Key Takeaways
• Toronto Tech Week 2025 will host over 100 tech events from June 23–27, expecting over 10,000 attendees.
• “Homecoming,” the week’s main event, will feature high-profile leaders like Chamath Palihapitiya, Sanja Fidler, Tobi Lütke, and Harley Finkelstein.
• Nearly half of all events are open to the public, covering key themes such as AI, B2B/B2C innovation, fundraising, and engineering.
• Backed by Shopify, Google Cloud, and the City of Toronto, the week aims to showcase Toronto as a leading global innovation hub.
Toronto is preparing to host its most ambitious citywide tech celebration to date with Toronto Tech Week 2025, scheduled from June 23–27.
The inaugural event will feature more than 100 partner-led events across 19 neighborhoods, highlighting the city’s innovation ecosystem and welcoming over 10,000 attendees.
Homecoming Headlines a Powerhouse Week
The spotlight event of the week is Homecoming, to be held at Evergreen Brickworks on June 24, and broadcast via livestream. The mainstage will showcase some of the most influential figures in tech and innovation:
• Chamath Palihapitiya, Founder and CEO of Social Capital
• Sanja Fidler, Vice President of AI Research at NVIDIA
• Tobi Lütke, CEO of Shopify
• Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify
Other notable speakers at Homecoming include Canadian tech leaders Raquel Urtasun (Waabi), Michael Katchen (Wealthsimple), and Aidan Gomez (Cohere), all of whom represent the country’s growing influence in AI and fintech.
“Homecoming at Toronto Tech Week will be a defining moment for everyone building, backing, and betting on Canada’s future,” said Satish Kanwar, co-organizer of Toronto Tech Week and chair of BetaKit’s board.
Programming Spread Across 19 Neighborhoods
Events during the week will take place throughout Toronto’s urban core, including key areas like the Financial District, King West, and university campuses.
With a community-driven, decentralized format, Toronto Tech Week offers a mix of invite-only, RSVP-based, and public access events.
According to organizers, around 50% of all events will include some form of public participation or openness. Formats range widely:
• Expert panels and fireside chats
• Hackathons and live product demos
• Social gatherings and networking mixers
The top five themes emerging from the 2025 programming include:
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Fundraising
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B2B/B2C Business Models
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Engineering and Developer Tools
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Startup Growth and Scale
High-Impact Guest Speakers at Partner Events
Several partner events will bring internationally recognized experts to the stage, reinforcing Toronto’s growing credibility in cutting-edge tech domains.
• Geoffrey Hinton, AI pioneer and former Google researcher, will headline the Frontiers of AI keynote at the University of Toronto.
• Elizabeth Stone, CTO of Netflix, is slated to speak at Elevate Talks.
• Katherine Homuth, founder of SRTX, will open the week at the BetaKit Town Hall.
In parallel, BetaKit will host an invite-only launch party for its Most Ambitious print issue in partnership with the DMZ. The publication will be distributed exclusively at Toronto Tech Week before its digital release.
Support from Government and Industry
Toronto Tech Week is led by a volunteer-run, non-profit organization, with strategic and financial backing from:
• Shopify – presenting sponsor
• Google Cloud – cloud infrastructure partner
• City of Toronto – municipal partner
Mayor Olivia Chow has publicly endorsed the initiative, emphasizing its role in supporting Toronto’s economy:
“We’re proud to celebrate and support our dynamic and innovative tech sector,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “In these uncertain economic times, we must do everything we can to support the growth of the sector.”
Building Canada’s Innovation Narrative
Organizers and speakers have emphasized the broader mission of Toronto Tech Week: to position Canada—and particularly Toronto—as a competitive force in the global tech economy.
The initiative encourages collaboration between startups, academia, and investors, with an emphasis on ethical AI development and long-term scalability.
“AI innovation is rapidly positioning Canada as a global leader, with Toronto emerging as a critical technology hub,” said Raquel Urtasun, CEO of Waabi. “Toronto Tech Week is fostering a technology ecosystem that leverages Canada’s unique strengths and values to create solutions that address both local and global challenges.”
Event Access and Participation
The full calendar of events is available on the Toronto Tech Week website, where attendees can purchase tickets or RSVP. Most events will be hosted in person, with select sessions available via livestream or video on demand.
Toronto Tech Week offers both an opportunity for local talent to connect and a global stage for showcasing Canadian innovation.
As anticipation builds, stakeholders across the public and private sectors are hoping this initiative will spark new investments, partnerships, and long-term growth.
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