News
CIX Top 20 Company, Spotwork, Wins Canadian Regional Competition for Startup World Cup
Toronto-based Spotwork, an end-to-end HRMS with a focus on recruitment through streamlined technology tent, was awarded the Startup World Cup Regional Winner for Canada at CIX Summit.
Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition with the goal of bridging startup ecosystems worldwide. It is organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based multinational VC firm. More than 60+ regional events are held across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, leading up to the 2023 Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, where the global champion will be awarded a USD $1 million investment prize.
Startup World Cup partners exclusively with CIX annually to host its Canadian regional competition and recognizes the CIX Top 20 Early companies as the finalists.
Startup World Cup judges attended the CIX Summit this week in Toronto and selected Spotwork from the 2022 CIX Top 20 Early inductee companies.
Founded in 2019 by Darren Perlman and Daniel Copeland and is headquartered in Toronto.
"In less than 2 years of being live, and we have helped over 35,000 Canadians up-skill and find new meaningful work opportunities," said Darren Perlman, Co-Founder & CEO of Spotwork, "With CIX’s recognition for the work we’ve done, we are excited to scale these numbers to over 100,000 for 2023 with our further expansion in the Canadian and US markets. Spotwork is helping break down barriers to employment for marginalized citizens, at-risk youth, newcomers to the country and persons with disabilities. Providing inclusive job opportunities changes lives for these communities and solves employers labour shortages. It’s a winning solution with an incredible social impact."
Cole Carouba, Startup World Cup Ambassador at Pegasus Tech Ventures and Darren Perlman, Co-Founder & CEO, Spotwork
Cole Carouba, the Startup World Cup Ambassador with Pegasus Tech Ventures, presented the award to Darren Perlman, on November 2 at CIX Summit in downtown Toronto.
Spotwork is invited to represent Canada at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in December 2023 in San Francisco and will compete alongside 60+ other startups from all over the world for an opportunity to win the US $1 million investment prize.
Of note, Canadian startup SRTX (formally Sheertex), won the global competition in 2022.
CIX Starts Tomorrow. Meet These Founders, CEOs and Investors Over The Next 1.5 Days
Here’s a roundup of what’s happening over the next 1.5 days. It’s not too late to register at CIX - on site registration is open starting at 12pm tomorrow.
The list of presenting startups is so impressive we had to share!
Canadian Success Story: Spotlight on 1Password
1Password grew as a bootstrapped cybersecurity company with no outside investment for 14 years until they partnered with Accel for their USD $200 million Series A in 2019. In January 2022, 1Password broke new records with its $620 million Series C. Join 1Password co-founder Dave Teare and Accel Partner, Ethan Choi, as they discuss the two company’s strong partnership and vision of growing sustainable, founder-led companies.
The six CIX Top Showcases feature presentations from 30 award-winning startups, as determined by CIX’s 2022 Selection Committee of 140 North American investors. Meet the presenters and Expert Commentators in CIX Top 10 Growth Showcase #2
Workshop: Accessing Enterprise Clients with Microsoft Featuring Zafin
Join speakers from Microsoft and Zafin for a roundtable discussion on what it means to accelerate your business through access to Microsoft’s enterprise partners, and how Zafin was able to accelerate its business growth through a partnership with Microsoft. Come with your questions!
Lunch & Learn: Opportunities In Hong Kong/Asia - The Gateway to New Funding and New Markets
Even in a contracting world, HK continues to make amazing developments in fintech, life sciences, financial services, food sciences, and startups across sectors. Please join Christopher Chen, Head of InvestHK for Canada, as he shares the newest updates on how Canadian companies looking to grown can tap this ever-dynamic market.
Don't Miss These Founders, CEOs and Investors at CIX 2022!
Why you do not want to miss CIX Summit:
• Speakers are 100 award-winning startups & investors;
• Network with innovative founders, 1:1 meetings with investors;
• Workshops and interactive roundtables;
• Tesla test drives;
CIX is easy to navigate to find people that matter to your business.
Here are some of the rock stars you will see on stage:
Canadian Success Story: Spotlight on TealBook
Join Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of BDC as she talks about BDC's commitment to supporting women and tech entrepreneurs to make them thrive. Followed by a fireside chat with Tealbook's Founder and CEO, Stephany Lapierre as they discuss TealBook's rapid growth as a leading supplier data platform, raising capital and what it means to be a female tech founder.
