Startupfest: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
“It is the annual gathering at which entrepreneurs, investors, makers, large enterprises, industry veterans, and startup communities chart the course of technology entrepreneurship in a one-of-a-kind festival atmosphere.”
- Next edition
- Jul 7–9, 2027 · Startupfest 2027 source
- Where
- Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal (2026), Montréal, Canada source
- Format
- in-person · 3 days (2026)
- Tickets
- $324.50 CAD (2027)–$1,049 CAD (2027) across the published schedule; the lowest Priority offer is closed. Displayed Early Bird checkout amounts are $470.42 CAD (2027)–$753.27 CAD (2027), with taxes and fees. source
- Startup pass
- $470.42 CAD with taxes and fees at the displayed 2027 Early Bird checkout; the registration page also lists $389.40 (2027) in its Early Bird price schedule and $649.00 (2027) as the Final Startup Ticket price. source
- Startupfest Village investment-prize pitches and Startup Showcase
- The 2026 programme included $100k Best of the Fest (convertible-note investment, plus an Osler Startup Package valued at $5,000), $100k Women in Tech, Black Entrepreneur, 2SLGBTQIA+, Fintech, Canadian Impact and Dual-Use/Sovereign Tech prizes; additional grants and awards are listed above. The 2027 homepage advertises $1M+ in prizes (2027), without category-level details. source
- Cadence
- Annual; July editions in 2025, 2026, and 2027
GeneralistAIFintechClimateHealth & biotechRoboticsPre-seedSeedGrowthFoundersInvestorsCorporatesPartners
Next edition
| Dates | Jul 7–9, 2027 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | Startupfest 2027 |
| Venue | Grand Quay, Montréal’s Old Port, Montréal, Canada source |
| Timezone | America/Toronto |
| Tickets | startupfest.com source |
Ticket tiers as published
| Tier | Price | Includes | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Ticket source | $324.50 CAD Priority (2027, closed); $389.40 CAD Early Bird (2027; checkout amount $470.42 CAD with taxes and fees); $549.00 CAD Standard (2027); $599.00 CAD June (2027); $649.00 CAD Final (2027). | Startupfest programme access as shown in the registration package matrix; the organiser lists networking and Demo Floor access, talks and pitch showcases, mentorship, networking activities, after-hours events, off-events, investor meetings and pitch/prize opportunities, with ticket-tier checkmarks varying. | 2027 |
| Ecosystem Ticket source | $474.50 CAD Priority (2027, closed); $569.40 CAD Early Bird (2027; checkout amount $682.56 CAD with taxes and fees); $749.00 CAD Standard (2027); $849.00 CAD June (2027); $949.00 CAD Final (2027). | Ecosystem Ticket access as marked in the organiser’s registration package matrix; the page also lists Accelerator Table and Startup Services Table add-ons at +$5,000 each (2027). | 2027 |
| Investor Ticket source | $524.50 CAD Priority (2027, closed); $629.40 CAD Early Bird (2027; checkout amount $753.27 CAD with taxes and fees); $949.00 CAD Standard (2027); $999.00 CAD June (2027); $1,049.00 CAD Final (2027). | Investor Ticket access as marked in the organiser’s registration package matrix. FundFest is for Investor Ticket holders (2026); the 2027 page lists Accelerator Table and Startup Services Table add-ons at +$5,000 each (2027). | 2027 |
How founders get in
Startupfest describes itself as a founder-focused festival built around funding, visibility, learning and connections. Its 2026 programme paired the Startupfest Village and pitch opportunities with practical content, mentor Office Hours, curated Match-Ups and Braindates, plus hosted cocktails and community-run off-events.
- For the next edition, Startupfest Montréal runs 2027-07-07 to 2027-07-09. A founder can register directly for a Startup Ticket on the official registration page; general attendance is ticket purchase, not an application.
