How Toronto Tech Week plans to host 10,000 people this June
“ Toronto Tech Week belongs to everyone. Toronto Tech Week is by definition a platform, and it succeeds or fails by the virtue of all the hosts and all of the ecosystem in Toronto wanting to participate.” Filling the summer event gap that Collision left in the city, Toronto Tech Week plans to host 10,000 people attending over 100 events this June. How did the ‘community-driven platform’ come to be? How will it be different than other tech events? Toronto Tech Week founding partners and co-organizers Ameet Shah (Golden Ventures), Satish Kanwar (Good Future), and Mell Truong (Sage Consulting) join to tell the story. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now, convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related Links: Local leaders launch Toronto Tech Week to accelerate city’s ambitions Chamath Palihapitiya, Sanja Fidler among Homecoming headliners as Toronto Tech Week unveils event calendar BetaKit to launch “Most Ambitious” issue on June 23, 2025
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52:51
Eric Migicovsky’s crazy journey to relaunch Pebble
“ At the end of the day, I really wanted a Pebble. It didn't exist. No one was building anything remotely like it. So I, without really knowing what I was doing, decided to go and make it.” Almost 10 years after Pebble’s demise, Eric Migicovsky is back building smartwatches. The Canadian behind some of the largest Kickstarter projects of all time explains why he’s relaunching the device he originally made for himself, the incredible luck that has allowed him to do so, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related links: Why We’re Bringing Pebble Back Kickstarter's all-time most-funded list Eric Migicovsky's blog post on why Pebble failed
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1:17:00
Katherine Homuth revisited
“ It's worth it. Because this deserves to live. We've gotten it far enough that this deserves to actually come to fruition. I don't think there is another company in the world today that actually is closer to this sci-fi dream.” Revisiting BetaKit’s January interview with SRTX founder Katherine Homuth about her company’s ambitious goal to modernize Western textile manufacturing in light of recent news that she will step down as CEO contingent on a deal to secure new financing. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by Consensus, where innovators meet investors. This May, crypto’s longest-running conference will welcome 20,000 attendees to shape the future of the decentralized digital economy at its inaugural festival in Toronto, Canada’s largest tech and financial hub. You can’t afford to miss it. Visit go.coindesk.com/betakit to sign up and save 20% off your ticket! Related links: SRTX founder and CEO Katherine Homuth to step down amid fundraising push and tariff threat SRTX temporarily lays off 40 percent of staff ahead of US tariff “worst-case scenario”
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1:09:16
Canadian foodtech has a scale-up problem
“ By the time these companies are ready for B and C [rounds], their cap tables are super clean, too. So it doesn't really make sense that we're not putting money into them.” In a time of global uncertainty, a new report by the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) shows that Canada lags other countries in foodtech funding, relying too much on public funding. CEO Dana McCauley joins to discuss the report, how CFIN’s 6,500 members are navigating tariffs, and why it's important that Canada invests in the tech that feeds us. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The Cyber Challenge, powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and CCTX—your pathway to new sales, industry connections, and non-dilutive funding. If you're ready to scale, refine, and lead cybersecurity innovation, apply today at www.thecyberchallenge.ca. The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by Consensus, where innovators meet investors. This May, crypto’s longest-running conference will welcome 20,000 attendees to shape the future of the decentralized digital economy at its inaugural festival in Toronto, Canada’s largest tech and financial hub. You can’t afford to miss it. Visit go.coindesk.com/betakit to sign up and save 20% off your ticket! Related links: Foodtech in Canada: 2025 Ecosystem Report
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54:03
Cohere commands attention, Apple Intelligence delays, plus a vibe coding PSA
”Apple won't use user data to develop and train AI. And Apple lives in a world where AI is going to be table stakes in any software or hardware moving forward.” Call it counter-programming. A tech palate cleanse for all the election and trade war talk. This week, Rob and Doug tackle the latest AI developments: vibe coding, Cohere’s (temporary?) LLM pole position, AI data centres from Telus (powered by Nvidia), and Apple’s delayed intelligence. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by The Cyber Challenge, powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and CCTX—your pathway to new sales, industry connections, and non-dilutive funding. If you're ready to scale, refine, and lead cybersecurity innovation, apply today at www.thecyberchallenge.ca. The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by Consensus, where innovators meet investors. This May, crypto’s longest-running conference will welcome 20,000 attendees to shape the future of the decentralized digital economy at its inaugural festival in Toronto, Canada’s largest tech and financial hub. You can’t afford to miss it. Visit go.coindesk.com/betakit to sign up and save 20% off your ticket! Related links: Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino Apple’s AI division reportedly starting from scratch Apple’s Craig Federighi Discusses the Future of iPhone AI Apple’s Catch-22 Cohere’s Command A goes brrrrrrrrr Cohere had to extend the axis a bit Telus, data centres and ‘Sovereign AI’ (powered by Nvidia) 25% of Y Combinator’s latest startup batch is vibe coding Vibe coding startups are already raising millions @leojr94_ vibe coded his way into a cyber attack (lol)
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