The six CIX Top Showcases feature presentations from 30 award-winning startups, as determined by CIX's 2022 Selection Committee of 140 North American investors. Meet the presenters and Expert Commentators in CIX Top 20 Early Showcase # 4
Workshop: Insights Into Partnering With Corporate Venture Capital Funds
Join experienced investors from NAventures (National Bank), Deloitte Ventures and AsterX (Quebecor) as they share their perspectives on the key benefits and challenges, strategies and questions for approaching and working with CVCs.
Workshop: Grow Your Business With The Help of Canadian Technology Accelerators
Looking for support to expand your business in thriving global tech ecosystems? Learn about customized market support for high-potential and high-growth Canadian tech firms in 12 global tech hubs.
Test drive your dream car at CIX Summit!
A Tesla Model 3 and Model Y will be available for test drives for the two days of CIX Summit, only available for CIX delegates. We recommend you pre-book and you may also signup on site based on availability.
Register for CIX now to pre book your test drive.
Over 70 CEOs of high-ranking startups and 200+ investor meetings at CIX next week
Less than one week until CIX - Canadian Innovation Exchange! Don’t miss 70+ founders and CEOs, 40+ investors and more on stage. Featured sessions include:
The Standoff: Operators vs. Venture Capitalists
Join serial entrepreneurs and seasoned VCs for a frank conversation about the founder-investor relationship, especially during market downturns. Be ready for some heat!
CIX Top 20 Early Showcase #3
Presentations from 5 award-winning startups, as determined by the CIX 2022 Selection Committee, followed by Expert Commentators’ questions and networking to meet these founders and CEOs.
Latest Speakers Added for CIX
If you are looking for funding or companies to invest in, joining the CIX Summit is your best investment.
Over 40% of delegates find their next deal at CIX.
Check out some of the rock star speakers taking the stage on November 1 & 2:
Canadian Success Story: Spotlight on Waabi
Waabi is a revolutionary autonomous vehicle startup founded in Toronto by Raquel Urtasun, one of the world’s leading experts in artificial intelligence for self-driving cars. Hear about Waabi's unique AI-centric approach, their initial financing of $83.5 million USD and the race to lead the next generation of self-driving testing.
CIX Top 20 Early Showcase #2
Presentations from 5 award-winning startups, as determined by the CIX 2022 Selection Committee, followed by Expert Commentators’ questions and networking to meet these founders and CEOs.
Roundtable: The Mental Cost of Being a Startup Founder
Join Josh Domingues, Founder & CEO of Flashfood, for an interactive roundtable discussion on productive ways to handle both the ups and downs of their business, best practices for keeping stakeholders informed, taking time away from their company and what unplugging really means today.
Canadian Startup SRTX Wins 2022 Startup World Cup Global Competition
Today, CIX Canadian Innovation Exchange shared that a CIX Top 20 Early company, SRTX (previously called Sheertex), was selected as the global champion at the 2022 Startup World Cup Grand Finale last week in San Francisco.
Startup World Cup is a global competition with over 70 regional competitions around the world. Each year, the Startup World Cup recognizes CIX Top 20 Early companies as the short-list for Canada. From this list, Startup World Cup judges select a winner to compete at the annual Grand Finale in San Francisco.
In 2019 Sheertex, as it was known then, was selected as the Canadian winner by the SWC judges from CIX’s Top 20 Early-stage recipients.
SRTX Founder & CEO accepting the Canadian Regional award at CIX in 2019
Due to the pandemic, the Grand Finale was delayed in 2020-2021 and took place in person for the first time in two years last week. SRTX was awarded as the global champion with US$1 million investment from Pegasus Tech Ventures, the competition organizer.
“It is quite an honour to be selected from so many game-changing companies from around the world,” said Katherine Homuth, Founder CEO of SRTX. “It’s been an incredible journey and we look forward to continuing to build SRTX into a global leader in sustainable textiles. Thank you, CIX, for supporting and recognizing SRTX in our early days.”
Sam Colby, from SRTX, Accepting the Investment Prize on Sept 30 2022 in San Francisco
"We are so proud of SRTX for winning this global competition,” said Lauren Linton, Executive Director of CIX. “Katherine and her team solved a problem that has plagued us for years with unbreakable sheer pantyhose. We are excited to see where they go next!”
