The Startupfest Village is one of the most unique and attractive aspects of the entire event. Our goal is to create an environment that encourages people to look away from their screens and make real-time connections. Unlike other events, where you’ll see a speaker onstage and then they’re whisked away to catch their flight, you can catch ours hanging out in the Village, perhaps with a beer in hand, eager to spend time with attendees. The Village provides attendees with unbeatable networking and opportunities we promise you haven’t experienced anywhere else.
The Startupfest Village
It takes a village…
The Village Partners
Prizes and Investment Opportunities
$100K Best of the Fest Investment Prize
The $100k Best of the Fest Investment Prize has always been the most coveted prize at Startupfest, where hundreds of founders pitch for the chance to be crowned "Best of the Fest". We bring together a fantastic team of angel investor to award one startup with a $100K investment based on standardized investment terms. See More.
STARTUPFEST
$100k Women in Tech Investment Prize
Funded by The Firehood, the $100k Women in Tech (WiT) Investment Prize is back! The Firehood is bringing together an incredible team of angel investors, relevant startup mentors, and legal experts who will award one female-led startup with a $100k investment. That means one female founder attending Startupfest will walk away with an important investment, and access to an amazing network of investors. See More.
The Firehood
$100k Black Entrepreneur Investment Prize
Made possible by Rep Matters, the $100k Black Entrepreneur Investment Prize is back! With a mission to empower the next generation of Black startup founders, Rep Matters is bringing together a team of angel investors and venture capital firms who will award a Black-led startup with a $100k investment. See More.
Rep Matters
$100k 2SLGBTQIA+ Investment Prize
Made possible by QueerTech, the 2SLGBTQIA+ prize is back! To qualify for the $100K 2SLGBTQIA+ Investment Prize, at least one co-founder must identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and remain actively involved in the leadership and strategic direction of the company. See More.
Queertech
$100k Fintech Grant
The Fintech Grant is a non-dilutive cash prize designed to accelerate the growth of promising fintech startups. Funded by Digital Commerce Group and Apaylo, and Outlier this award empowers early-stage fintech founders to scale their operations, amplify their brand visibility, and forge powerful connections with investors and industry leaders. See More.
Digital Commerce Group
Apaylo
Osler
$25k Impact Grant
Are you a startup in Quebec? This is your chance to shine! The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is excited to once again launch the Impact grant, a $25,000 prize reserved for the most innovative impact startup. We celebrate the boldness and creativity of startups that aim to create a better future for everyone. See More.
Fonds de solidarité FTQ
$10k Productivity Grant
Are you a startup based in Québec? This is your opportunity to grow. The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is proud to present the Productivity grant — a $10,000 prize awarded to the startup that pushes the boundaries of efficiency. See More.
Fonds de solidarité FTQ
Grandmothers' Choice Award
Our Illustrious Grandmother Judges are back. Countless entrepreneurs line up each summer to make their cases to the grandmothers—and for good reason. These ladies can see a good idea (or a bad one) from a mile away, and they certainly have no qualms about calling it as they see it. The winner of the (non-cash) Grandmothers’ Choice Award may not walk away with newfound riches, however, they will leave with a treasure trove of good advice and a ton of bragging rights. See More.
STARTUPFEST
Audience Choice Award
The Audience Choice Award will be awarded to the best pitch out of the winners of our investment prizes. During the closing ceremonies, the winner’s circle will take the stage to vie for the one prize voted on by every attendee - and the winner is crowned the Startupfest Audience Choice. See More.
$100k Canadian Impact Investment Prize 2026 + $25k grant
The Canadian Impact Investment Prize is a $100,000 impact investment award designed to support the next generation of Canadian startups creating measurable social and environmental impact. See More.
CIVIC
Spring
Anges Québec Capital
$100K Dual-Use and Sovereign Tech Investment Prize
Introducing the Dual-Use and Sovereign Tech Investment Prize at Startupfest 2026, made possible by DMZ Ventures.
The Investment Prize winner will also receive the Osler Startup Package from our partners at Osler, a prize valued at $5,000. See More.
DMZ Ventures
$60K Black Innovation Zone Grants
Made possible by the Black Innovation Zone, there are FOUR grants totalling $60k available to Black-led startups attending Startupfest. See More.
Black Innovation Zone
Partner Spaces
BDC is here for entrepreneurs.
At Startupfest, meet the team behind the bank that supports Canadian entrepreneurs at every stage, from first steps to scale-up.
