Invest Ottawa

🎉 Who’s Ready to Deck the Halls with Innovation? 🎉 The IO Ignition Cohort 25 Pitch Finale is bringing together some of the brightest minds and boldest startups! Here’s your sneak peek at the incredible lineup of founders taking the stage: 🎤 Alfa Hamilton 🎤 Capital Intelligent Investment & Innovation – Founder: Walid Abdel Gelil 🎤 Cleer.io – Co-Founders: Kian Tabesh, Petar Slatinac 🎤 Diraya Inc. – Founder: Mohammed El Amine Amoura 🎤 Dressmate – Founder: Shadrack Msuya 🎤 Faro – Founder: Michael Ieradi 🎤 Fetch My Gems Inc. – Founder: Hassan Ihouzaine 🎤 YOUR KITCHEN AI (Keetonet Inc.) – Founder: Korinne Angela White 🎤 KidzLog – Founder: Peter O. Oliha 🎤 Marketbridge Technologies, Inc. – Founder: Martin Laflamme 🎤 Ovenns – Founder: Robin Segal 🎤 Poppermint – Founder: Véronique Boton 🎤 SMART HARVEST – Founder: Emmanuel Henshaw 🎤 Squirrel – Founder: Kevin Mosekjaer 🎤 twobrains.ai – Founder: Ashley Evans 🎤 TwoHundredK Community – Founder: Tiancheng Chen 🎤 Urban Camel – Founder: Sienna Hermary 🎤 VRAI Technologies – Founder: Alexander Murray Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see innovation in action! Register now on Eventbrite to secure your spot. 🔗 https://bit.ly/48HSB05

Ottawa: Canada's "Bootstrap City" 🏙️ In a world where venture capital is often seen as the “make-or-break” factor for tech ecosystems, Ottawa is proving there’s another way. Nick Quain, VP of Venture Development at Invest Ottawa, shares how Ottawa has harnessed its “Bootstrap City” culture to build sustainable, resilient tech companies – even with less venture capital, by leveraging creativity, grit, and community support. 💪 As global tech shifts toward sustainable growth, Ottawa is perfectly positioned to lead. With the rise of no-code tools, generative AI, and a community of bootstrappers, the future looks bright. 📖 Check out our latest blog post to explore how Ottawa's “unknown superpower” is empowering founders to take their businesses to the next level, fostering innovation, resilience, and a supportive entrepreneurial network: https://bit.ly/4ejAjU4

🇨🇦🤝🇪🇪 Recap of the Canadian-Estonian Digital Transformation & Innovation Exchange! Yesterday’s event, hosted by Invest Ottawa and the Embassy Of Estonia, brought together #Canadian and #Estonian minds to spark new ideas in digital transformation and cybersecurity. Estonia’s remarkable evolution from post-USSR to a digital government powerhouse set the tone, showcasing how visionary tech strategies can reshape a nation’s governance. Their experience with digital ID systems and secure e-governance provided invaluable lessons. The event featured expert insights, impactful discussions on cybersecurity in digital infrastructure, and inspiring talks on collaborative opportunities between our nations. Proud to have been part of this conversation, where we explored how Canada can take lessons learned from Estonia’s digital journey to strengthen our own cyber-resilient future, but also be able to highlight local companies such as Bluink Ltd. and KLAVAN Physical and Cyber Security Services. Thank you! 👏 Namir Anani, P.Eng. 👏 Andres Raieste 👏 Hon. Minister Liisa Pakosta Justiitsministeerium | Ministry of Justice of Estonia 👏 Shaifa Kanji 👏 Margus Rava 👏 Sonya Shorey Here’s to more cross-border innovation and secure, digital growth! #CanadaEstoniaExchange #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #Cybersecurity #DigitalGovernment #Estonia #InvestOttawa #EstonianEmbassy #TechLeadership #EGovernance