- For a selected onstage Startup Showcase place, apply separately. The most recent published criteria (2026) were a live product or service (or deployed pilot), proof of traction, early revenue or strong usage growth, and readiness to raise or take on clients. The 2026 deadline was 2026-05-07; selected startups received an event ticket, stage pitch, Demo Floor table, mentor access and investor opportunities. A 2027 Showcase application has not been published.
- For Demo Floor space at the 2027 edition, the organiser currently invites startups to express interest; it says that is not yet a confirmed application and that it will follow up when selection opens. No Demo Floor fee is published.
| Startup programme | Buy/register for the Startup Ticket for general entry. The optional Startup Showcase is a separate selection application; the published application details are for 2026, and 2027 criteria and deadline are not yet posted. source |
|---|---|
| Startup price | $470.42 CAD with taxes and fees at the displayed 2027 Early Bird checkout; the registration page also lists $389.40 (2027) in its Early Bird price schedule and $649.00 (2027) as the Final Startup Ticket price. source |
| Includes | The registration page lists networking and Demo Floor access, keynotes, panels, fireside chats and pitch showcases, mentor access, networking activities, after-hours events, off-events, investor meetings and pitch/prize opportunities, with different access checkmarks by ticket tier. For the selected 2026 Startup Showcase, the organiser specifically included the event ticket, an onstage pitch, private pitch opportunities for up to $1M in prizes/grants/funding (2026), curated investor events, a Demo Floor table, mentors and promotion. |
| Eligibility | No stage or founding-date criterion is printed for the Startup Ticket. For the 2026 Startup Showcase, the organiser sought a live product/service or deployed pilot, proof of traction, early revenue or strong usage growth, and startups raising, about to raise or ready to take on new clients. No 2027 Showcase criteria are published. |
| Founder discounts | No founder-only discount is specified for 2027. The organiser displays an Early Bird offer across ticket types; it also offered subsidised Inclusion Initiative tickets in 2026 and an event ticket for selected 2026 Startup Showcase startups. These are distinct from a general founder discount. |
| Scholarships / free passes | The 2026 Inclusion Initiative provided subsidised tickets for female entrepreneurs, Indigenous innovators and diverse founders; applications for 2026 were closed, and the organiser directed people to its mailing list for reopening information. Separately, the 2027 volunteer programme offers free attendance after 8 hours of volunteering (2027). |
| Investor pass | Purchase/register for an Investor Ticket through the official ticket page. FundFest access is included for Investor Ticket holders (2026). source |
| Investor eligibility | The 2026 FundFest is for Investor Ticket holders and is designed for VC investment-team members, corporate venture arms, emerging managers, and Canadian, US and international funds; the organiser says active investors or fundraisers are likely to get the most value. No separate 2027 investor-pass qualification is published. |
| Application required | No, tickets are purchased |
Startupfest Village investment-prize pitches and Startup Showcase
| Prize | The 2026 programme included $100k Best of the Fest (convertible-note investment, plus an Osler Startup Package valued at $5,000), $100k Women in Tech, Black Entrepreneur, 2SLGBTQIA+, Fintech, Canadian Impact and Dual-Use/Sovereign Tech prizes; additional grants and awards are listed above. The 2027 homepage advertises $1M+ in prizes (2027), without category-level details. source |
|---|---|
