The conference that bills itself as Canada’s largest and longest-running gathering of software-as-a-service and cloud software startups is returning to Ottawa next month – with a twist that is guaranteed to make fans of a certain 1980s game-show classic smile.
SaaS North will take place at the Shaw Centre on Nov. 13 and 14. First held in 2016, the two-day event organized by Kanata’s L-Spark accelerator and Vancouver’s Cube Business Media has become a highly anticipated fixture on the Canadian tech-startup ecosystem calendar.
Organizers say they’re expecting more than 2,000 attendees from 800 companies to be involved in this year’s conference, up from last year’s totals of nearly 1,700 visitors from 700 companies.
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In addition to conference staples such as the SaaS North pitchfest, SheBoot competition, networking opportunities and panel discussions with software industry entrepreneurs from across Canada, this year’s event brings two new programs to the stage: The Masked Investor and Founders Feud.
In a nod to the popular reality TV show The Masked Singer, The Masked Investor segment will feature a disguised investment guru who, in the words of the organizers, “will take centre stage to spill the unfiltered truth – from working with startups to secrets for fundraising success.”
Meanwhile, the conference will also debut another new feature based on a long-running game show. Dubbed the Founders Feud, the Family Feud-style competition will pit founders of early-stage SaaS startups against each other in a contest to answer popular industry-related questions, with proceeds going to a charity of their choice.
“We’re thrilled to welcome a diverse group of speakers to this year’s lineup, offering unparalleled expertise and insights to the stage for SaaS professionals,” David Tyldesley, co-founder of SaaS North and Cube Business Media, said in a statement.
“Attendees will have the unique opportunity to learn directly from founders and leaders who have found success despite navigating shifting market landscapes, transferring knowledge and encompassing the heart of what SaaS North is all about.”
Past conferences have included high-profile speakers such as Shopify chief executive Tobi Lütke, Kinaxis CEO John Sicard and Canopy Growth co-founder Bruce Linton. This year’s lineup features prominent tech leaders such as Stephany LaPierre of Tealbook, Certn’s Andrew Mcleod, Kevin Kilman of Humi, Marie Chevrier Schwartz of TechTO (formerly Sampler), and more.
For more information and to register, check out the event’s website here.