🛰️Exciting times for Ottawa’s tech landscape!🛰️ We’re thrilled to spotlight Telesat, a leading Canadian space company making waves on the #global stage. Recently, the Invest Ottawa team had the incredible opportunity to visit Telesat’s stunning headquarters in #Ottawa. We toured their state-of-the-art command control center, explored fascinating Telesat artifacts, and witnessed firsthand the thriving environment powered by an #educated and creative workforce.👨🚀🧑💻 With its innovative #LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Lightspeed network, Telesat is revolutionizing connectivity across Canada and beyond🛸. Their high-speed, low-latency internet is enhancing communications for critical sectors like national security, Defence, telecommunications, and education, empowering communities and driving economic growth. Telesat’s commitment to #innovation positions it as a key player in the #space economy, attracting talent and investment to our region. We’re proud to support and celebrate homegrown champions like Telesat who are pushing boundaries and shaping the future of #connectivity. #InvestOttawa #SpaceTech #Telesat #LEO #EconomicDevelopment #OttawaTech Marwa Wazzi Jens-Michael Schaal Adam Dewar Ella Wiggins David Rodas-Wright Sienna Hermary Zakaria Ali Kirsten Sardelis Invest Ottawa Telesat Government Solutions

Unleash the power of AI for your business! Join us at TieCon Canada 2024 on November 8th to learn from top industry leaders! Dive into panels like "AI and Entrepreneurship" and "Ottawa’s Bootstrap Champions," plus live demos, bot-building workshops, and the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Awards. 🔗 Don't miss this opportunity to network and learn from some of the best in the industry! Register today: https://bit.ly/3YFPMt5 #AI #TiEConCanada #Entrepreneurship #Innovation

We recently had the privilege of hosting an incredible event in collaboration with the Embassy of Estonia, spotlighting the digital innovations driving Canada and Estonia forward. The evening featured insightful panel discussions, welcoming remarks from Sonya Shorey , President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, and a powerful exchange between experts, including Hon. Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Estonia’s Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs. The discussion focused on digital transformation, showcasing the latest advancements in both nations. 🤝 Attendees were also treated to the opening of the exhibition, “Why Estonia? From the USSR to e-Estonia”, which highlighted Estonia’s remarkable journey as a global leader in digital government services, startups, and innovation. We’re proud to have hosted this event at Cours Bayview Yards, further positioning our facility as a central hub for global innovation and collaboration. 👉 Learn more about the Global Expansion Program: https://bit.ly/3UH2SEi

🚨 Only 1 week left until the Immigrant Founder Launchpad Pitch Finale! 🚨 Join us on November 12 at Cours Bayview Yards for an exciting event where immigrant founders will showcase their groundbreaking ideas and compete for $25,000 in equity and non-dilutive funding prizes! 🌍💡 Co-presented by Invest Ottawa and Maple Bridge Ventures, this is your chance to witness the next wave of impactful businesses, hear fresh perspectives on solving global challenges, and connect with Ottawa’s thriving startup community. Whether you’re an investor, business leader, or passionate about innovation, this is an event you won’t want to miss! 📅 Date: November 12, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM 📍 Location: Bayview Yards, 7 Bayview Station Road, Ottawa 🎟️ Register today: https://bit.ly/4eMH6ad Come support immigrant founders as they drive growth and create new pathways to success!

It’s time to “Ask Erin!” Erin, why is downtown Ottawa the right home for Advanced Symbolics Inc.? On Season 14 of Invested in Our New Reality, we’re interviewing Ottawa business leaders with offices in the downtown district and stakeholders driving revitalization efforts. Our latest guest is Erin Kelly, CEO of Advanced Symbolics Inc, the creators of the askpolly AI program famously known for correctly predicting Brexit. She is a long-time Ottawa resident, and the company’s offices are tucked into the busy ByWard Market neighbourhood. On this episode, she joins host Sam Laprade to discuss AI, their successful and growing company, and her thoughts on the good and the bad of their location and the untapped potential of downtown Ottawa. Listen now! 🎧 Season 14, Episode 5 is available on all platforms and at https://bit.ly/4fJNu27