This win is another feather in the cap for the Canadian innovation ecosystem. Global awareness of the accomplishments of Canada's great tech companies helps our startups become better at commercializing on an international level.
CIX is the exclusive Canadian regional competition for Startup World Cup. This year, Startup World Cup judges will attend CIX November 1-2 in Toronto and will select a Canadian finalist from the 2022 CIX Top 20 Early companies. The winner will be invited to the Grand Finale in San Francisco in 2023. Please visit www.cixsummit.com/2022/ to learn more.
Meeting Exchange signups are now open! Book your 1:1 meetings with investors.
We have just opened the sign-ups for CIX's popular Meeting Exchanges, for founders & CEOs to pre-book face-to-face meetings with North American investors. Even if you are not raising capital, this is a valuable opportunity to seek advice and build new relationships.
Check out the first wave of Meeting Exchange Hosts here.
See who's Speaking at CIX
Hear from over 70 founders/CEOs making waves in the Canadian venture ecosystem, including:
Canadian Success Story: Spotlight on D2L
Kitchener-based D2L is the world's leading education software company with millions of customers around the world – in schools, colleges, universities, government and business. Founded when he was 22, D2L’s President and CEO, John Baker, will share how his dream launched a learning revolution, the mistake that almost cost him the company and the decision to go public last year.
CIX Top 10 Growth Showcase #1
See presentations from 5 award-winning scaleup companies, as determined by the CIX 2022 Selection Committee. CIX Showcases are followed by in-person networking opportunities to meet the founders and CEOs, foster new connections and power new deals.
MORE CIX 2022 Speakers Announced
See presentations from over 70 founders/CEOs
Announcing CIX Top 20 Showcase # 1. These award-winning companies take the stage on Tuesday Nov 1, 2022 2:15pm EST
Who Are Canada’s Most Innovative Technology Companies?
Meet Canada's Best
CIX Canadian Innovation Exchange presents the recipients of the 2022 CIX TOP 20 Early and CIX TOP 10 Growth award program:
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These award-winning companies represent a diverse range of technology spanning medtech, fintech, big data, security, marketing and cleantech sectors.
Of note, d1g1t is a two-time award winner, having been selected as a CIX Top 20 Early company in 2019 and the founders of Uvaro and Wrk are serial entrepreneurs who have won the CIX award with previous companies.
These Founders/CEOs will present, in person, at CIX Summit on November 1-2, in downtown Toronto to over 700 investors, entrepreneurs and advisors in the North American technology ecosystem.
First Wave of Speakers. Top 20 Early & Top 10 Growth Recipients announced tomorrow!
There is no better place to meet and network with some of the top execs from Canada's most innovative early and growth-stage tech companies and global investors than CIX.
Over the past 15 years, CIX has earned a top spot on the list of "must attend" events for founders, GPs and corporates who use CIX as a business development tool.
This year's event will take place on November 1-2, 2022 in Toronto and here are just some of the names confirmed so far:
Watch your email as we are announcing the 2022 CIX Top 20 Early and CIX Top 10 Growth recipients, and presenters tomorrow!
Register today to have first access to pre-book investor meetings and hold your spot for Canada’s premier venture conference.
Find Your Next Deal at Canada’s Largest Venture Conference
A sneak peak of a few companies whose founders/CEOs will take the stage at CIX 2022:
• ApplyBoard as CIX’s 2022 Innovator of the Year
• Canadian Success Story Spotlights from global edtech leader D2L, who IPO’d in Nov 2021 and 1Password, who raised the largest round in Canadian history in Jan 2022
• CEOs leading real conversations about the challenges every founder will face and how to solve them
• Plus the CIX Top 20 Early and Top 10 Growth award winners (announced on Sept 8)
• More companies and speakers to be announced! Check out the preliminary agenda here
Space is limited. Register today to connect with the most sought after award-winning Canadian startups and investors!
CIX brings Startup World Cup to Canada.
Today, CIX Canadian Innovation Exchange announced that it has continued its exclusive partnership with Startup World Cup to host its Canadian competition on November 1-2, 2022 as a part of CIX.
Startup World Cup is an annual global competition bridging startup ecosystems worldwide in 70+ countries.
