Toronto, ON — Global Startups will host the 12th edition of its flagship conference, Tech Builders 2026: Building the New Digital Economy, on June 16 in downtown Toronto, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup. The event will bring together early-stage founders, venture investors, and ecosystem leaders from around the world to discuss building, funding, and scaling high-growth startups in the evolving digital economy.
As Canada strengthens its position as a hub for global talent and innovation, Tech Builders 2026 will spotlight new Canadian founders and globally minded entrepreneurs driving economic growth and cross-border innovation. In a more capital-constrained environment, the conference is designed to deliver practical value by connecting pre-seed and seed-stage founders directly with investors, operators, and advisors through curated networking and execution-focused programming centred on capital access, partnerships, market positioning, and hands-on support.
“We’re building a platform that reflects the realities founders face today. Speed, capital efficiency, and global thinking are critical from day one,” said Miryam Lazarte, Founder and CEO of Global Startups. “As we host our 12th edition of Tech Builders in Toronto during a moment when the world’s attention is on Canada, it’s an opportunity to both equip founders with the access, capital, and insights they need to grow, and to showcase the strength, diversity, and global ambition of the companies being built here.”
The agenda features investor speed networking, curated 1:1 meetings, a Pre-Seed Summit examining early-stage investment trends, and a startup pitch competition featuring high-potential companies across sectors such as agtech, foodtech, biotech, and cleantech. The event is designed to create real deal flow and meaningful connections between founders and investors.
Keynote speakers include Matt Cohen, Founder and Managing Partner of Ripple Ventures, and John Ruffolo, Founder and Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity.
“The next generation of breakout companies will come from founders who are capital-efficient, globally minded, and deeply connected to their markets,” said Matt Cohen. “Events like Tech Builders play an important role in accelerating those connections between founders and investors.”
Tech Builders 2026 will also reflect the growing influence of globally diverse founders building from Canada, many of whom are repeat entrepreneurs leveraging international experience to scale companies across borders.
The conference will conclude with a networking reception at the CN Tower. Optional Startup Ecosystem Tours in Toronto and Waterloo will be offered on June 15 for founders and investors seeking to deepen their engagement with the region’s tech ecosystem.
Tech Builders 2026 will take place from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM on June 16. Tickets are available for purchase. To learn more and secure your spot, visit: https://globalstartups.tech/conference/
Media Contact:
Tayemi Blackman
tb@andreaandersinc.com
About Global Startups:
Global Startups is a strategic growth partner for early-stage technology founders scaling globally from Canada. Since 2016, it has supported over 340 startups. Founded as LatAm Startups, it now serves a diverse community of founders from emerging markets worldwide. The non-profit operates independently, reinvesting program revenues to expand capacity and limiting reliance on government funding. Its hands-on approach helps founders drive revenue, build partnerships, and strengthen market positioning. It has expertise in agtech, foodtech, biotech, and cleantech. In 2024, it launched GSA Ventures, a $2.5 million fund investing in companies from its ecosystem.
