in Canada for research-based startups
U of T at Collision
Find out why U of T is the place
to innovate. Connect with us
at Collision this June.

The University of Toronto is Canada’s leading engine for
research-based startups and a global leader in transforming
ideas into products and services that impact the world.
in University-managed incubators globally
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U of T at Collision
Meet us at Collision
The University of Toronto is proud to partner with Collision, North America's fastest-growing tech conference. The annual event is returning to Toronto this June, welcoming market leaders, tech experts and the media to determine where the world is heading next.
Visit u of T at Booth # E156
Booth Schedule


Our innovation ecosystem continues to enjoy incredible growth, and Collision is an excellent opportunity to shine a light on this momentum and the impact our entrepreneurial ecosystem is having globally.
Jon French, Director, U of T Entrepreneurship
Featured Speakers
Check out the notable U of T faculty, alumni and startup founders speaking at Collision.
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Schedule Highlights
Tune in for talks with U of T startup founders, alum and faculty, happening at Collision:
Tuesday, June 27
June 27, 11:50 AM – 12:15 PM
Trust Matters: The Importance of Ethical Leadership
How important is trust in the corporate world? In this session, industry leaders highlight the importance of listening when trying to build trust and answer the needs of consumers. They also examine why organizations must lead ethically and sustainably, putting value and respect at the heart of their actions.
Featured speaker: Pam Snively, Chief Data & Trust Officer, TELUS
June 27, 12:00 AM
Toronto’s Innovation Ecosystem
Join leaders from Toronto’s innovation network, including Krista Jones (MaRS Discovery District), Derek Newton (University of Toronto), and Angelo Casanas (OneEleven), for a panel discussion about the city’s innovation ecosystem, moderated by Satish Kanwar (Shopify).
Featured speaker: Derek Newton, AVP, Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship at the Innovations & Partnerships Office, University of Toronto
June 27, 12:00 PM
JALI Inc. CEO Sarah Watling Panel
JALI's CEO Sarah Watling will join a panel discussion to provide insights on local talent engagement, trailblazing technologies, and the importance of a diverse and collaborative ecosystem like Toronto's.
Featured speaker: Sarah Watling, CEO, JALI Research Inc.
June 27, 12:05 PM - 12:25 PM
Is Generative AI Killing SaaS?
Friend or foe? With generative AI offering more possibilities for work automation, data personalization, software integrations and more, how will it work hand in hand with SaaS aficionados? Join Glean CEO Arvind Jain and Ada co-founder and CEO Mike Murchison to find out.
Featured speaker: Mike Murchison, Co-founder & CEO, Ada
June 27, 3:15 PM - 3:35 PM
How will Quantum Computing affect our Everyday Lives in the Future?
Xanadu is on a mission to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere. If the Canadian company is successful in this mission, what might it mean for day-to-day life? Founder and CEO Christian Weedbrook explores.
Featured speaker: Christian Weedbrook, Founder & CEO, Xanadu
June 27, 4:00 PM
Black Founders – Breaking
Down Key Barriers
Despite some progress made, Black Founders continue to face key barriers. Less than 2% of venture funding raised in North America has gone to Black-led companies in the last three years. Access to affordable talent still remains a big challenge. This conversation will highlight how our ecosystem is breaking down these barriers.
Featured speakers: Melisa Ellis, Founder of Nobellum. Efosa Obano, Founder & Manager, Black Founders Network
Wednesday, June 28
June 28, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Mentors Matter: Foundations for Founders on their Accelerator or Incubator Journey
This special session dives deep into the outsized, positive impact that diverse mentors can have on founders as they go through the accelerator and incubator experience.
Featured speaker: Eva Lau, Founder & General Partner, Two Small Fish Ventures
June 28, 10:00 AM
University Support for Entrepreneurship
Join us as we discuss the value universities provide to startups and corporations through open innovation and R&D.
Featured speaker: Jon French, Director, University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
June 28, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Toronto is the Place for Cleantech Innovation
Transitioning to a low-carbon future will require collaboration, technological know-how, talent, and a supportive environment. Meet Toronto’s gamechangers and learn about key developments that are accelerating Toronto’s transition to net zero by 2040.
