Event category: Tactical Breakouts
Events
The SaaS Founders Path from Vision to Growth
Join BDC for an exclusive conversation with the CEOs of Trellis Corporation and Identos Inc, Fahim Sheikh and Mike Cook, two Canadian SaaS leaders redefining growth through purpose, resilience, and innovation.
From early funding choices and bootstrapping strategies to evolving customer profiles, shaping culture, and embracing AI, this session dives into the real stories behind building and scaling tech businesses.
Join BDC for an exclusive conversation with the CEOs of Trellis Corporation and Identos Inc, Fahim Sheikh and Mike Cook, two Canadian SaaS leaders redefining growth through purpose, resilience, and innovation.
The Ultimate Guide to Community-Led Growth: A Case Study of the Top in SaaS
Why do some software companies have a loyal, cult-like following? While others blend into oblivion? Is a good product enough to win in the SaaS market today? In this Masterclass with two leading community builders, explore how brands like Peleton, Gong, Notion & Duolingo build their raving fans. Walk away with a 4 step process to start building your own loyal member base today.
Why do some software companies have a loyal, cult-like following? While others blend into oblivion? Is a good product enough to win in the SaaS market today? In this Masterclass with two leading community builders, explore how brands like Peleton, Gong, Notion & Duolingo build their raving fans. Walk away with a 4 step process to start building your own loyal member base today.
There is a Horse for Every Race – Crafting Dynamic Leadership Teams to Propel Growth
Success often hinges on having the right leadership team at the right time—after all, “there is a horse for every race.” This session will explore the evolution of talent within organizations, changes in leadership, and how to recognize when it’s time to pass the reins to others. Join us for a deep dive into the dynamics of leadership teams as businesses scale from startup through SEED and Series A-B, and learn how to make strategic hires that align with your growth trajectory in today’s ever-changing landscape.
Success often hinges on having the right leadership team at the right time—after all, “there is a horse for every race.” This session will explore the evolution of talent within organizations, changes in leadership, and how to recognize when it’s time to pass the reins to others. Join us for a deep dive into the dynamics of leadership teams as businesses scale from startup through SEED and Series A-B, and learn how to make strategic hires that align with your growth trajectory in today’s ever-changing landscape.
Thriving in Vertical Markets: Building and Scaling Vertical Software Companies
Gain valuable insights and learn from accomplished leaders and industry experts who have excelled in niche markets. This session provides aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals with the knowledge and tools required to succeed in the dynamic landscape of vertical SaaS. You’ll discover everything from market research and product development to customer acquisition and growth hacking. With actionable advice and stories of success, this session equips you to build a thriving company and achieve your goals in the world of vertical SaaS.
Gain valuable insights and learn from accomplished leaders and industry experts who have excelled in niche markets. This session provides aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals with the knowledge and tools required to succeed in the dynamic landscape of vertical SaaS. You’ll discover everything from market research and product development to customer acquisition and growth hacking. With actionable advice and stories of success, this session equips you to build a thriving company and achieve your goals in the world of vertical SaaS.
Totally Fubar! 3 Epic Founder Fails
Join us for a wildly entertaining and epic oversharing session where real founders spill the beans on their biggest blunders and the invaluable lessons they learned. Get ready for a candid, laugh-out-loud experience as we uncover the cringeworthy, hilarious, and often humbling stories behind these epic fails. Walk away with practical advice and a newfound appreciation for the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship.
Join us for a wildly entertaining and epic oversharing session where real founders spill the beans on their biggest blunders and the invaluable lessons they learned. Get ready for a candid, laugh-out-loud experience as we uncover the cringeworthy, hilarious, and often humbling stories behind these epic fails. Walk away with practical advice and a newfound appreciation for the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship.
Two Year Countdown to Launch Your IPO Rocketship
2021 has been a banner year for public market recognition of SaaS in Canada. The recent rush of IPOs is frothy by any standard. Mark Shulgan, Head of OMERS Growth Equity (OGE), shares his unique insights on scaling businesses from growth to IPO-readiness. An IPO holds companies to a higher standard — for finances, disclosures and delivering to plan, therefore setting it up for a stronger future. It would seem that many of the next generation of SaaS Founders may exit via IPO.
