Every month our team compiles a list of startup and small business events in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario that we’re interested in attending and think will be useful to the startup and small business community.
Some of these events may fill up fast, so if you’re interested in attending please register quickly. Events are generally free of charge, unless a price is listed. If you’re hosting an event or come across one that you think should be included here, feel free to contact us with your suggestion.
Toronto Events
MaRS is where entrepreneurs get the help they need, where all kinds of people meet to spark new ideas, and where a global reputation for innovation is being earned, one success story at a time.The often-free events at MaRS are ideal for start-ups, science, technology and social entrepreneurs looking to make connections and learn more about a particular aspect of business.
Event: Unleash Your Communication Skills for Results
When: May 1, 2014, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Where: North York Central Library Auditorium, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
Event: Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Workshops – The B2B Sales Process
When:
Part 1 – May 6, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Part 2 – May 13, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Part 3 – May 20, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: MaRS, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON
Price: $100
This great informal social event in Toronto is perfect for anyone interesting in web development. People in the industry are able to gather along with both recruits as people in the web development start up community.
Event: Toronto Rails Pub Night
When: May 19, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Rhino, 1249 Queen Street West (Queen & Dufferin), Toronto, ON
Startup Drinks
Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.
Featured Event: Startup Drinks Toronto
When: May 28, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – late, startup pitches at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Hotel Ocho, 195 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Toronto Business Development Centre
TBDC is an independent non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to nurturing the growth of new and emerging businesses. The Centre has been recognized at home and internationally for achievements in the field of business incubation. Over the past twenty plus years, TBDC has helped more than 4500 businesses through our various programs.
Event: Michael “Pinball” Clemons Keynotes Ember’s Annual Speakers’ Forum
When: May 7, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Westin Harbour Castle Convention Centre
Price: $75 early bird price, $650/table of 8
The Toronto Board of Trade facilitates opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, business development, and city building. It is the authoritative voice of Canada’s most prominent business community.
Event: Driving Change through Innovation and Collaboration
When: May 12, 2014, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Toronto Region Board of Trade, Downtown Centre
Price: $79 for members, $99 for non-members
Waterloo Region events
Founded by a group of dedicated entrepreneurs in 1997, Communitech is Waterloo Region's hub for the commercialization of innovative technologies. Over the years, they have supported and helped build a tech cluster of nearly 1,000 companies that now generates more than $30 billion in revenue.
Event: Hub for Grub – Deloitte Presents: Tax Issues for Startup Technology Companies
When: May 1, 2014, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Communitech Hub – EBC Room, 151 Charles Street West, Kitchener, ON
Event: Tech Leadership Conference
When: May 29, 2014, 7:30 a.m.
Where: Bingemans Conference Centre, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr, Kitchener, ON
Price: $125 for Communitech Network members, $175 for non-members
Startup Drinks
Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.
Event: Startup Drinks Waterloo
When: May 6, 2014, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Chainsaw, 28 King Street North, Waterloo, ON
Halton Events
HalTech is the leading source of support and personal service for tech and advanced manufacturing entrepreneurs in Halton. They assist Halton’s entrepreneurs and technology companies with developing their ideas, commercializing their products/services and establishing and expanding their businesses.
Event: N2K Marketing: Growing Your Business with Social Media
When: May 30, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Where: Sheridan College, Trafalgar Campus, C Wing, Room C111, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville, ON
Silicon Halton organizes a number of events throughout the year in the region Halton which including Burlington, Oakville, and Milton. Their monthly meetups and Peer2Peer has three main components; a key notes presentation, a get to know a member presentation, and time set out for networking. These events are catered to anyone at a startup – especially in the tech industry – that want to learn more about business best practices.
Event: Meetup #55: Canada’s New Anti-Spam Legislation
When: May 13, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: Burlington Hive, 429 Elizabeth St, Burlington, ON
Hamilton Events
Innovation Factory helps advance Hamilton's innovation community and serves as an inspiring, expert resource for entrepreneurs that fosters connections across the community and accelerates growth.
Event: Sales Peer2Peer
When: May 7, 2014, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Road South Hamilton, On
Event: The Big Dif
When: May 8, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: The Atrium at McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Road South, Hamilton, ON
Event: KPMG Lunch ‘n Learn: Using Market Research To Build Your Business
When: May 13, 2014, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Road South, Hamilton, ON
Software Hamilton was created with the aim of uniting the Greater Hamilton software community. Software Hamilton organizes several monthly events including DemoCamp Hamilton and Startup Drinks. They operate under the belief that software development is a creative skill which can provide relatively clean, high-paying jobs with work that can make the world a better place to live.
Event: Hacker Saturdays
When: May 10 & 24, 2014, 1:00 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Radius Cafe, 151 James Street South Hamilton, ON
Startup Drinks
Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.
Event: Startup Drinks Hamilton
When: May 14, 2014, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta Street 2nd Floor, Hamilton
Niagara Events
Software Niagara was started in 2012 with the goal of organizing technology and startup events to build a community that fostered innovation and excellence in the Niagara region.
Event: Coffee & Code – Coworking
When: May 5, 19, 26, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: FueledMinds, 1 St. Paul Street, Suite 303A, St. Catharines, ON
Startup Drinks
Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.
Event: Startup Drinks Niagara
When: May 28, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Mahtay Cafe, 241 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON
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