Invest Ottawa

Invest Ottawa Increasing entrepreneurial momentum, wealth and jobs in Ottawa, Canada, through economic development.

The idea was already in the room. So was the person who could build it.Co-Founder Match-Up is a speed-networking night f...
09/23/2026

The idea was already in the room. So was the person who could build it.

Co-Founder Match-Up is a speed-networking night for people in Ottawa-Gatineau who are serious about starting a tech company and know they cannot do it alone. Half the room has an idea and needs a co-founder. The other half brings the technical, product, design, or commercial skills and wants to join something early.

Red lanyard for an idea, blue for skills, a badge you fill in yourself, and pizza to keep everyone talking.
The best moment of the night is always the same. Watching moments where someone who has felt stuck on an idea meets a person with the exact skill it needs, and you can see them both clock it in real time.

Thank you to every participant who showed up curious and open. This format only works because of you.

Interested in the next one? Follow us so you can keep up to date on when the next event will be.

09/17/2026

IO Ignition founders spend the program doing the unglamorous part: talking to real customers, killing assumptions that don’t hold up, and rebuilding around what they actually learn. The pitch is the easy bit. The validation is the work.
 
Congrats to our winners 👏
🏆 Ignition Grant Winner, presented by Logan Katz
Natural Chemi Solutions
🎯 Best Pitch, presented by Navio Law
AuraOS
⭐ Crowd Favourite, presented by RBCx
Flyon Technology Inc.
 
Thank you to our judges for the honest feedback, and to our sponsors RBCx, Logan Katz LLP, and Navio Law Professional Corporation for backing founders at the earliest, riskiest stage 🙌

⏰ 2 days left! Cohort 32 hits the stage Sept 16.This is your last call to register and be there when 20 founders share t...
09/14/2026

⏰ 2 days left! Cohort 32 hits the stage Sept 16.

This is your last call to register and be there when 20 founders share their pitches after 10 weeks in the IO Ignition Program.

Spots are going quickly, don't miss your chance to support Ottawa's next wave of startups in person.

🎟️ Grab your ticket now: https://bit.ly/3TYRV3t

Thank you to our supporters, Navio, Logan Katz LLP, and RBCx, for making this event possible. 🙌

See you there! 👏

Still deciding whether Co-Founder Match-Up is for you? Here is the short version.🔴 If you have an idea for a tech compan...
09/11/2026

Still deciding whether Co-Founder Match-Up is for you? Here is the short version.

🔴 If you have an idea for a tech company and you are missing the person who can build it, this is your room. Red lanyard.

🔵 If you have real technical, product, or commercial skills and you want to join something early as a co-founder, this is also your room. Blue lanyard.

Short, structured conversations all night, plus open time at the end to go deeper with connections you click with.

🍕 Pizza and drinks on us. Spots are still open on both sides.

📆 Tuesday, September 22, 5:00 pm
RBC Foundry, Bayview Yards
Register now: https://bit.ly/4A8ibst

🎉 Cohort 32 is ready to take the stage!After 10 weeks in the IO Ignition Program, 20 founders have gone from idea to val...
08/21/2026

🎉 Cohort 32 is ready to take the stage!

After 10 weeks in the IO Ignition Program, 20 founders have gone from idea to validation and now it's time for them to share their pitches with you.
Come support Ottawa's next wave of startups as they step forward and show us what they've built.

📅 Monday, September 16 at 5 pm
🎟️ Tickets here: https://bit.ly/3TYRV3t

A huge thank you to our supporters Navio, Logan Katz LLP, and RBCx, for making this program possible. 🙌

Come cheer on our founders! 👏

You've already used software built in Canada. The checkout on your last online order, the point of sale at your coffee s...
08/20/2026

You've already used software built in Canada. The checkout on your last online order, the point of sale at your coffee shop, the AI behind a support chat you had this week.

The proof is in what's already been built: Shopify, Cohere, Lightspeed Commerce, Clio, Coveo, Jobber. And in the next generation of founders. 670+ AI startups. $8.6B of venture capital into Canadian AI. 6 Canadian cities inside North America's top 20 tech markets.

