May 29, 2025 – OTTAWA, ON — Against a backdrop of global economic headwinds, shifting trade dynamics, and increased focus on domestic competitiveness, AccelerateOTT — one of Canada’s signature events for scaling technology companies, returns on June 12 with a bold theme: Legends in the Making.

“This is Canada’s innovation moment—and Ottawa’s founders are rising to meet it. Our future will be built by bold, homegrown entrepreneurs with the grit, resilience and vision to create the strongest economy in the G7. These innovators scaling companies with deep roots. And they embody the spirit of our True North: strong, free and fearless. We honour these legends in the making at AccelerateOTT and every single day. Because in a world defined by disruption, one truth stands firm: brave is unbeatable and so are our founders.” Sonya Shorey, President and CEO, Invest Ottawa

Hosted by Invest Ottawa, the economic development agency for Canada’s capital, AccelerateOTT 2025 (AccOTT) arrives at a critical time, as policymakers and ecosystem leaders seek to strengthen Canada’s innovation capacity and scale more high-potential firms from within. This year’s event will feature keynotes and panelists from high-growth company founders including:

• Shahrzad Rafati, Founder and CEO at RHEI
• Kyle Braatz, CEO of Fullscript
• Jonathan Lowenhar, Founder and Managing Partner, Enjoy the Work

On the heels of BDC’s recent report, Venture Capital Landscape in Canada, that declared a “collective wake-up call” for a focus on domestic investment and effort to sustain local innovation, AccOTT will host the Startup World Cup Ottawa Regional Competition. Local founders and startups will compete for up to $50,000 in non-dilutive capital and advance to the global finals in San Francisco hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. Throughout the day there will be a spotlight founders, investors, and leaders building globally competitive ventures from Canada’s Capital.

“We’re in the middle of a seismic shift—economically, technologically, and culturally—and startups are at the centre of it,” says Nick Quain, VP of Venture Development at Invest Ottawa. “Ottawa’s founders have long flown under the radar, quietly building capital-efficient, high-impact companies. AccelerateOTT pulls back the curtain on that momentum. It’s a front-row seat to the new era of entrepreneurship—one rooted in grit, efficiency, and global ambition. And there’s no better place to watch it unfold than right here in Bootstrap City.”

This approach is echoed across many of the startups participating in AccelerateOTT. In contrast to earlier startup waves centered on rapid capital deployment, today’s founders, especially in Ottawa, are focused on operational sustainability, export-readiness, and long-term market resilience.

Part of Ottawa the inaugural Ottawa Innovation Week, AccelerateOTT is strategically timed as Canada looks to stimulate homegrown innovation, support commercialization, and attract global investment amid economic uncertainty.

Media Contacts

Patrick Kenny
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, Invest Ottawa
613-724-7160
[email protected]

Lindsey Fair
Vice President, Marketing and Bayview Impact, Invest Ottawa
613-857-7779
[email protected]

For sample graphics, video, and the social media kit please visit: Marketing Toolkit

About AccelerateOTT

Since its inception in 2013, AccelerateOTT has grown to become one of Canada’s most important entrepreneurial conferences. Between 2021 and 2024, the event adapted to shifting global dynamics with a series of smaller, curated virtual and hybrid experiences. Its 2025 edition marks a high-energy return to a large-scale, in-person format—underscoring a renewed urgency to accelerate Canada’s innovation economy through capital, collaboration, and bold leadership.

About Invest Ottawa

Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada’s Capital Region, facilitating economic growth and job creation in Ottawa. Guided by a vision to help realize Ottawa’s full potential as a globally recognized, innovative, inclusive, and future-ready city, Invest Ottawa delivers venture development, global expansion and talent programs and services that catalyze the growth and success of entrepreneurs and firms. These include small business training, mentorship, acceleration for technology firms, foreign business and investment attraction, local business retention and expansion in targeted sectors, commercialization and marketing Ottawa’s diversified economy and high quality of life. Invest Ottawa is also the manager of Bayview Yards, Ottawa’s innovation hub and one-stop business acceleration shop, and founder and operator of Area X.O, the R&D complex for next-gen smart mobility, autonomy, and connectivity technologies. Since 2013, Invest Ottawa has supported almost 14,000 companies, contributed to the creation of more than 14,700 jobs, helped domestic companies raise $1.86 billion in capital and attracted $1.47 billion in domestic and foreign direct investment to Ottawa. www.investottawa.ca