Event category: Fundraising & Exits
Events
November 18, 2021
02:05 PM - 02:45 PM EDT
How To Find Your Investor Soulmate and Raise Your Series A, B and Beyond
You might get the opportunity once in your career to build what can truly be a VC-backed company. What metrics suggest that you have a venture-scalable company? Why do some early-stage ventures fail to grow beyond seed-stage?
In this session you’ll hear learnings from very fast-growing companies that have successfully moved from bootstrapped to VC-backed.
11:10 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
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.
10:25 AM - 10:55 AM EDT
How Fellow App Prepared for its $24 Million Series A Fundraise
Canadian companies are raising growth rounds left and right, and it’s so exciting to see Fellow’s $24 million Series A round added to that list. While COVID-19 tailwinds helped the company close a round in just two weeks, Aydin, CEO and co-founder (and 6x SAAS NORTH emcee) credits the company’s intense 30-day preparation process as a huge factor in their success. Take a look inside how Fellow prepared for its Series A fundraise and learn the steps that you can follow too.
November 17, 2021
02:40 PM - 03:20 PM EDT
Navigating the Capital Conundrum: A Discussion on When, How and Why to Raise Capital to Grow your Business
It is a challenge for bootstrapped entrepreneurs to know WHEN the best time is to raise capital and to evaluate the different capital options available to determine what is best to drive growth. The Canadian tech ecosystem is flush with liquidity at present and lenders, VCs and other investors alike are competing for the best businesses. Hear from lenders and entrepreneurs about their practical experiences navigating these challenging waters and exploring different sources of debt and equity financing opportunities.
01:45 PM - 02:25 PM EDT
SEED Fundraising Strategy Redux: How Early SEED Opportunities Have Exploded for Startups in 2020-2021
Finding the best way to fund your SaaS company is not easy, and there are more options to consider than ever as fundraising continues to change with the post-COVID19 economic rebound.
Our panel will provide tips on how to navigate the world of virtual fundraising, prospecting, referrals, pitching and due diligence when you can’t meet investors face-to-face. They will share new investment processes and alternative fundraising opportunities such as the deregulation of angel capital, crowdfunding, friends and family rounds, , new funds for underrepresented groups and other seed money opportunities.
07:30 AM - 08:30 AM EDT
Silicon Valley Bank Investor Breakfast
Global VC has hit an all-time high! Join Silicon Valley Bank at SAAS NORTH's exclusive Investor Breakfast where Shez Samji, Head of Business Development, will lead a 20-minute fireside chat together with Ajay Gopal from Framework Ventures.
This session will break down the explosive trends in VC investment in the Canadian tech ecosystem. They look forward to discussing the strength of the Canadian innovation economy and their perspective on why we are attracting record levels of investment from both sides of the border.
November 16, 2022
04:35 PM - 04:55 PM EDT
The Evolution of a Company & CEO Through Chapters of Growth
Over the last eight years, Toronto-based B2B software startup Loopio has grown from 3 Co-founders to a 280-person strong company boasting over 1,400 customers. From 3+ years of bootstrapping, to being VC-backed for another 3+ years, and most recently, their Private Equity investment ($252 million CAD), Co-founder & CEO Zak Hemraj has had to constantly evolve himself and the company. In this session, you’ll learn about Zak's key takeaways from each distinct chapter of growth, how he's had to evolve as a CEO, and some challenges & failures along the way.

November 17, 2022
02:55 PM - 03:30 PM EDT
The Things They Don’t Tell You When Buying & Selling Your SaaS
Hear from two CEOs + Founders who have recently exited and one Founder & CEO that bought a Saas. These Founder/CEOs will reflect on the process in the rear-view mirror. Let them help you build and broaden your frame of reference by sharing their own tales from the trenches.
You’ll hear, what goes into selling and buying a company, how and why founders decided to do it, what they wish they had known, their key learnings and what they would change, if you join another team, what it’s like to go from being in charge to being an employee? The emotional side of selling and what it’s like to walk away from something you put so much time and energy into building and what each founder learned from that experience of selling the company, how it helped them grow, and what you can learn looking at your own company’s journey.

12:30 PM - 01:20 PM EDT
Food for Thought
A 30-minute deep conversation with someone at a conference will set you up for years to come!
Food for Thought is designed around connections and discussions. Meet cool, highly relevant people, learn from your peers who have already solved the issues you’re working on and share your learnings with others!