2021 has been a banner year for public market recognition of SaaS in Canada. The recent rush of IPOs is frothy by any standard. Mark Shulgan, Head of OMERS Growth Equity (OGE), shares his unique insights on scaling businesses from growth to IPO-readiness. An IPO holds companies to a higher standard — for finances, disclosures and delivering to plan, therefore setting it up for a stronger future. It would seem that many of the next generation of SaaS Founders may exit via IPO.
Unlocking Growth: AI-Powered Customer Education and Community Building
In this Fireside chat with Candice Faktor of Disco, discover how AI can tailor educational experiences, improving product adoption and user satisfaction. Learn strategies for utilizing AI to create vibrant customer communities through intelligent content curation and automated moderation. Understand key metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of AI-driven initiatives on customer retention and overall business performance. And finally gain actionable insights on integrating AI tools into your customer education and community efforts while maintaining a human touch. This session is jam-packed with great takeaways as we navigate and integrate AI systems into business practice.
In this Fireside chat with Candice Faktor of Disco, discover how AI can tailor educational experiences, improving product adoption and user satisfaction. Learn strategies for utilizing AI to create vibrant customer communities through intelligent content curation and automated moderation. Understand key metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of AI-driven initiatives on customer retention and overall business performance. And finally gain actionable insights on integrating AI tools into your customer education and community efforts while maintaining a human touch. This session is jam-packed with great takeaways as we navigate and integrate AI systems into business practice.
Where Do We Start? Prioritizing Your People Ops Roadmap
What gets prioritized when it comes to building your People & Culture function? Often things like culture, events, recruiting, and values. And those are GREAT. But what is missing? Often, the things that we skip over (or do too late) have the biggest impact on our organizations. Things like a defined organizational structure, a clear compensation philosophy, a deep commitment to DEI, and the tracking and sharing of People metrics. In this talk, VP of People at Loopio, Alexis MacDonald will share her lessons learned growing the Loopio team from 80 to 280 employees. She’ll dive into the “less sexy, less talked about” People & Culture topics that drive impact.
What gets prioritized when it comes to building your People & Culture function? Often things like culture, events, recruiting, and values. And those are GREAT. But what is missing? Often, the things that we skip over (or do too late) have the biggest impact on our organizations. Things like a defined organizational structure, a clear compensation philosophy, a deep commitment to DEI, and the tracking and sharing of People metrics. In this talk, VP of People at Loopio, Alexis MacDonald will share her lessons learned growing the Loopio team from 80 to 280 employees. She’ll dive into the “less sexy, less talked about” People & Culture topics that drive impact.
Workshop: Define & Differentiate Your SaaS Product Messaging & Positioning
In 2023, your budget is going to be tight. Every dollar you spend on marketing needs to work hard, so every ad, email, and landing page needs to convert window shoppers into new customers. Your product positioning and messaging is incredibly important. And copy is the sneaky SaaS marketer’s tool that is so often overlooked, but when done well, it will turn words into dollars for your startup. In this practical session, we’ll dig into three easy ways you can improve your product messaging and positioning and how they flow into your messaging and customer facing copy. We’ll also tear up four volunteers landing page copy in real-time to demonstrate how to apply what you’ve learned.
In 2023, your budget is going to be tight. Every dollar you spend on marketing needs to work hard, so every ad, email, and landing page needs to convert window shoppers into new customers. Your product positioning and messaging is incredibly important. And copy is the sneaky SaaS marketer’s tool that is so often overlooked, but when done well, it will turn words into dollars for your startup. In this practical session, we’ll dig into three easy ways you can improve your product messaging and positioning and how they flow into your messaging and customer facing copy. We’ll also tear up four volunteers landing page copy in real-time to demonstrate how to apply what you’ve learned.
