Event category: Plenary

In this standout leadership session, top Canadian CEOs share real principles, and mindset shifts behind building and guiding billion-dollar companies. You’ll hear how great leaders make decisions in moments of uncertainty, adapt strategies under competitive pressure, and stay grounded while steering teams through rapid growth and market transformation. This conversation goes beyond the deals — it’s a rare look at the leadership habits, and examines the courage required to build companies that can thrive on the global stage.

Canadian tech companies aren’t just waiting for foreign buyers—they’re becoming the buyers, scaling through acquisitions both within Canada and internationally. A new wave of homegrown strategics is using M&A to expand products, enter new markets, and keep long-term growth anchored here. This session brings together leaders who’ve been on the buying side to explore what’s fueling this momentum, how integrations really unfold, and what founders should know if they want to attract a Canadian strategic. It’s a candid look at how Canada is building stronger tech companies by growing through acquisition—not by giving them away.

Go inside a real founder-led SaaS acquisition and see how deal structure, valuation strategy, and integration planning shape outcomes when a high-growth startup is acquired by a major global player. This session unpacks what made Pocketed attractive to Deloitte, how negotiations unfolded, and what details founders and advisors should watch closely when stepping into a deal. You’ll walk away with a sharper sense of how to read a transaction, identify value triggers, and position your own venture for acquisition with clarity and confidence.

In this candid founder story, hear how explosive COVID-era growth turned into a plateau that forced a pivotal choice for Swish Goswami of Surf: sell now, or risk losing momentum. You’ll learn how the team recognized the right moment to exit, navigated the realities of a shifting market, and adapted fast when their first buyer walked away—even after signing an LOI. Part presentation, part fireside, it’s a strategic look at timing, resilience, and the real decision-making behind choosing the right exit, not just any exit.

The tech M&A market is shifting fast—global private equity firms are deploying capital into Canadian tech as AI acceleration and shifting buyer strategies reshape deals heading into 2026. This session provides a high-level market read from private equity perspectives, including examining global trends, cross-border timing, and where optionality creates leverage for founders and advisors. Expect concise, practical insights on what’s gaining momentum, what’s fading, and how to stay adaptable as international capital continues to shape the Canadian tech M&A landscape.