At Invest Ottawa, we're dedicated to helping founders launch, grow, and scale successfully and impactfully. It is just one of the reasons we are so honoured to serve as a partner in TiECon Canada once again this year. I am thrilled to team up with my colleague Nick Quain, Vice President of Venture Development, for a special double hitter. We are excited to join Bharat Rudra, amazing founders, companies and partners at this flagship entrepreneurship conference hosted by TiE Ottawa: • Friday, November 8 • 8:30am-5pm • Richcraft Hall, Carleton University (my alma mater) We’re hosting two back-to-back sessions that strive to inspire, empower and equip founders on their entrepreneurial journey - no matter what path they choose. Session 1: Built to Last – Ottawa’s Bootstrap Champions 9:45AM-10:30AM Nick will lead an insightful panel exploring the world of bootstrapping, where resilience, grit, and resourcefulness drive growth. In a world where venture capital often takes the spotlight, these founders will share a different path to success. Join Ottawa’s top bootstrapped leaders as they share their journeys and the strategic choices that helped them scale sustainable businesses without external funding: • John Findlay – CEO, LemonadeLXP: Transforming training and engagement • Peter O'Blenis – CEO, DistillerSR: Automating research for faster insights • Mike Potter – Co-Founder & CEO, Rewind: Leading in SaaS data backups and restoration • Kenton White – Co-Founder & Chief Scientist, askpolly (who is graciously stepping in on behalf of Erin Kelly, Co-Founder and CEO): AI-powered customer feedback insights This session is packed with actionable strategies for every founder. Session 2: Disruptive Entrepreneurship - Visionary Investment for a Triple Bottom Line 10:30am-11:15am I’m honored to host a fireside chat with Laura Fox, Co-Founder of Streetlife Ventures and an inspiring advocate for sustainable, impactful investment. • Laura’s work spans urban innovation, climate tech, and creating ventures that prioritize economic, social, and environmental impact. • Together, we’ll discuss how visionary investment can shape a better future and support startups reimagining cities for sustainability. • Laura’s journey includes growing Citi Bike, guiding Sidewalk Labs, and advising on urban strategy—she’s a true trailblazer shaping the future of impact investment. If you’re passionate about building companies that matter, join us at TiECon Canada! Register now to secure your spot and be part of these inspiring conversations: tieconcanada.org #TiEConCanada #InvestOttawa #Entrepreneurship #ImpactfulGrowth #TripleBottomLine #OttawaTech #Founders #SustainableInnovation

This. This is one of my favorite days of the year. Register now and get ready for an unforgettable afternoon at the SheBoot Grand Pitch Finale: https://lnkd.in/ekY72TRq I can't wait to celebrate all the amazing founders who participated in SheBoot this year, and cheer them on as they take the stage to pitch their business! These entrepreneurs from Canada's Capital and across the country are changing the world - it's an honour to collaborate with them. Join me, Julia Elvidge, Jennifer Francis, Jane Baird, Katie LeClair, Mandy Potter and our collaborative community for this exciting event. It will be even more special this year - we are celebrating SheBoot's fifth anniversary. Heartfelt thanks to: • Every one of the 51 founders who have shared their entrepreneurial journey with us, and collaborate with us as invaluable members of Canada's SheBoot community • The dedicated teams at Invest Ottawa and the Capital Angel Network for helping get SheBoot off the ground in such a powerful way during our early years. We could never have scaled into a national, standalone non-profit organization without you. • Every single founder, investor, funder, coach, partner, sponsor, champion and ally who helped make SheBoot happen...this is dozens and dozens of amazing humans and visionary organizations. #Grateful Since SheBoot’s inception in 2020: • 51 founders have graduated from the SheBoot program. • 46 women angel investors, both new and experienced, have joined the SheBoot Investment Group. •The SheBoot Investment Group has invested over $1 million in SheBoot graduate companies. • SheBoot graduates have gone on to raise more than $20 million (the value permitted to be shared publicly) in new investments. Thank you all for making this possible - we can't wait to achieve even greater things together with, and for, women founders from every walk of life. Join us on November 12 to experience the excitement live and in-person, and learn more at sheboot.ca