When you’ve been part of something from its earliest spark to its present impact, a particular resonance stays with you – a resonance of purpose, pride, and progress. For me, that something is TiECon Canada. Eleven years ago, on a long drive to Boston, TiECon was born in a conversation that began as so many great ideas do: with a spark of “what if.”
In 2012, I joined a handful of Ottawa-based entrepreneurs on a road trip to TiECon Boston. We were more than passengers on this journey. We were ambassadors, carrying the energy of Ottawa’s burgeoning entrepreneurial landscape to one of the eastern seaboard’s most vibrant events. Year after year, we represented our city, a small but mighty contingent showcasing the depth of talent and ambition Ottawa had to offer. But as much as we valued TiECon Boston, the “what if” became impossible to ignore – what if Ottawa had a conference that didn’t just reflect its entrepreneurial community but truly celebrated it? What if we created a stage for our people, our ideas, right here in our city?
Those eight hours were electric with possibility. We spoke not only of “how” we could do this but also of “why” we should. And perhaps most critically, we considered the reverse: what if we didn’t bring TiECon to Ottawa? What opportunities, connections, and growth would we leave on the table? By the time we reached Boston, a vision had taken shape – a space where Ottawa’s entrepreneurial spirit could shine, a platform where those who believed in building something great could connect with others who shared that belief.
Returning to Ottawa, a group of us got to work, and what a journey it has been. From the early days of rolling up our sleeves to bring TiECon Canada to life to this years conference, it has been a decade filled with discovery, camaraderie, and a collective grit that defines the heart of Ottawa’s entrepreneurial community. Today, as TiECon 2024 unfolds at Carleton University, it’s impossible not to reflect on the magnitude of the path we’ve traveled. This conference, now one of Canada’s largest entrepreneurship events, has grown far beyond its initial vision. What began as an ambitious idea in a car became a cornerstone for entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and visionaries from Ottawa, Canada, and beyond.
Through years of building, we designed each TiECon Canada with a rare intention: to give entrepreneurs a place to connect deeply with investors, mentors, and peers, to be inspired, and to leave equipped with practical insights to move forward. Inspired by (and armed with) the support of TiE chapters in Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, and Silicon Valley, TiECon Canada has enabled us to create a unique blend of Canadian and global perspectives, each conference serving as both a celebration and a crucible for ideas. And as part of the organizing team from 2013 to 2021, I’ve had the privilege of watching it grow into this powerful network that doesn’t just talk about entrepreneurship; it actively nurtures it, creating real, lasting connections well beyond the two-day event.
One defining moment each year is the startup pitch competition – a dynamic showcase of raw ambition, where entrepreneurs lay bare their ideas, their dreams, in pursuit of seed funding and validation that only a room of peers and industry veterans can bring. For every idea pitched, there’s a story of resilience and a drive to solve problems and bring value to the world. It’s a humbling reminder that TiECon isn’t just an event but a collective leap of faith toward building something better. These competitions are more than opportunities for funding; they’re launch pads for the next wave of changemakers who, like us once, are inspired to turn a “what if” into action.
Reflecting on these eleven years, I am struck by what TiECon represents – not just to me but to Ottawa. It is a testament to the city’s potential to foster innovation and community, to connect our entrepreneurial ecosystem with the world, and to create a sense of purpose that sustains itself beyond any one individual or team. TiECon has outgrown its founders and become a shared legacy – a platform where newcomers and veterans alike gather, learn, and propel each other forward. And that, for me, is the greatest source of pride: knowing that we dared to ask, “What if we don’t do this?” and chose, resoundingly, to make it happen.
As TiECon 2024 kicks off, I find myself reflecting on the relationships built, the countless hours of planning, and the relentless pursuit of a vision born in the simple act of shared conversation. To have been part of that conversation, to have seen it through to where we stand today, is a privilege – a gift that goes beyond professional accomplishment. It’s a reminder that when we choose to build with purpose, with others in mind, the impact of our work reaches further than we ever imagined.
Looking forward, I am confident that TiECon will continue to inspire Ottawa’s entrepreneurs for years to come. It will remain a place where people come not just to witness what’s possible but to see firsthand what happens when communities rally behind those willing to dream, risk, and create. And perhaps that’s the ultimate “what if” – what if we continue to nurture this community, to support each other, and to make our mark in ways we haven’t even thought of yet?
The answer, as we know by now, is something worth building.