| Format | For the 2026 Best of the Fest prize, any startup registered and attending could pitch Investor Judges without a separate application; judges shortlisted startups, finalists had a one-minute main-stage pitch and investor-judge Q&A, and the winner was announced at closing. The 2026 Startup Showcase was a separate application and selection process. The organiser has not published the 2027 competition format. |
Winners
- Agrogene Solutions (2026) — $100k Best of the Fest Investment Prize source
- LymeAlert (2026) — $100k Women in Tech Investment Prize source
- EN Solutions Hydro (2026) — $100k Black Entrepreneur Investment Prize source
- TissueTinker (2026) — $100k 2SLGBTQIA+ Investment Prize source
- Padder (2026) — $100k Fintech Grant source
- Finleaf Technologies (2026) — $100k Canadian Impact Investment Prize and a $25,000 Startup in Residence grant source
- 3dBioFibR (2026) — $100K Dual-Use and Sovereign Tech Investment Prize source
- ElleLogic AI (2026) — $25k Mistral Venture Partners Investment Prize source
- ElleLogic AI (2026) — $25k Impact Grant source
- OWI Labs (2026) — $10k Productivity Grant source
- MedMelanin (2026) — $10K BIZ Early-Stage Grant source
- Cotriply (2026) — $10K BIZ Growth-Stage Grant source
- ElleLogic AI (2026) — $20K BIZ Scale Grant (one of two awards) source
- ClassClown (2026) — $20K BIZ Scale Grant (one of two awards) source
- Kiwi Charge (2026) — Grandmother's Choice Award source
- LymeAlert (2026) — Audience Choice Award source
Judges
- Jeremy Edberg, Investor / Investor Judge source
- Cary Goldwax, COO at IONODES source
- Marty Kratky-Katz, Angel investor at Chaotic Good Ventures source
- Ryan Williams, Principal at Fiancé LLC source
- Jenny Faucher, Angel Investor / Investor Judge source
- Christopher Pyper, Angel Investor at Me, Myself, and I source
- Felicity Meyer, Investment Manager at BoxOne Ventures source
- Heather Adelson, Investor at Investments that Ignite source
- Frank Baylis, Executive Chairman at Baylis Medical Technologies source
- Andrea Nicholls, CFO at Dentons Canada LLP source
- Chris Emergui, Partner at MotherFood International source
- Melissa Allen, Managing Partner at Capital M Ventures source
- Owen Emergui, Marketing Coordinator at MotherFood International source
- Michael Dennis, Managing Director / Investor Judge source
- Steven Heidel, Member of Technical Staff at OpenAI source
- Barry Inouye, Investor at BMI Impact Assets Inc. source
- Albert Lam, Senior Product Manager at RBC Borealis source
- Brandon Teller, CEO & Co-Founder at ColdStart source
- Naoufel Testaouni, CEO & Co-Founder at QueerTech source
- Nima Jalalvandi, CEO at Ready Plan Go source
- Florencia Herra Vega, CEO, CTO at Toboggan Labs source
- Andrew Jackson, CEO at 5D Differentiation™ source
- Doreen Croll source
- Sonia Hazan source
- Merle Finkelstein source
- Louise Hébert Lalonde source
- Isabelle Hudon source
Meeting investors there
The organiser describes curated investor meetings and match-ups as ways to make founder-investor connections. MAIN facilitates the Startup ↔ Investor Match-Ups; founders can also use drop-in Office Hours and book topic-based Braindates. The organiser lists an Investor Lounge, while FundFest is restricted to Investor Ticket holders. source
| Investors attending | 25% of the audience (2026) source |
|---|---|
| Matchmaking | Braindate is the named platform for topic-based Braindates. The organiser names MAIN as facilitator of Startup ↔ Investor Match-Ups but does not name a separate app for those matches. source |
| Formats | Startup ↔ Investor Match-Ups: curated one-to-one meetings; MAIN says its team works with founders and investors to facilitate connections (2026). · Office Hours: drop-in access to founders, experts and investors; the organiser says there are no sign-ups or gatekeepers (2026). · Braindates: booked one-to-one or group knowledge-sharing conversations on participant-selected topics (2026). · Espace CDPQ Investor Lounge (listed in the 2027 ticket benefits). · FundFest: investor-only, half-day programme (2026); Investor Ticket required. |
Investor firms the organiser lists (2026 (latest completed edition; next announced edition: 2027, July 7–9))