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Come meet the TD Innovation Partners team at Startupfest to learn how we support founders, startups, and the broader Canadian tech ecosystem. Whether you’re building, scaling, fundraising, or looking for the right banking partner, we’d love to connect and hear what you’re working on.
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Dell Business Partnerships is built on a People First mindset, helping small businesses and startups succeed with tailored technology and trusted support. Stop by our booth to learn more and enjoy our daily puppy play area—because great conversations start with great experiences!See More.
The Black Innovation Zone is a collective of Black-led organizations united to create access and opportunities for Black founders, investors, and professionals across the Canadian landscape.See More.
Ocean Nation | Nation Océanique brings together the Ocean Startup Project and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster to showcase the people, companies and momentum powering Canada’s ocean economy. Come meet ocean innovators, explore bold new ideas, and connect with the ecosystem making Canada the best place in the world to build an ocean company.
See More.Accelerator Zone
Zone Agtech and Thrive support agtech startups from idea to market. Meet us at Startupfest to explore programs, funding paths, industry connections, and opportunities to grow in Canada.See More.
CDL helps early-stage science and tech startups scale through free objective-based mentorship from accomplished entrepreneurs, experienced operators, and active angel and venture investors.See More.
MT Lab sparks innovation and facilitates collaboration between startups offering innovative solutions and major players in the tourism, culture and entertainment industry.See More.
Propolys is Polytechnique Montréal’s tech startup incubator. Our team offers high-value support to help your project quickly move toward success.See More.
District3 is an innovation hub at Concordia University helping entrepreneurs and changemakers turn ideas into impact. Since 2014, we supported 1,400+ ventures with programs, coaching, labs & networks.See More.
The McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship supports founders from ideation to international fundraising, connecting companies with global investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders.See More.
La base HEC Mtl is a university innovation hub dedicated to inspiring and supporting the next generation of tech and impact entrepreneurs, with the goal of building a strong and sustainable economy.See More.
NEXT AI accelerates AI-enabled startups through mentorship, expert guidance, and founder support. Meet us to learn how we help founders build and scale world-class ventures.
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CDL-Montreal is a nonprofit organization powered by HEC Montréal that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies.
See More.Startup Services Zone
We help companies send and receive global payments at competitive rates, open free multi-currency accounts, and hedge FX exposure with fixed exchange rates.
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We help startups scale without operational chaos. Visit our booth for a fast tech readiness assessment and practical advice for growing teams.
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Canada’s AI-powered Employment Operating System for Payroll, HR, Recruitment, Benefits and SR&ED – with intelligent agents to support your team.
See More.Networking Opportunities
The Startup <> Investor Match-Ups are supported by MAIN, whose mission is to give entrepreneurs the courage to risk.See More.
Powered by Espace CDPQ, the Investor <> Investor Match-Ups create opportunities for influential investors to connect with their peers in curated one-on-one meetings.See More.
It's Startupfest's birthday, and you're invited!!
Join us as we celebrate our Sweet Sixteenth edition with an evening of classic birthday fun, great company, and incredible views of Montréal's Old Port.
After a full day of networking, pitching, learning, and making things happen, join us for a chance to relax, connect, and celebrate with the community.
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Startupfest has become one of the world's most iconic startup events, and Montréal's vibrant energy ensures there's always something happening during the week of the Fest. From innovative meetups to dynamic tech talks, explore a variety of Off-Events taking place around the city.
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Envoi isn’t another event app, or a chatbot. It’s an entirely new way to participate in a conference.
Instead of adapting to someone else’s system, the event adapts to your AI. Once you connect your AI to the platform, it can still do all the things it does today—it just knows how to attend Startupfest.
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Yulism supports Startupfest through a bilingual concierge team designed to welcome, orient, and assist participants on site.
This team helps attendees better navigate the Salon de l’entrepreneuriat and Startupfest experience while facilitating useful connections when relevant.
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Enjoy a meditation break, a moment dedicated to inner peace, body and mind. Come relax and let yourself be guided through simple but profound meditation and breathing techniques. These sessions are open to all.
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At our Office Hours, founders, experts, and investors will be on hand to give you real advice throughout the event. See More.
Want to hear someone's experience about pitching to investors? Exchange best practices about marketing strategy? Book a braindate with the entrepreneurs at Startupfest to start learning with intention!
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