Canada’s tech scene continues to rise. From AI breakthroughs in Vancouver to startup energy in Montréal, the country draws innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs who want to move fast and connect with the right people.
Between July and December 2025, a curated lineup of tech conferences will define emerging trends, fuel strategic partnerships, and shape how tomorrow’s companies get built.
This blog post highlights the most relevant tech events for the second half of the year. Whether you’re leading a product team, scaling a SaaS startup, investing in frontier technology, or expanding your innovation network, these gatherings open doors to insight, talent, and capital.
Startupfest 2025
Date: July 9–11
Location: Montréal, QC
Startupfest brings together early-stage founders, VCs, and corporate innovation teams in a festival-style setting. Hosted in the Old Port of Montréal, this event blends the energy of a cultural celebration with the structure of a serious business accelerator.
Beyond traditional panels and talks, the Tent Village concept allows startups to receive direct feedback from investors in a relaxed environment. Attendees will find hands-on mentorship, open dialogue with ecosystem leaders, and real opportunities to pitch, pivot, or partner.
For anyone starting a business in Canada, Startupfest is one of the best ways to get money and connections.
ICML 2025
Date: July 13–19
Location: Vancouver, BC
The International Conference on Machine Learning is one of the most prestigious gatherings in artificial intelligence. The 2025 edition will bring the global AI community to Vancouver for a week of advanced research sessions, workshops, and networking.
Attendees include engineers, data scientists, academics, and industry leaders. The focus spans deep learning, reinforcement learning, model optimization, and real-world applications across sectors like health, robotics, and finance.
For companies applying AI or investing in emerging models, ICML is a prime opportunity to engage with those leading the conversation in machine learning.
SIGGRAPH 2025
Date: August 10–14
Location: Vancouver, BC
SIGGRAPH is where computer graphics, immersive media, and visual storytelling converge. From real-time rendering to augmented reality and next-gen animation, this hybrid event showcases the creative technologies shaping digital experiences.
The conference balances technical depth with high-impact visuals. Attendees can explore demos, attend expert panels, and meet innovators from studios, research labs, and startups. The atmosphere encourages experimentation and collaboration across sectors.
For teams focused on human-computer interaction or immersive design, SIGGRAPH provides inspiration, insight, and a clear sense of what’s next.
Canada FinTech Forum
Date: September 22–23
Locaation: Montréal, QC
Hosted in Montréal, this event brings together financial institutions, regulators, startups, and tech providers to explore the future of fintech in North America. The agenda emphasizes digital payments, embedded banking, AI-driven personalization, and security frameworks.
Attendees will benefit from case studies, product demos, and fireside conversations with CEOs and policymakers. The networking scene includes structured meetups and informal spaces to foster deal-making and collaboration.
For fintech entrepreneurs, investors, and technology leaders, this forum offers direct access to the evolving financial technology landscape in Canada and beyond.
Prairie Dev Con
Date: September 22–23
Location: Winnipeg, MB
This regional software conference focuses on practical skills, deep tech insights, and developer collaboration. Hosted in Winnipeg, Prairie Dev Con attracts engineers, DevOps professionals, and technical leads from across Western Canada.
Topics include cloud-native development, .NET, JavaScript frameworks, infrastructure as code, and software testing. The conference stands out for its accessible size, community-driven tone, and technical relevance.
If you are part of a software team looking for actionable knowledge and peer exchange, Prairie Dev Con offers a high-value, low-noise experience.
SecTor 2025
Date: September 30 to October 2
Location: Toronto, ON
SecTor is Canada’s most prominent cybersecurity event. It features a full schedule of briefings, workshops, and business sessions focused on cyber threats, resilience, and enterprise protection.
Attendees will engage with top experts on zero trust, quantum-safe encryption, AI-based threats, and secure architecture. The pre-conference summits allow focused discussions on executive risk, cloud defense, and threat intelligence.
