AccelerateOTT 2026: Built for the Age of AI

Invest Ottawa delivers economic development programs and initiatives that increase entrepreneurial momentum, wealth and jobs in the City of Ottawa and its surrounding region. Its goal is to make Ottawa the best place in Canada to start and grow a knowledge-based business. Invest Ottawa services include startup incubation and mentorship, acceleration for existing companies, global business attraction and local business retention, targeted sector development, commercialization, and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life.----------Investir Ottawa offre des programmes et initiatives en matière de développement économique d’export qui stimulent l’esprit entrepreneurial, la richesse et les emplois de la Ville d’Ottawa et des régions avoisinantes. Son but est de faire d’Ottawa le meilleur endroit au Canada pour démarrer et croître sa propre entreprise basée sur le savoir. Les services offerts par Investir Ottawa comprennent l’encadrement et le mentorat pour entreprise naissante, l’accélération pour les entreprises existantes, l’attraction commerciale de niveau mondial et le maintien du commerce local, le développement des secteurs cibles, la commercialisation et la promotion de l’économie diversifiée d’Ottawa et de sa haute qualité de vie.

Invest Ottawa

A one-day event for Ottawa's entrepreneurs to build, connect, and turn ideas into opportunity.

Horticulture Building

Join us for <a href="https://www.accelerateott.ca/" title="https://www.accelerateott.ca/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">AccelerateOTT 2026</a>, Ottawa’s most anticipated entrepreneurship event of the year! As part of <a href="https://www.investottawa.ca/innovation-week/" title="https://www.investottawa.ca/innovation-week/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Ottawa Innovation Week</a>, the one-day summit for entrepreneurs, founders, and fearless builders shaping the future returns. Join us for a day of insightful discussions, impactful presentations, unparalleled networking opportunities, and <a href="https://www.startupworldcup.io/ottawa-regional-2026" title="https://www.startupworldcup.io/ottawa-regional-2026" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Startup World Cup Ottawa Regional Competition</a>. AI is changing how startups launch, validate, and scale. This one-day experience is designed to help you move faster, make smarter decisions, and connect with the people who can accelerate your path to growth. With sessions focused on growth, funding, and innovation—and the high-stakes Startup World Cup pitch competition—this is where ambition meets opportunity.For over a decade, we’ve fueled the fire of founders, owners, investors and aspiring entrepreneurs. This year is no exception – with an agenda packed with incredible sessions.Secure your spot today for this event and take the next step towards entrepreneurial excellence! <h3>About Startup World Cup</h3>The <a href="https://elink.clickdimensions.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_i6BAcemwLVYA" title="https://elink.clickdimensions.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_i6BAcemwLVYA" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Startup World Cup</a> is a series of global startup conferences and pitch competitions powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, featuring 100+ regional events across 60+ countries. These events culminate in our 2026 Grand Finale hosted in Silicon Valley (USA), where winning startups from each regional event will compete for a $1M prize in November. <h4>Hosted by Invest Ottawa's Venture Path</h4>This event is hosted by <a href="https://www.investottawa.ca/programs-and-services/" title="https://www.investottawa.ca/programs-and-services/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Invest Ottawa’s Venture Path</a>, a program designed to support high-growth founders as they build, scale, and lead successful businesses. IO Venture Path provides entrepreneurs with access to expert mentorship, tailored programming, and a strong peer network, helping founders navigate complexity, accelerate growth, and make confident, informed decisions at every stage of their journey. <a href="https://www.investottawa.ca/programs-and-services/" title="https://www.investottawa.ca/programs-and-services/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Learn more</a>. <h3>Additional Information</h3><ul><li>Complimentary catering will be provided.</li><li>Your event ticket also includes complimentary access to the OC Transpo network on the day of the event. Attendees may present their printed or digital event ticket for no-charge access on OC Transpo routes across the network from 3 hours before the event start time until 3 hours after the event ends.</li></ul><ul><li>Should you have any specific accessibility requirements or need accommodations, please contact Melissa McMahon at mmcmahon@investottawa.ca. Our team will be pleased to work with you to make all the arrangements required for a great experience.</li></ul><ul><li>Special moments and memories will be recorded during this event and shared with our community via our website and social media.</li></ul> Privacy NoticeBy registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree that your personal information (such as name, email address, organization, and other registration details) will be collected and used for the purposes of event administration, communication, and attendee engagement.Your information may be shared with event organizers, partners, and sponsors strictly for purposes related to this event, including event logistics, updates, and relevant follow-up communications. You may opt out of communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in our emails.If you have any questions about how your information is used, please contact us at accelerateott@investottawa.ca.

