unbeatable networking and word-class content over the course of three days. And we’ve spent the last year building technology to make the conference better than ever!
Your pass gives you access to the whole event, from when doors open Wednesday, July 13th at noon until Friday, July 15th at 5pm when we wrap. Find more details on each event in the legend below.
Legend
What we’ve got planned for you
Tent Village: July 13-15, 12PM-5PM
A familiar favorite is back. We pack the Tent Village with prizes, partners, and new ways to make meaningful connections. This village of more than 20 tents includes an accelerator zone, demo spaces, and our famous Grandmother Judges. Win prizes, hone your pitch, find advisors, and discover your next great partner here.
$100K ‘Best of the Fest’ Pitch Competition (open to all startups): July 13, 12PM-5PM & July 14, 1PM-3PM
Any startup attending Startupfest can pitch from the main stage for the chance to win our $100K ‘Best of the Fest’ prize. All you need to do is explain why you’re awesome in under a minute to move to the next round of this annual event. There is no application needed: Just show up and be ready to amaze our judges.
Networking Lounge & Activations: July 13-15
Our focus for 2022 is to get you back out there talking, connecting, and advancing your business. Our engineered serendipity includes scannable conversation starters, curated matchmaking, walking meetings, and lounges where you can kick back and relax with your peers.
Keynote Speakers: July 14 & 15, 10:30AM-12PM
At Startupfest, we work to bring you knowledge you can use. You won’t find celebrity speakers dropping soundbites; instead, you’ll get practical wisdom from founders who’ve done the hard work themselves. While we’re focusing more on engagement, we’re also welcoming some spectacular speakers to provide expert advice and share their real-world entrepreneurial experiences.
Investor ‘Ask Me Anything’
How do investors think? Many startups looking for money fail to get inside the minds of the investors they’re courting. Here’s your chance to ask investors anything you want (except “will you fund my company?”—that’s what the rest of Startupfest is for!) From how they became VCs, to what they look for in companies, to how to take advantage of their development programs, this is where you get your questions answered.
Top Startups on Stage ($100K ‘Best of the Fest’ Pitch Competition): July 14 & 15
The top ten startup finalists take the main stage for another round of pitches, going deeper into their stories in an attempt to seize the Startupfest ‘Best of the Fest’ prize. Before deliberations, the top startups will get grilled by our expert judges in a live Q&A.
Lessons from the Experts: July 15, 2PM-4PM
Take a look behind the scenes to learn from successful players in the startup ecosystem. From product to finance, we’re bringing you the experts you need to hear from to get the knowledge you didn’t know you needed.
Awards and Ceremonies: July 15, 4:30PM-5PM
To wrap up three epic days, our hosts and partners take the main stage to announce our competition winners! Who will the grandmother judges vote for? Who’s got the best pitch? Who will win the $100K investment prize and be crowned Best of the Fest? Drumroll, please!
Opening Cocktail Party: July 13, 5PM onwards
We’re kicking off Startupfest with a party to celebrate being together again under the Montréal sun, and to thank all of our wonderful attendees for what’s going to be an incredible three days.
Off-Events: July 14 & 15, 5PM onwards
While the main event is already packed with activities, some of our partners in the tech ecosystem run off-events in the evenings. Check back here for more details on what’s happening in the Old Port—but don’t stay out too late, as there’s more hustling to be done onsite!