Mighty CapitalTechstarsHustle FundNo Talking CapitalAlchemist AcceleratorStorytime CapitalWhite Star CapitalTwo Small Fish VenturesStandUp VenturesBKR CapitalAmplify CapitalReal VenturesBDC CapitalBoreal VenturesVenture Scientist FundOperator CollectiveAmiral VenturesActive Impact InvestmentsAgetech CapitalMistral Venture PartnersBoxOne VenturesChaotic Good VenturesFiancé LLCInvestments that Ignite
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Who speaks (2026 (latest completed edition; next announced edition: 2027, July 7–9))
- Harley Finkelstein, President · Shopify
- Misti Cain, Investor · Mighty Capital
- Georges St-Pierre, Professional athlete · Georges St-Pierre Enterprises
- Johnathan Nightingale, Co-founder · Raw Signal Group
- Andres Barreto, Managing Director · Techstars
- Melissa Nightingale, Co-founder · Raw Signal Group
- Marty Weiner, Founder and CTO; Former CTO · VerifyYou; Reddit
- Laurel Hess, Founder · Hampr
- Jake Karls, Co-founder & Rainmaker · Mid-Day Squares
- Andrew Lockhead, CEO · Stay22
- Christopher Slowe, Senior Technical Fellow; Former CTO · Reddit
- Haley Bryant, Partner · Hustle Fund
- Rene Caissie, CEO · Medeloop
- Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal · City of Montréal
- Sam Colby, Chief Operating Officer · Finalytics, Second Wind & TWENTY6
- Becky Wang, Operating Partner · Single Family Office
- Lianne Vineberg, Founder; Operating Partner · T6 Talent Partners; Maverix Private Equity
- Albert Ho, General Partner · No Talking Capital
- Shingai Manjengwa, Head of AI Education · Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Fatima Khamitova, Director, Startups · Vector Institute for AI
- Sylvain Perron, CEO · Botpress
- Christy Canida, Partner · Alchemist Accelerator
- Neil Grunberg, Managing Partner · Storytime Capital
- Dr. Theresa Johnson, Head of Product · Roblox Operating System (Enterprise AI)
- Tam Danier, Lead Solution Design Architect · Launch @ NTT Data
Full lineup: official speakers page.
Notable past speakers
- Peter Walker, Head of Insights · Carta (2025)
- Elizabeth Yin, General Partner & Co-Founder · Hustle Fund (2025)
- Andrew Filev, Founder & CEO · Zencoder (2025)
- Katherine Homuth, Founder · SRTX (2025)
- Dr. Theresa Lynn Johnson, Head of Product · Roblox Operating System (Enterprise AI) (2025)
Sponsors and partners
Presented by 16
The FirehoodRep MattersQueerTechDigital Commerce GroupApayloOutlier ComplianceOslerCIVICSpringAnges QuébecDMZ VenturesMistral Venture PartnersFonds de solidarité FTQBlack Innovation Zone (BFN Accelerate)Black Innovation Zone (Nobellum)Black Innovation Zone (BFN Scale)
Powered by 1
Desjardins
Partner 16
Government partners: City of Montréal
Full list: official partners page.
Startups there
Alumni the organiser highlights
- Onavo — The organizer quotes Guy Rosen saying that he pitched Onavo at Startupfest, won one of the top prizes, and later the company was acquired by Facebook. source
Programme
| Tracks | Zero to Product-Market Fit Track (2026) · Growth Track (2026) · M&A and Beyond Track (2026) · Office Hours (2026) · Workshops (2026) · AIFest (2026) · ImpactFest (2026) · Cooperathon (2026) · FundFest (2026) · Women in Technology BootCamp (2026) · CorpoFest (2026) · Startup Showcase (2026) source |
|---|---|
| Side events | The organiser’s 2026 Off-Events listing includes founder bootcamp, pitch and networking events, breakfasts, walks and evening gatherings; it notes that Off-Events are independently organised and community-run. The 2026 From Founder to CEO Bootcamp was a two-day pre-event programme for $1,599 CAD plus taxes and included a Startupfest ticket. No 2027 side-event schedule is published. |
| Hackathon | No Startupfest-branded hackathon is identified in the published 2026 main programme. The organiser’s 2026 Off-Events page lists an invitation-only “Hack Party” presented by 2389 Research; the page describes Off-Events as independently organised and community-run. |
