While we’re sure to find ourselves once again gathering under Montreal’s skies this summer, we’ve realized that meetings will never be the same again, online or off. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, founders have been faced with huge challenges and massive opportunities. And after two years of virtual meetings, we realized we don’t want a new normal, we want a fresh start. So in 2022 we focused on in person interactions and building genuine connections with both new and old faces.
In 2023, we’re still honing on the importance of genuine, human connections but we’re also taking stock of the rapid augmentation of humans by machines. The new realities of augmented work and the increased importance of human connection will launch a wave of fundamentally different businesses. Startups need to adapt, and so do we.
What we’re looking forward to in our 13th edition
We will of course bring back the usual favourites: The Tent Village, prize opportunities, and talks from founders and investors who’ve built amazing companies. But we’re adding some new things to the mix this summer:
- Augmented experience: We’re infusing AI tools to augment your festival experience while still focusing on meaningful content.
- Engineered serendipity: We’ll double down on serendipitous interactions and genuine connections, with networking designed to get you out of your comfort zone and connect you with fresh faces in surprising ways.
- Prizes and funding: We’re bringing together founders, investors, and mentors for amazing, new opportunities to connect and secure funding for your business. We’ll have fan favourites like the 100K investment prizes and the Grandmothers’ choice awards– plus so much more!
- Premium Fests: It’s been a few years, but we’re bringing back Startupfest Premium Fests! These Fests offer different groups in the startup ecosystem more specialized content to cover unique members of the community or different verticals within the industry.
One liner
Startupfest brings its unique blend of content, funding, and relationships to hone in on two major shifts in society; the augmentation of humans by machines, and the newfound importance of genuine human connection.
Newsletter blurb
Startupfest has always put the startup ecosystems first, and 2023 is no exception. This year, Startupfest is honing in on two major shifts in society: The augmentation of humans by machines; and the newfound importance of genuine human connection. Businesses will need to adapt, and Startupfest is no different. The festival is taking an exciting new direction by infusing AI tools for an augmented festival experience, and even more serendipitous meetings, mentorship, and investment opportunities. Startupfest invites you to gather in Montreal from July 12-14, 2023 to embrace the new realities of work, and make more, better entrepreneurs, faster.
Social media copy