This November, Capital Corner comes to SAAS NORTH Conference. Powered by Invest Ottawa and MaRS Discovery District, we're bringing founders from across the country into one room.

Here's what that means:
For investors, it's curated access to vetted, investor-ready Canadian SaaS and AI founders, screened and matched by thesis and stage. No overcrowded pitch room, no cold outreach.
For founders, it's a direct line to the investors who should be watching them.

Applications are now open: https://bit.ly/4xbnm9l

Capital, eh? It's money. It's Canadian. And this November, it's all in one place. 🍁

Got an idea for a tech company but need someone to build it with?Got the skills and want to join something early, as a c...
08/18/2026

Got an idea for a tech company but need someone to build it with?
Got the skills and want to join something early, as a co-founder, not employee number one?

Co-Founder Match-Up is a speed-networking night for Ottawa/Gatineau people ready to team up. Red lanyard means you've got an idea, blue means you've got the skills. Your badge shows your name, industry, and what you need, so the room sorts itself fast.

Short, structured conversations all night, with open time at the end to go deeper with the people you click with.

This is for founders at any stage, builders with real technical or commercial skills, and anyone in between who cares about a problem but doesn't have a company yet. Just note it on the registration form and we'll seat you well.

Not the right room for salaried job searches, agency or recruiter pitches, or investor demos. Just real conversations that could turn into a co-founding partnership.

Pizza and drinks on us. 🍕

📅 Tuesday, September 22 at 5:00 pm
Register Today: https://bit.ly/4qlLWBE

🚀 Are you beyond the idea stage of building a business but need help taking the next step? Starter Company Plus can help...
07/31/2026

🚀 Are you beyond the idea stage of building a business but need help taking the next step? Starter Company Plus can help you move from figuring it out to building it right.

Starter Company Plus is back, and it's your chance to get free training, mentorship, and the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in grants.

Applications open today and close August 14, spots are limited.

A special thank you to Logan Katz LLP and Ontario Government for backing Ottawa's up and coming entrepreneurs 💼

Your Business. Your Move. Apply Now: https://bit.ly/4x46ukq

06/25/2026

🔥 What. A. Night. 🔥

The 31st IO Ignition Pitch Finale: Heat Wave brought together an incredible group of founders who stepped onto the stage to showcase bold ideas, months of hard work and the future of innovation in Ottawa.

A huge thank you to our amazing judges:
✨ Wilson Li, Logan Katz LLP
✨ Evan Young, Navio Law Professional Corporation
✨ Blake Farquharson, RBCx
✨ Maddy, Invest Ottawa
✨ Shannon, Invest Ottawa

And congratulations to our winners! 🎉

🏆 Best Pitch: Jamie Tyrell, TailGuard
💰 Grant Winner: Ali Karbasi, ROASYS
👏 Crowd Favourite: Emma Duhirwe, Komizoe Inc.

To every founder who pitched, congratulations on reaching this milestone. Your passion, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit inspire us, and we’re excited to watch your journeys continue.

⏰ Last chance to register!The countdown is on for the IO Ignition Cohort 31 Pitch Finale: Heatwave. 🔥On June 24 at Found...
06/15/2026

⏰ Last chance to register!

The countdown is on for the IO Ignition Cohort 31 Pitch Finale: Heatwave. 🔥

On June 24 at Foundry, Bayview Yards, our founders will take the stage to pitch the ideas they've spent the last 10 weeks building, testing, and refining.

Join us for an evening of:
✨ Live startup pitches
✨ Judges, awards, and feedback
✨ Networking with founders, mentors, and community members
✨ A first look at Ottawa's next wave of innovation

Whether you're startup-curious, building your own venture, or looking to support local entrepreneurs, this is an event you won't want to miss.

🎟️ Registration closes soon. Reserve your spot before it's too late: https://bit.ly/494bDQ1

Address

7 Bayview Station Road
Ottawa, ON
K1Y2C5

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Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
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