The highly anticipated SAAS North conference kicks off in Ottawa today, drawing a global audience of venture capitalists, industry experts, and tech innovators. As Canada’s largest SaaS-focused event, SAAS North is set to feature a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, fireside chats, and networking opportunities that spotlight Ottawa’s growing role in the tech ecosystem.
One of the highlights is Invest Ottawa’s commitment to grassroots support, bringing together startups, scale-ups, and established tech companies. Sonia, President of Invest Ottawa, emphasized the organization’s dedication to fostering growth within the Ottawa tech community, highlighting the city’s rising number of software startups and their significant economic impact. A recent initiative, the Bootstrappers Campaign, empowers startups to sustain growth without immediate external funding, underscoring Ottawa’s unique position as a supportive hub for emerging tech.
Today’s conference debut also shines a light on HygenX AI, a local company showcasing “Ray,” an autonomous cleaning robot that can disinfect an ICU room in a fraction of the usual time. With designs made and manufactured in Ottawa, Ray exemplifies the city’s potential for pioneering advancements in hardware and software integration.
From AI to Unicorns: Top Secrets from SAAS North’s Most Influential SaaS Leaders
The SAAS North agenda features sessions tailored for SaaS leaders and investors, including workshops on AI integration, marketing strategies, and investment insights. Notably, the Investor Zone offers an exclusive environment where founders and venture capitalists connect, with scheduled pitches and sessions dedicated to fostering early-stage funding and growth partnerships.
With prominent names like Neil Patel discussing scalable SaaS marketing strategies, and other events including a showcase by Canadian AI leaders, SAAS North solidifies Ottawa’s place in the tech world, bridging local innovations with international investor momentum.
Schedule of Events SaaS North
SAAS North runs from November 13-14, 2024, providing an economic boost for Ottawa’s local businesses, from hotels to restaurants, and highlighting the city’s thriving tech landscape. The conference continues tomorrow with sessions on compliance, customer success, and the Pitchfest Final Throwdown.
Agenda – SaaS North Ottawa
November 13, 2024 – Day 1
7:15 AM – 8:15 AM
- RBCx Investor Breakfast
Topic: “AI: A Passing Fad or Disruptive Tsunami?”
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM
- Scaling SaaS Growth: Proven Marketing Strategies
Speaker: Neil Patel, SaaS Growth Expert
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
- Failure IS an Option: The Story of Sampler
Speakers: Douglas Soltys & Marie Chevrier Schwartz
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
- Hustle Hard, Sell Smart
10:50 AM – 11:30 AM
- FOBO and the Ongoing Quest for Product Market Fit
11:40 AM – 12:30 PM
- Innovating for Growth: In Conversation with Arash Mahin of HygenX AI
12:40 PM – 1:15 PM
- PITCHFEST Round 1
1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
- Trust as Currency: How to Capture and Retain Market Share
Speaker: Nathan Yeung, Marketing Strategist
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
- Unleashing the Power of Gen AI
Speaker: Stephany Lapierre, CEO of TealBook
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
- Foundations of Steadfast Leadership
3:10 PM – 3:45 PM
- Proven Strategies to Build Trust with Generative AI
4:05 PM – 4:35 PM
- From Seed to Unicorn: Finding Product-Market Fit
Speaker: Martin Basari, Applyboard Founder
November 14, 2024 – Day 2
8:40 AM – 9:10 AM
- Global Growth and Goofs: CERTN’s Journey
Speaker: Andrew McLeod, CEO of CERTN
9:10 AM – 9:40 AM
- The State of SaaS in Canada: Trends, Challenges, and Growth
Speakers: Douglas Soltys & Chris Arsenault
10:20 AM – 10:50 AM
- Power Partnerships: Accelerating Market Reach
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Onboarding DOES Matter
Speaker: Donna Weber, Customer Success Expert
12:45 PM – 1:20 PM
- PITCHFEST Round 2
1:50 PM – 2:20 PM
- Up Close and Personal with Janet Bannister
3:20 PM – 3:50 PM
- The Masked Investor
3:50 PM – 4:05 PM
- Pitchfest Final Throwdown
