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in Canada for research-based startups
The place to invent possibility
Here, innovators redefine what’s possible by powering breakthroughs in biotech, creating solutions for climate change and transforming industries through AI.
Join us at Collision Conference
Collision – one of the world’s biggest tech conferences is back in Toronto from June 17-20. This is your opportunity to connect with people and companies redefining the tech industry. Plus:
- Attend presentations by some of U of T’s top minds in tech
- Connect with innovative U of T startups
- Visit the U of T booth for a chance to win a U of T prize pack
Get investment-ready startup news
Subscribe by July 8, 2024, and you could win a prize pack of innovative products created by U of T startups.
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Innovation with impact
We’re a global leader for research-based startups, garnering $3 billion+ in investment as we take on the world’s toughest challenges.
top
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in the world for university startup incubators
650
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companies created
10
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jobs created
5 U of T thought leaders to catch on stage at Collision
Geoffrey Hinton
The godfather of artificial intelligence, whose AI startup, DNNresearch, which focused on voice and image recognition, was bought by Google.
Geoffrey, the award-winning AI innovator, is a U of T professor emeritus and former Vice President and Engineering Fellow at Google. He is the Chief Scientific Advisor and co-creator of U of T’s globally renowned Vector Institute, which empowers researchers, businesses and governments to develop and adopt AI responsibly. Numerous aspiring U of T entrepreneurs have seen startup success with his guidance.
Today, he is raising public awareness of potential AI risks and dedicating his efforts to finding ways to advance its safety, ensuring a secure future for AI and our society.
Raquel Urtasun
Founder and CEO of Waabi, a tech company developing sophisticated AI systems for safe and scalable autonomous driving.
Raquel is a world-leading expert in AI. She worked on Uber’s self-driving arm and co-founded U of T’s Vector Institute. Today, Raquel is bringing together top talent from around the globe to bring generative AI into the physical world at Waabi. She is also a professor of computer science at U of T.
Raquel was placed on TIME’s list of the 100 most influential people in AI, and Waabi made the Forbes AI 50 list
Christian Weedbrook
Founder and CEO of Xanadu, a world-leading quantum computing company based in Toronto.
Christian, a U of T alumnus (post-doctoral), has been at the forefront of bringing quantum technology to the world over the past 15 years through his research and leadership. His goal is to harness the power of quantum computing to build better batteries, speed up drug discovery and more.
In 2022, his quantum computer, Borealis, which consisted of lasers, mirrors and over a kilometre of optical fiber, achieved the quantum advantage.
Aidan Gomez
Co-founder and CEO of Cohere, a cutting-edge AI startup that helps companies revolutionize their operations.
After interning with Geoffrey Hinton, U of T alum Aidan Gomez went on to cofound Cohere, a company with artificial intelligence at its core. Aidan strives to give language to technology with his chatbots, search engines and other AI-driven enterprise products.
In September 2023, TIME named Aidan one of the top 100 most influential people in AI. The accolades don’t end there. Aidan also made Maclean’s 2024 Power List for AI.
Etienne Lacroix, Vention
Founder and CEO of Vention, which simplifies manufacturing automation with the power of AI.
With a strong project management background and a degree in mechanical engineering, Etienne hatched Vention at U of T’s Creative Destruction Lab. The company has expanded rapidly and now helps manufacturing companies at over 4,000 factories spanning five continents design, automate, deploy and operate production floor equipment with ease.
In 2023, Deloitte named Vention one of Canada’s 50 fastest-growing tech companies, an award earned thanks to their growth, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.