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Canadian Tech in 100 Words

Elevate

Elevate Rebrands as Nrth

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Elevate has rebranded as Nrth, expanding beyond its annual Toronto festival into a year-round platform for Canadian founders and business leaders. CEO Lisa Zarzeczny unveiled the new name during opening night of the 2026 festival, which immediately became Nrth Festival. Since launching in 2017, the organization has welcomed more than 89,000 attendees.

Beginning in 2027, Nrth plans more frequent events, programs connecting startups with customers and investors, technology-adoption initiatives, and research on Canada’s innovation economy. The nonprofit says the shift reflects a new challenge: helping Canadian companies turn innovation into stronger businesses, productivity, competitiveness, and economic growth at greater scale.

Want to know more? Check out the source code here.

Elevate Returns With Sovereign Focus

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Elevate Festival returns to Toronto September 22 to 24 for its ninth year, marking the growth of Canada’s homegrown tech and innovation gathering into a national platform.

This year’s lineup includes Kyle Lowry, Cohere Canada’s Michael Pelosi, Xanadu founder Christian Weedbrook, Clio founder Jack Newton, Borrowell co-founder Eva Wong, Dominion Dynamics CEO Eliot Pence, Reddit communications chief Adam Collins, DuckDuckGo product chief Beah Burger-Lenehan, and ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski.

Programming will focus on AI, fintech, autonomous vehicles, stablecoins, cybersecurity, and Canada’s sovereign technology future, including a new Sovereign Growth track developed with DMZ and BDC for founders, investors, and operators.

Want to know more? Check out the source code here.

Canada’s Premier Tech and Innovation Festival, Elevate, Returns for Fifth Annual Event

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Elevate Festival, Canada’s largest homegrown tech and innovation event, is back for its fifth annual gathering from September 26-28 in Toronto.

This year’s lineup features prominent speakers such as Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Lisa LaFlamme, Ayesha Curry, Chris Hadfield, Angelica Ross, and more.

Elevate offers diverse content tracks covering AI, cybersecurity, gaming trends, fintech, and the future of work. New additions include Masterclasses, Impact Tracks focusing on social impact, and Elevate Goes Late for networking and after-party fun.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, professional, investor, or startup founder, there’s something for everyone at Elevate Festival.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on BetaKit.

Firehood & Elevate Unveil Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator Startups

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Angel network The Firehood and nonprofit Elevate have introduced the inaugural cohort of their Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator, aiding women in tech.

Notable participants include funded companies like Ora Medical, Permalution, and PragmaClin. Ora Medical raised $300,000 at Startupfest, backed by The Firehood and others. Permalution took home $100,000 from Firehood’s Women in Tech award, while PragmaClin secured $20,000.

The eight-week program aims to bolster Canadian women’s access to venture capital through workshops, mentorship, and Elevate’s tech conference pitch opportunity. This initiative aligns with the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy’s Inclusive Women Venture Capital Initiative.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on BetaKit.