Featured speaker: Shatha Qaqish-Clavering, Director, Strategy and Operations, Climate Positive Energy Initiative, University of Toronto
June 28, 11:47 AM – 11:51 AM
The Role of Innovation and AI in Outpacing the next Outbreak
Driven by climate change, urbanization, globalization and more, infectious diseases are emerging with greater frequency and severity. But, just as diseases spread fast, intelligence can move faster. Join this session to learn how AI and machine learning can be used to enhance infectious disease surveillance and responses across multiple sectors in order to get ahead of outbreaks.
Featured speaker: Kamran Khan, Founder & CEO, BlueDot
June 28, 2:05 PM – 2:20 PM
The Future of Quantum Computing
What does a future with a functioning fault-tolerant quantum computer look like? In this session, Christian Weedbrook, the founder and CEO of Xanadu – a leading quantum computing company based in Toronto – explores this question by diving into current research and practical use cases.
Featured speaker: Christian Weedbrook, Founder & CEO, Xanadu
June 28, 3:20 PM – 3:40 PM
Shopify and the Future of Commerce
Shopify COO Kaz Nejatian explores the latest technologies – including AI, mobile and community commerce – enabling brands to connect with customers in authentic ways, even while competing in a crowded retail market that has ever-changing consumer demands.
Featured speaker: Kaz Nejatian, COO, Shopify
June 28, 3:25 PM – 3:45 PM
The Workforce Renaissance: Accelerating the next wave of Productivity with LLMs
As humans continue to become more innovative, the landscape for product experiences is going to be completely transformed by AI. In this session, Cohere co-founder and CTO Ivan Zhang joins MIT Technology Review's Anthony Green to explore recent advancements in AI and LLMs, and to discuss how the technology is poised to accelerate the next wave of workforce productivity.
Featured speaker: Ivan Zhang, Co-founder & CTO, Cohere
June 28, 4:25 PM – 5:00 PM
In Conversation with the Godfather of AI
Cognitive psychologist and computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton – the 'godfather of AI' – started researching AI more than 40 years ago, when it seemed more like science fiction than reality. Join Geoffrey, in conversation with the Atlantic CEO Nick Thompson, for an exploration of the future of AI and a deep dive into its potential impact on society.
Featured speaker: Geoffrey Hinton, Godfather of AI, University of Toronto
Thursday, June 29
June 29, 10:00 AM
AI For Science
AI and automation are revolutionizing science, allowing us to create new materials and molecules for a fraction of the usual time and cost––including lifesaving medications, biodegradable plastics, renewable energy, and more. Hear how Toronto is at the very centre of this revolution.
Featured speaker: Padraic Foley, Director Strategy and Partnerships, Acceleration Consortium
June 29, 11:45 AM - 12:05 PM
Towards Sustainable AI: Addressing Environmental and Social Impacts
As it exists today, AI technology poses significant environmental risks by consuming vast amounts of energy. A global fleet of autonomous vehicles could generate as many greenhouse gas emissions as all the data centers in the world today. Reducing the environmental footprint of future AI technologies must become a key priority.
Featured speaker: Arun Iyengar, CEO, Untether AI
June 29, 12:35 PM - 12:55 PM
Battery Innovations and Quantum Technologies: The Key to Sustainable Mobility?
Volkswagen Canada CEO and president Pierre Boutin and Xanadu founder and CEO Christian Weedbrook discuss present and future developments around the most important vehicle component shaping the future of sustainable mobility.
Featured speaker: Christian Weedbrook, Founder & CEO, Xanadu
June 29, 12:40 PM – 1:05 PM
Q&A with Aidan Gomez 💬
Aidan Gomez takes to one of the most open and honest stages in tech to answer your most pressing questions.
Featured speaker: Aidan Gomez, Co-founder & CEO, Cohere
June 29, 1:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Day 4 | Opening Remarks
Ariel Garten will bring opening remarks to kick off the fourth and final day of Collision.
Featured speaker: Ariel Garten, Founder, InteraXon
June 29, 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM
The Steam Engine of Today: How AI is Revolutionizing the Working World
Cohere founder and CEO Aidan Gomez joins author and political commentator Stephen Marche to discuss the importance of the next 18 months for AI, and to explore how the technology will propel an intellectual workforce revolution – similar to how the steam engine propelled an industrial revolution more than 100 years ago.
Featured speaker: Aidan Gomez, Co-founder & CEO, Cohere
Featured Startups
Get to know the U of T-connected startups that will be featured at Collision.
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