As part of the program each year, Startup World Cup judges attend CIX and select the Canadian winner from the CIX Top 20 Early recipient companies.
Past CIX Top 20 Early Award Winners of the Canadian Startup World Cup Canada Regional include:
CIX remains globally recognized as the key arbiter of Canada’s top startups - register now to connect with a curated forum of founders-to-watch.
Join the who's who (and who's next) in the Canadian tech investment scene
Book some time with Canada's fast track
Judging is underway to select Canada's hottest early and scaling startups, so book your seat now to see these award winners take the stage at CIX, as well as meet the top investors who gave them high scores.
Thank you to our judges who are evaluating companies from their homes, offices, backyards, cottages, and boats.
Meet these investors and more at CIX. REGISTER NOW
Announcing CIX's 2022 Innovator of the Year
ApplyBoard is the world's largest online platform for international student recruitment. The company has built partnerships with over 1,500 primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools, and works with over 10,000 recruitment partners to drive diversity on campuses across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
At the core of ApplyBoard's mission is to make education more inclusive by breaking down barriers for international students.
ApplyBoard was founded by three brothers, Martin, Massi and Meti Basiri, all of whom travelled to Waterloo Region from Iran for their post-secondary education. Based on their own experiences, they saw an opportunity to streamline the search, application and acceptance processes for students wanting to pursue their high school and post-secondary education in a foreign country.
"This is a tremendous honour and vote of confidence from the Canadian tech and innovation community." said ApplyBoard's co-founder and CEO Martin Basiri. "Every single day ApplyBoard is dedicated to our mission to educate the world as we develop new ways to serve the millions of students around the world who are searching for a better education. The trajectory of my brothers' lives and I changed drastically thanks to the power of education and the world of opportunity that it opened up. We can't wait to create more positive change as a proudly Canadian company."
"ApplyBoard was recognized as a CIX Top 10 Growth company in 2019 and we have been proudly following ApplyBoard remarkable growth," said Lauren Linton, Executive Director of CIX. "Martin and the ApplyBoard team absolutely deserve this recognition and are role models for our industry."
The Honourable Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, has been invited to present the award to Martin Basiri at CIX on November 1 in downtown Toronto, followed by a keynote fireside chat.
Register now to meet Martin at CIX
STARTUPS: Improve your Pitch: Free Interactive workshop to help you with your CIX application
We know that supporting Canadian tech entrepreneurs is needed now, more than ever, and we want to support you.
Applications are now open for the CIX Top 20 EARLY and CIX Top 10 GROWTH awards program and here are the reasons you should apply:
• The opportunity to join the impressive alumni of 300+ of Canada's most promising startups including Axonify, Dialogue, Vendasta, Vidyard, Wattpad, Wave, Wealthsimple,...
• Your company will be seen by 100+ investors who are the judges.
• Selected companies will present to over 650 at CIX, including over 250 investors and corporates.
• CIX Top 20 Early companies are the short-list for Canada for the Startup World Cup global competition.
• Guaranteed 1:1 meeting with investors
• In the past two years, 38% of CIX Top 20 recipients received funding as a result
You may start the application now, and edit up until 11:59 PM on July 29 2022.
CIX TOP programs are Canada's largest national showcase of the hottest and most innovative tech companies.