Agenda

Co-MCs Erin Blaskie, Founder & CEO of Willow Grey Agency, and Patrick White, Director of Corporate Programs at Solink, will kick off the day and guide attendees through a program focused on how companies are being built in the age of AI.

Opening Remarks

In this keynote, Alistair Croll, Founder, bestselling author, and organizer of Fwd50, explores how shifting constraints are redefining startups, investment, and competitive advantage. For decades, startups have followed the same playbook: raise capital, scale fast, monetize later. That model built the modern tech ecosystem, but it is beginning to break down.

As software becomes cheap and abundant, technology is no longer the advantage, it is the baseline. Drawing on the idea that abundance creates new scarcity, Alistair offers a fresh lens on where the next generation of winners will emerge and what comes next for founders, investors, and innovators.

Keynote: The Future of Tech and AI

Aydin Mirzaee, Co-Founder & CEO at Fellow, Dr. Ellen Campana, Co-Founder & CTO at Compose Health, Rob Imbeault, Founder & CEO at Backboard.io, Mike Potter, Co-Founder & CEO at Rewind, and Vanessa Galarneau, Co-Founder, COO & CFO at Pluvo, come together for a discussion on what it means to build an AI-native company today.

Over the past few years, AI has fundamentally changed how startups are formed, validated, and scaled. These founders will share how they are actively building and succeeding under this new model, offering a realistic look at how the startup playbook continues to evolve and what it takes to win in this era.

Panel: Building in an AI Era

Take this time to recharge, connect with fellow attendees, and continue the conversation beyond the stage. Be sure to visit the Exhibitor Tent and Breakthrough Booth while networking.

Break 

Mike Matta, Co-Founder and CEO of Solink, joins Sean Silcoff, Technology and Life Sciences Reporter at The Globe and Mail, for a conversation on building one of Canada's leading AI-powered video intelligence companies.

What started in Ottawa has grown into a global platform helping businesses turn video and operational data into real-time insights across tens of thousands of locations worldwide. Mike will share the founder journey behind Solink's growth, the lessons learned scaling through major technology shifts, and what it takes to build a durable company in the age of AI.

A Founder Story: Lights, Camera, Intelligence at Scale

Enjoy lunch while browsing the Exhibitor Tent. Several featured speakers will also be available in the Breakthrough Booth for curated speed mentoring sessions.

Lunch Break 

In the age of AI, trust is the one thing you can't outsource or automate. Ashley Faus, Head of Lifecycle Marketing at Atlassian, shares how to build trust as AI reshapes how companies reach and engage customers. She’ll introduce practical frameworks to help founders cut through the noise, build credibility early, and connect with real audiences in ways that drive meaningful engagement. Because in the age of AI, the real advantage is still human.

Keynote: Human-Centered Marketing in the Age of AI

Megan Maltby, Senior Manager, Accelerator Programs & Capital at Invest Ottawa, Kevin Madill, Partner at Graphite Ventures, and Dr. Albert Chen, Partner at Two Small Fish Ventures, come together for a discussion on how capital is evolving as the cost of building drops and more companies reach market faster.

This session focuses on early-stage funding, shifting investor expectations, and how founders can navigate today's fundraising landscape.

Panel: State of Capital in the Post-AI World

Katie Leclair, Executive Director at SheBoot, Lance Laking, Managing Director & General Partner at Graphite Ventures, Pierre Steiner, Associate at Innovobot Resonance Ventures, and Keira Frosst, Co-Founder & CSO at mDETECT, will evaluate high-potential startup founders as they pitch live for $50,000 in non-dilutive funding and a chance to advance to the Startup World Cup global finals in San Francisco, where $1 million USD is on the line.

Startup World Cup Regional Pitch Competition

Wrap up the day at Crust & Crate with great food, great people, and the conversations that happen after the microphones are off. Unwind, connect, and foster the connections sparked throughout the day at the official AccelerateOTT After Party.

AccelerateOTT 2026: Built for the Age of AI

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AccelerateOTT 2026: Built for the Age of AI

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