Program

AccelerateOTT 2025

8:30 AM
Opening Remarks and Kick-off
Featuring Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa, Nick Quain, Vice President, Venture Development, Invest Ottawa, Erin Seegmiller, Senior Manager, Early Stage Programs, Invest Ottawa, Lindsay Kavanagh, Senior Manager, Digital Marketing, Invest Ottawa

Kick off the day with high energy and a look ahead at what’s in store.
8:45 AM
Session 1: Opening Fireside Chat/Keynote: From Bootstrapped to Billion-Dollar Boldness
Featuring Kyle Braatz, Founder and CEO, Fullscript, Sean Silcoff, Technology Reporter, Globe and Mail

Kyle Braatz, Founder and CEO, Fullscript shares how he built one of the world’s most successful healthtech platforms—trusted by 100,000+ healthcare professionals—through grit, vision, and relentless execution.
9:40 AM
Session 2: Bold Moves – Women Leading Innovation
Featuring Laura Mindorff, COO+Co-Founder, Wicket, Erin Kelly, CEO, Advanced Symbolics, Manjula Selvarajah, Tech Columnist, Michelle Scarborough, Managing Partner, Thrive Venture Fund, BDC Capital, Melissa Allen, Founding Partner, Capital M Ventures

Trailblazing founders and funders share the bold moves, tough calls, and defining moments that shaped their paths—and how they’re building what’s next in tech, capital, and innovation.
10:30 AM
Networking Break

Refuel, recharge, and make the kind of connections no LinkedIn request can match.
10:45 AM
Session 3: Shahrzad Rafati – Building a Global Empire
Featuring Shahrzad Rafati, Founder & CEO at RHEI

From revolution to boardroom, Shahrzad Rafati’s journey spans continents and industries. Hear how she built a media-tech powerhouse reaching over 600 million viewers—and why bold leadership and inclusion fuel her success.
11:30 AM
Session 4: Storytelling – Sharpen Your Story
Featuring Jonathan Lowenhar, Founder and Managing Partner, Enjoy the Work

Startup storytelling decoded - from the coach behind some of the most compelling founder pitches in tech. Learn a proven framework for building a pitch that sticks—then watch live coaching as real founders sharpen their story in real time.
12:15 PM
Lunch Break & Networking

Grab a bite, spark a convo, and maybe sit next to your future co-founder.
1:15 PM
Session 5: Founders – The Venture Founder Journey: Legends in the Making
Featuring Jean-Simon Diallo, Co-Founder & CEO, Virica Biotech, Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau, Founder & CEO, Welbi, Mike Potter, Co-Founder & CEO, Rewind, Fahim Sheikh, Co-Founder and CEO, Trellis

Real talk from some of Ottawa’s top founders on scrappy pivots, personal missions, and the moments that defined their paths to legendary.
2:05 PM
Session 6: Masterclass: Fundraising Is Much More Than a Pitch Deck
Featuring Jonathan Lowenhar, Founder and Managing Partner, Enjoy the Work

Fundraising is more than a flashy pitch—it’s a process. In this high-impact session, the investor mindset is broken down, revealing the 28 questions every founder must be ready to answer and how to build a minimum viable fundraising funnel that actually delivers results.
3:00 PM
Networking Break

Where bold ideas meet great coffee—and the next conversation could spark your next big move.
3:15 PM
Session 7: Startup World Cup Regional Competition
Featuring Sarah Sedgman, Founder & CEO, LearnExperts , Andrew Hudon, Senior Associate, MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF), Inshaal Qadir, Analyst, Panache Ventures, Kevin Madill, Partner, Graphite Ventures, Matthew He, Associate, White Star Capital, Lindy Ledohowski, VP, Relationship Management, RBCx, Megan Maltby, Senior Manager, Accelerator Programs & Capital, Invest Ottawa

The Startup World Cup powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, is a global pitch competition spanning 100+ regional events across 60+ countries. The Ottawa Regional competition brings top startups to the stage to compete for $50,000 in non-dilutive funding—and a shot at the $1 million USD grand prize at the Global Finale in San Francisco.
5:30 PM
Conference Close

Wrap up the day with a toast to founders, legends, and the future of innovation—then keep the good vibes going at the official after party at Jack Astor’s!

Enjoy a free drink, tasty appetizers, and great company. Let’s raise a glass and celebrate together—you won’t want to miss it!

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AccelerateOTT 2025

Opening Remarks and Kick-off

Session 1: Opening Fireside Chat/Keynote: From Bootstrapped to Billion-Dollar Boldness

Session 2: Bold Moves – Women Leading Innovation

Networking Break

Session 3: Shahrzad Rafati – Building a Global Empire

Session 4: Storytelling – Sharpen Your Story

Lunch Break & Networking

Session 5: Founders – The Venture Founder Journey: Legends in the Making

Session 6: Masterclass: Fundraising Is Much More Than a Pitch Deck

Networking Break

Session 7: Startup World Cup Regional Competition

Conference Close

With Gratitude to Those Supporting Legends in the Making

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