| Volunteering | For Startupfest 2027, apply through the organiser’s volunteer page and complete its form. After review and approval, the organiser emails approved applicants to choose shifts. Volunteers who work 8 hours during the festival week (2027) attend the rest of the event for free. source |
| Languages | English, French |
| Official app | Startupfest |
| Hashtag | #Startupfest |
Past editions, as published
| Edition | Dates | Attendees | Investors | Startups | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 source | Jul 8–10, 2026 | — | — | Prize-awardee startups (2026): Agrogene Solutions (Best of the Fest); LymeAlert (Women in Tech and Audience Choice); EN Solutions Hydro (Black Entrepreneur); TissueTinker (2SLGBTQIA+); Padder (Fintech); Finleaf Technologies (Canadian Impact); 3dBioFibR (Dual-Use and Sovereign Tech); ElleLogic AI (Mistral Venture Partners, Impact Grant and BIZ Scale); OWI Labs (Productivity Grant); MedMelanin (BIZ Early-Stage); Cotriply (BIZ Growth-Stage); ClassClown (BIZ Scale); Kiwi Charge (Grandmother’s Choice). | recap · video |
| 2025 source | Jul 9–11, 2025 | — | — | Prize-winning startups (2025): mTatt (Best of the Fest and Audience Choice); Tydra Laboratories (Women in Tech); Serenity Power and Wosler (Black Entrepreneur); Ready Plan Go (2SLGBTQIA+ and Fintech); Aruna Revolution and TreeTracker (Impact Investment); HyC Light (Student Entrepreneur); ElleLogic AI, CELLECT Laboratories, BeBlended and Kare Chemical Technologies (Black Innovation Zone); TissueTinker (Impact Grant); Enda Technologies (Productivity Grant); New Grounds (Grandmothers’ Choice). | recap · video |
| 2024 source | Jul 10–12, 2024 | — | — | — | recap |
| 2023 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2022 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2021 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2020 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2019 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2018 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2017 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2016 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2015 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2014 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2013 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2012 source | — | — | — | — | |
| 2011 source | — | — | — | — |
Cities: Montréal (2011–2027)
Who attends
| Breakdown | 25% of the audience made up of investors (2026) source |
|---|---|
| Roles | Founders, Investors, Corporates, Partners |
| Stages | Pre-seed, Seed, Growth |
Official links and socials
Travel & apps
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to Startupfest Village investment-prize pitches and Startup Showcase.
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 7, 2026:
- apps.apple.com/ca/app/startupfest/id6746160375
- linkedin.com/company/startupfest
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.startup.mobileApp&hl=en_US
- facebook.com/internationalstartupfestival
- facebook.com/internationalstartupfestival/posts/and-the-winners-are100k-best-of-the-fest-investment-prizeagrogene-solutions100k-/1578840480468337
- instagram.com/startupfest
- startupfest.com
- startupfest.com/agenda
- startupfest.com/become-a-speaker-mentor
- startupfest.com/blog/727/2025-winners
- startupfest.com/blog/765/2026-winners
- startupfest.com/code-of-conduct
- startupfest.com/demo-floor
- startupfest.com/eventapp-prizes
- startupfest.com/faq
- startupfest.com/for-investors
- startupfest.com/for-media
- startupfest.com/for-startups
- startupfest.com/for-volunteers
- startupfest.com/grandmothers-choice-award
- startupfest.com/media-kit
- startupfest.com/opportunities
- startupfest.com/past-speakers-and-mentors
- startupfest.com/past-startupfests
- startupfest.com/register
- startupfest.com/session/2046/the-finals-100k-best-of-the-fest-investment-prize
- startupfest.com/session/2047/the-finals-100k-women-in-tech-investment-prize
- startupfest.com/session/2048/the-finals-100k-2slgbtqia-investment-prize-created-with-queertech
- startupfest.com/speaker/3028/tam-danier
- startupfest.com/speaker/3031/lianne-vineberg
