From June 17-20, 2024 the City of Brampton’s Invest Brampton – Economic Development Office, the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre and our Innovation District partners attended the Collision tech conference in Toronto.
With some 36,000 attendees from 118 countries around the world, Collision was a great opportunity to showcase the Brampton Innovation District.
The Gathering: A North American First
The festivities kicked off with ‘The Gathering,’ a pre-conference event co-hosted by Collision and the City of Brampton at The Rose Theatre in downtown Brampton. This was the first time the event was held in North America, drawing an impressive crowd of 200 startups and included food from local businesses such as Macaronz, West End Coffee, Jamie’s Popcorn and entertainment from our professional basketball team, the Honey Badgers. The day was packed with keynotes, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and engaging activations, setting a high bar for collaboration and innovation. Highlights included the panel “Future-Proofing Your Startup: Harnessing Cybersecurity for Success,” moderated by Charles Finlay, Executive Director of Rogers Catalyst, with insights from panelists Elana Graham of CYDEF, Darace Rose of OPPOS, Laura Eversten from RBC, and Alexander Barclay of Graphite Ventures. The presence of Paddy Cosgrave, founder of Collision and a pivotal figure in global tech ecosystems, underscored the international importance of the event and symbolized a strong endorsement of Brampton’s growing influence in the tech industry.
Games Room: A Hub of Entrepreneurial Energy
The City of Brampton booth was one of the standout features of Collision. Dubbed “The Games Room,” it was a vibrant space designed for networking and diving deeper into what makes Brampton’s Innovation District a dynamic hub for entrepreneurial activity. We engaged with thousands of businesses, celebrated startups during pitch sessions and garnered valuable insights from Mayor Patrick Brown, who spoke on a panel about the government’s role in fostering an innovation economy.
Our Partners in Innovation
With support from our Innovation District partners, our booth was brought to life with exciting activations, including pitch competitions (in collaboration with Brampton Angels and a JETRO pitch session for Japanese founders hosted by Councillor Rowena Santos, Happy Hour sessions sponsored by Altitude Accelerator and Preference Capital), Juice Bar sponsored by Canon Canada and networking events and panel discussions. The continuous support from our partners Altitude Accelerator, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, BHive, Brampton Venture Zone by TMU, Algoma and Sheridan College played a crucial role in our success at the conference.
Global Connections
The week also saw us welcoming international delegations from Philippines and Pakistan. Supported by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT), these visits provided a unique opportunity to showcase our thriving downtown Innovation District to a global audience, further establishing Brampton as a key player on the international stage.
As we reflect on the achievements of the past week,” said Clare Barnett, Director of Economic Development and International Relations, “we are inspired by the potential and promise of Brampton’s future as a leader in innovation and technology. The connections made, ideas shared, and partnerships forged at Collision 2024 will undoubtedly propel us forward, driving growth and innovation in our city and beyond.”
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to build on the momentum from this landmark event and foster an ecosystem where technology and collaboration thrive.
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