For security leaders, technical teams, and vendors, SecTor offers the insights and exposure needed to stay ahead of threats and guide strategy.
Health Information Summit
Date: October 2
Location: Toronto, ON
This one-day summit centers on data-driven healthcare. It gathers hospital executives, health tech startups, and policy leaders to share ideas and frameworks for using information more effectively.
Topics include EHR interoperability, AI-supported diagnosis, patient privacy, and health data analytics. Speakers present case studies from both public and private institutions, highlighting what works and what still needs to evolve.
Health technology decision-makers will find value in the summit’s focused agenda, cross-sector participation, and emphasis on real-world results.
Elevate Festival
Date: October 7–9
Location: Toronto, ON
Elevate is Canada’s signature innovation festival. The event blends thought leadership, emerging technology, and cultural programming in a multi-day experience that spans AI, sustainability, fintech, and creativity.
Programming features 250 speakers, including global executives, rising entrepreneurs, and tech researchers. Themed tracks, pop-up stages, and curated networking spaces make every block of downtown Toronto feel like part of the conference.
For executives and founders looking to see how different disciplines intersect with technology, Elevate delivers ideas and access that traditional conferences often miss.
SAAS NORTH
Date: November 5–6
Location: Ottawa, ON
SaaS North remains Canada’s leading conference for software companies. Hosted in Ottawa, it focuses on high-growth strategies, product development, and investor relations for cloud-based businesses.
Startup teams will find hands-on sessions about go-to-market plans, customer acquisition, and hiring technical talent. Growth-stage leaders can engage with VCs, explore international scaling tactics, and refine their vision.
The networking energy is high throughout the event, with structured pitch events and spontaneous interactions that often lead to funding, hiring, or partnerships.
A Network That Builds Momentum
The second half of 2025 is packed with opportunities for those who want to connect, compete, and collaborate in Canada’s fast-moving tech ecosystem. Each of these conferences brings together decision-makers, builders, and backers. The ideas shared on stage often turn into product features, investment rounds, or policy shifts in the months that follow.
For tech professionals and companies aiming to stay sharp, relevant, and visible, these events offer more than access. They offer momentum.
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FAQ
What are the most important tech conferences in Canada for the second half of 2025?
Key conferences include Startupfest in Montréal, ICML and SIGGRAPH in Vancouver, the Canada FinTech Forum and Elevate Festival in Toronto, SecTor for cybersecurity professionals, Prairie Dev Con in Winnipeg, the Health Information Summit, and SAAS NORTH in Ottawa. These events cover AI, SaaS, software development, fintech, and healthcare innovation.
Which tech conference in Canada focuses the most on AI and machine learning?
ICML 2025 in Vancouver is the leading event for machine learning and artificial intelligence. It brings together top researchers, engineers, and data scientists to share groundbreaking research, tools, and applications across multiple industries.
Are any of these conferences suitable for early-stage startup founders?
Yes. Startupfest in Montréal is designed for early-stage founders looking to pitch, network, and raise funding. SAAS NORTH in Ottawa also offers sessions tailored for scaling companies and startup teams looking to grow within the Canadian tech ecosystem.
Do these Canadian tech conferences offer in-person networking?
Most of the listed conferences prioritize in-person networking through curated lounges, workshops, and pitch sessions. Some, like SIGGRAPH, offer hybrid formats with remote access options, but face-to-face meetings remain central to the experience.
Which conference is ideal for SaaS founders and executives?
SAAS NORTH in Ottawa is the top destination for SaaS executives. It focuses on growth strategies, go-to-market execution, team building, and fundraising—all tailored to cloud-based businesses operating in competitive markets.
How can tech professionals decide which event to attend in Canada?
It depends on your goals. For deep learning and AI, ICML is unmatched. For startup growth, Startupfest and SAAS NORTH provide funding and exposure. If you work in fintech or cybersecurity, Canada FinTech Forum and SecTor offer valuable connections and industry insight. Location, sector focus, and networking value should guide your choice.