APPLY NOW
CIX in the Media
ApplyBoard Named CIX’s 2022 ‘Innovator of the Year’
San Francisco Star - June 17, 2022: https://www.sanfranciscostar.com/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Deer Park Tribune - June 16, 2022: http://business.dptribune.com/dptribune/article/accesswire-2022-6-16-applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Boston Herald - June 16, 2022: https://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/article/accesswire-2022-6-16-applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
US News - June 16, 2022: https://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/article/accesswire-2022-6-16-applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Los Angeles Herald - June 16, 2022: https://www.losangelesherald.com/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Pittsburgh Star - June 16, 2022: https://www.pittsburghstar.com/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Silicon Valley News - June 16, 2022: https://www.siliconvalleynews.net/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Edmonton News - June 16, 2022: https://www.edmontonnews.net/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Vancouver Star - June 16, 2022: https://www.vancouverstar.com/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Toronto Telegraph - June 16, 2022: https://www.torontotelegraph.com/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Chicago Chronical - June 16, 2022: https://www.chicagochronicle.com/news/272588388/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
NewsTalk - June 16, 2022: https://lifestyle.roanokenewstalk.com/story/46706435/applyboard-named-cixs-2022-innovator-of-the-year
Trulioo Named CIX’s 2021 ‘Innovator of the Year’
Post Gazette - September 14, 2021: http://markets.post-gazette.com/postgazette/news/ read/41804455
The San Diego Union Tribune - September 14, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/sandiego/news/ read/41804455
BayStreet - September 14, 2021: https://www.baystreet.ca/viewarticle.aspx?id=664022
Street Insider - September 14, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/streetinsider/ news/read/41804455
MarTechSeries - September 15, 2021: https://martechseries.com/sales-marketing/id-mgmt/trulioo-named-cixs-2021-innovator-of-the-year/
NewsBreak - September 15, 2021: https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2371635651101/ trulioo-named-cix-s-2021-innovator-of-the-year
BioMetric Update - September 24, 2021: https://www.biometricupdate.com/202109/leaders-inbiometrics-and-id-policy-honored-by-goode-sia-cix
T-Net - September 24, 2021: https://www.bctechnology.com/news/2021/9/24/Vancouverbased- Identity-Verification-Company-Trulioo-Named-CIXs-2021- Innovator-of-the-Year.cfm
CIX Selected by Startup World Cup to Host Canadian Regional Competition Again
Boston Herald - August 19, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/ news/read/41717570
Evening Leader - August 19, 2021: http://business.theeveningleader.com/theeveningleader/news/ read/41717570/CIX_Selected_by_Startup_World_Cup_to_Host_ Canadian_Regional_Competition_Again
The CIX Canadian Innovation Exchange Virtually Closes the Market
Newswire - October 20, 2021: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-cixcanadian- innovation-exchange-virtually-closes-themarket- 818810156.html
CIX TOP 20 Early and CIX TOP 10 Growth Announced: Canada’s Most Innovative Technology Companies
BayStreet - September 23, 2021: https://www.baystreet.ca/viewarticle.aspx?id=665314 WallStreetSelect - September 23, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/wss/news/ read/41842290
LosAltos - September 23, 2021: http://finance.losaltos.com/camedia.losaltos/news/read/41842290/ CIX_TOP_20_Early_and_CIX_TOP_10_Growth_Announced
Techcouver - September 23, 2021: https://techcouver.com/2021/09/23/cix-canadianinnovation-exchange-vancouver/
Betakit - September 24, 2021: https://betakit.com/cix-lists-top-20-early-stagestartups-top-10-growth-startups-of-2021/
Osler - October 1, 2021: https://www.osler.com/en/about-us/press-room/2021/osler-congratulatesthe-2021-cix-top-20-early-stage-and-top-10-growth-stage-start-ups
Observer News Enterprise - September 23, 2021: http://business.observernewsonline.com/observernewsonline/news/ read/41842290/CIX_TOP_20_Early_and_CIX_TOP_10_Growth_Announced
CIX Top 20 Company, Lumen5, Wins Canadian Regional Competition for Startup World Cup 2021
Techcouver - October 28, 2021: https://techcouver.com/2021/10/28/lumen5-wins-torepresent-canada-at-startup-world-cup-2021/
BayStreet - October 28, 2021: https://www.baystreet.ca/viewarticle.aspx?id=670162
Boston Herald - October 28, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/ news/read/41936844
Daily Herald (Chicago) - October 28, 2021: http://finance.dailyherald.com/dailyherald/news/ read/41936844/CIX_Top_20_Company
StarTribune - October 28, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/startribune/ news/read/41936844/cix_top_20_company
The Daily Courier - October 28, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/ kelownadailycourier/news/read/41936844
Menlo Park.com - October 28, 2021: http://finance.menlopark.com/camedia.menlopark/ news/read/41936844/CIX_Top_20_Company
Deer Park Tribune - October 28, 2021: http://business.dptribune.com/dptribune/news/ read/41936844
Daily Press - October 28, 2021: http://business.smdailypress.com/smdailypress/news/ read/41936844/CIX_Top_20_Company
WRAL - October 28, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/wral/news/ read/41936844/cix_top_20_company
Ascensus - October 28, 2021: https://markets.financialcontent.com/ascensus/news/ read/41936844
