TORONTO—Startups in the technology sector are taking centre stage at the 2024 Collision tech expo, with 1,600 up-and-coming companies gathering with over 1,000 potential investors.
The June 17-20 event marks Toronto’s final year as host before Collision moves to the West Coast next year.
“Here in Toronto, and in cities across the globe, we’ve brought people together as a springboard to do remarkable things—to launch companies, find investors, unveil projects,” said Paddy Cosgrave, founder and CEO of Web Summit, the organizer of Collision.
Mr. Cosgrave said there had been a “misalignment between the venture capital community and the startup community,” but noted a dramatic shift in the industry over the past decade.
“It’s fantastic to see so many people starting businesses, getting products to market, getting their first customers, getting real revenue, and not taking any external capital,” he said. “What’s happening now, I think, is a very positive development.”
Collision is set to move to Vancouver in 2025 and will rebrand under the name “Web Summit,” aligning with its organizer’s identity.
Harjit Sajjan, minister of emergency preparedness and minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency (PacifiCan), said PacifiCan will provide $6.6 million to support Destination Vancouver, a Crown corporation, in hosting Collision from 2025 to 2027.
International Representation
The 2024 Collision Expo is bringing together 1,600 startups from around the globe, including Japan, Korea, Uruguay, Ghana, Italy, and Nigeria.Trade delegations from those countries, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Belgium, the Philippines, Latvia, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Austria, are also participating to explore business opportunities with Canada and local enterprises.