- startupfest.com/speaker/3032/rene-caissie
- startupfest.com/speaker/3033/sylvain-perron
- startupfest.com/speaker/3034/becky-wang
- startupfest.com/speaker/3035/misti-cain
- startupfest.com/speaker/3036/haley-bryant
- startupfest.com/speaker/3041/andrew-lockhead
- startupfest.com/speaker/3043/weiner-marty
- startupfest.com/speaker/3045
- startupfest.com/speaker/3048/fatima-khamitova
- startupfest.com/speaker/3052/neil-grunberg
- startupfest.com/speaker/3056/theresa-johnson
- startupfest.com/speaker/3078/melissa-nightingale
- startupfest.com/speaker/3079/johnathan-nightingale
- startupfest.com/speaker/3135/hess-laurel
- startupfest.com/speaker/3136/ho-albert
- startupfest.com/speaker/3137/barreto-andres
- startupfest.com/speaker/3140/canida-christy
- startupfest.com/speaker/3167/slowe-christopher
- startupfest.com/speaker/3168/finkelstein-harley
- startupfest.com/speaker/3173/st-pierre-georges
- startupfest.com/speaker/3182/manjengwa-shingai
- startupfest.com/speaker/3226/karls-jake
- startupfest.com/speaker/3237/soraya-martinez-ferrada
- startupfest.com/speakers-and-mentors
- startupfest.com/startupfest-2024
- startupfest.com/startupfest-village-directory
- startupfest.com/the-event
- startupfest.com/the-event-2025
- startupfest.com/updates
- startupfest.com/venue
- startupfest.com/visiting-montreal
- threads.net/@startupfest
- youtube.com/c/Startupfest
- x.com/startupfest
Startupfest: frequently asked
When is Startupfest 2027?
Startupfest 2027 runs Jul 7–9, 2027 at Grand Quay of the Port of Montréal (2026), Montréal, according to the organiser's published dates.
How much does Startupfest cost?
Published ticket prices run $324.50 CAD (2027)–$1,049 CAD (2027) across the published schedule; the lowest Priority offer is closed. Displayed Early Bird checkout amounts are $470.42 CAD (2027)–$753.27 CAD (2027), with taxes and fees.. Startups: Buy/register for the Startup Ticket for general entry. The optional Startup Showcase is a separate selection application; the published application details are for 2026, and 2027 criteria and deadline are not yet posted. ($470.42 CAD with taxes and fees at the displayed 2027 Early Bird checkout; the registration page also lists $389.40 (2027) in its Early Bird price schedule and $649.00 (2027) as the Final Startup Ticket price.).
How do startups get into Startupfest?
Buy/register for the Startup Ticket for general entry. The optional Startup Showcase is a separate selection application; the published application details are for 2026, and 2027 criteria and deadline are not yet posted. Eligibility as published: No stage or founding-date criterion is printed for the Startup Ticket. For the 2026 Startup Showcase, the organiser sought a live product/service or deployed pilot, proof of traction, early revenue or strong usage growth, and startups raising, about to raise or ready to take on new clients. No 2027 Showcase criteria are published.
How many investors attend Startupfest?
The organiser reports 25% of the audience investors for the 2026 edition. The organiser describes curated investor meetings and match-ups as ways to make founder-investor connections. MAIN facilitates the Startup ↔ Investor Match-Ups; founders can also use drop-in Office Hours and book topic-based Braindates. The organiser lists an Investor Lounge, while FundFest is restricted to Investor Ticket holders.
What is Startupfest Village investment-prize pitches and Startup Showcase?
Startupfest's pitch competition. Prize as published: The 2026 programme included $100k Best of the Fest (convertible-note investment, plus an Osler Startup Package valued at $5,000), $100k Women in Tech, Black Entrepreneur, 2SLGBTQIA+, Fintech, Canadian Impact and Dual-Use/Sovereign Tech prizes; additional grants and awards are listed above. The 2027 homepage advertises $1M+ in prizes (2027), without category-level details..
How big is Startupfest?
Thousands of founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders attendees (2026), Hundreds of startups pitched live startups, per the organiser.