Packed Schedules at Startup Fest
Startupfest 2024. Picture Tian Hui Wang.
Last week, I had the chance to attend the 14th edition of Startupfest. This event gathered startup entrepreneurs, investors, and partners from all over Canada, offering them an opportunity to share their ideas and network at the heart of Montreal’s Old Port. The event, spanning three days, incorporated a variety of events that packed my schedule with precious learning opportunities. Here’s a snippet of my time there!
The first day of Startupfest was arguably the busiest; participants filled the halls with energy right when the doors opened. A nutritious and diverse breakfast was provided, and free coffee was served all day. I had the chance to roam around and analyze the setup. There were many booths for registered startups and partners, with enclosed zones for potential investors to discuss with the startups. Bursaries were to be handed out at the end of the event, and the rest of the halls were packed with a pitch stage, colourful resting areas, a zen zone, and jury zones. One of those jury zones was composed of four grandmas that judge your product and business plan. Needless to say, the line for that jury was very long.
There were also other stages upstairs that were hosting guest speakers all day long. Subdivisions of the Startupfest, such as Hardtechfest and Oceanfest were also being held there. Investors and entrepreneurs could attend pitch sessions, panels and guest interviews. Topics ranged from pure venture capitalism to AI and truth-seeking, providing guidance and inspiration to the growing businesses that compose the backbone of the Canadian economy.
As Québec Tech (the founding company of Startupfest) mentionned, much like their company’s purpose (scaling high-growth technology startups into potential international businesses), Startupfest is there to help grow and scale businesses, which in turn directly grows Quebec’s entrepreneurial system and economy, and Startupfest offers the perfect environment to do so. It is packed with inspiring, young entrepreneurs as well as successful business owners and investors. This perfect networking event is combined with tons of learning experiences and fun.
If you happen to be a startup owner, registering for next year’s Startupfest is a must. If you are simply a student or someone interested in launching a business, volunteering for the event can also be a great opportunity to expand your horizons to figure out what your next step is going to be.
Startupfest took place from July 10 -12 in Montreal’s Old Port and the 2025 event is planned for July 9 -11. Details can be found HERE.
