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AccelerateOTT Returns to Lansdowne Park – Bigger, Bolder, and Ready to Ignite

Ottawa’s most anticipated entrepreneurship event of the year! As part of Ottawa Innovation Week, the one-day summit for founders, funders, and fearless builders shaping the future returns. Join us for a day of insightful discussions, impactful presentations, unparalleled networking opportunities, and Startup World Cup Ottawa Regional Competition. With sessions laser-focused on growth, funding, and innovation—and the high-stakes Startup World Cup pitch competition—this is where ambition meets opportunity.

What to expect:

• Gain insights into designing, validating, and implementing pricing strategies for B2B SaaS companies to drive revenue growth.

• Product improvement strategies: learn how to deeply understand your customers’ wants versus needs and how your product fits.

• Witness or compete in the Ottawa regional competition of Startup World Cup, featuring pre-selected local startups pitching for a chance to win up to $50,000 in non-dilutive grant prizes.

• Unparalleled exposure to network directly with Startup World Cup VC judges from top-tier firms like Inovia Capital, Staircase Ventures, BDC’s Seed Fund, L-SPARK Startup Accelerator, and more.

For over a decade, we’ve fueled the fire of founders, owners, investors and aspiring entrepreneurs. This year is no exception – with an agenda packed with three incredible sessions. At registration, you can register for each session to build out your own impactful agenda. Secure your spot today for this stellar event and take the next step towards entrepreneurial excellence!

Get tickets →

Startup World Cup Ottawa Regional Competition – $50,000 in non-dilutive grants

Step into the spotlight at the Startup World Cup Ottawa Regional, where high-potential startups meet high-stakes opportunity. This is your chance to pitch for $50,000 in non-dilutive funding and earn a spot at the Global Grand Finale in San Francisco, where $1 million USD is on the line. We’re calling on bold, impactful startups with roots in Eastern Ontario or the National Capital Region to bring their A-game. If you’re ready to scale and stand out, this is your moment to rise.

Key info:

-Eligibility: Strong candidates will have traction in market. Applicants must be headquartered or have a significant presence in Eastern Ontario or the National Capital Region (Ottawa/ Gatineau).

Prizes:

• First: $25,000 in grant funding* & the opportunity to pitch at the Startup World Cup Global Grand Finale

• Second: $15,000 in grant funding*

• Third: $10,000 in grant funding*

Apply to pitch!

*Winners must match the total awarded amount. Matching funds can come from any source (company revenue or cash reserves, personal funds, public or private sources).

Early bird pricing available for the first 100 tickets sold so get your tickets now!

Entrepreneur and startups – $69 (Save $20)
You are an entrepreneur, startup founder, or work for a company with less than 100 employees. Get your ticket to AccelerateOTT to:

• Gain exposure to your brand
• Secure funding for your business
• Get inspired to be the next unicornFull-time student or enrolled in school – $39 (Save $10)
  You are a student currently enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution. Get your ticket to AccelerateOTT to:
• Learn from top business professionals
• Network with Ottawa’s finest entrepreneurs
• Discover if entrepreneurship is right for youCorporate, Investor, service provider – $149 (Save $30)
  You work for a professional service firm, a venture capital firm, or a company with 100+ employees (e.g. multination, scale-up venture). Get your ticket to AccelerateOTT to:
• Meet Ottawa’s rising startups and scaling companies
• Find your next deal flow
• Stay up to date on tech trends and innovationsNon-profit, post-secondary institution, Government – $79 (Save $20)
  You work to further a social, educational or political cause, or to provide a service that people need, without making a profit.
• Connect with Ottawa’s innovation ecosystem
• Find tech solutions to your challenges
• Get inspired by top speakers and panels

About Startup World Cup

The Startup World Cup is a series of global startup conferences and pitch competitions powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, featuring 100+ regional events across 60+ countries. These events culminate in our 2025 Grand Finale hosted in Silicon Valley (USA), where winning startups from each regional event will compete for a $1M prize on October 17th, 2025.

About the workshop:

Market research helps you to better understand your market. It is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your business idea. This seminar discusses how to conduct market research, outlines the types of market research, and provides tips on how to plan your search and be effective. Included are specific examples to illustrate how to use the many free resources available to you to obtain specific information.

About the speaker:

Marlene Zaikab is a Business Librarian with the Ottawa Public Library.

REGISTER HERE

About this workshop:

What’s your impact? How do you measure it? Why is it important?

In this webinar, you will learn about the benefits of social impact measurement and various frameworks/methods to help you measure it (i.e. B-Corps, SROI, Theory of Change, etc.). You’ll learn how to integrate social impact into your business model and why it’s important. You’ll also look at the strengths and weaknesses of different hybrid models through international and local examples.

Join us at Social Impact 101!

About CSED:

The Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED) offers a continuum of support for social enterprises in the Ottawa area, including access to technical expertise, coaching, learning communities, training, and cross-sector partnerships. CSED works with its clients to develop their social enterprise plan and provide them with the tools, strategies and support to perpetuate positive social change and grow profitably.

REGISTER HERE

About this workshop:

Proper record keeping and effectively organizing financial information are vital to the success of any business.

As a part of the Logan Katz Learning Series, this helpful and hands-on workshop will cover the basics of bookkeeping; using techniques that are as easy to learn as they are to implement.

Whether you are doing the books yourself or delegating this fundamental part of your business to others, you will surely benefit from this free workshop!

REGISTER HERE

Note: This event page is for the virtual option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the in-person event page.

About this workshop:

There are many great ideas, but do you have a great business idea? This session will discuss many of the factors you need to consider before you jump into business.

In this 1.5 hour session, you will be introduced to The Lean Start Up Canvas, which is a tool used to help validate your business. We will also be working through a cash flow sheet (which will be included and sent to all attendees).

It is important to develop a business model that clearly explains how your business could function and this session will help you take that first step. This session does not cover writing a business plan.

About the speaker:

Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

REGISTER HERE

Note: This event page is for the in-person option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the virtual event page.

About this workshop:

There are many great ideas, but do you have a great business idea? This session will discuss many of the factors you need to consider before you jump into business.

In this 1.5 hour session, you will be introduced to The Lean Start Up Canvas, which is a tool used to help validate your business. We will also be working through a cash flow sheet (which will be included and sent to all attendees).

It is important to develop a business model that clearly explains how your business could function and this session will help you take that first step. This session does not cover writing a business plan.

About the speaker:

Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

REGISTER HERE

About the workshop:

Have you found a logo for your product that’s clever, catchy, and somewhat describes the essence of your offering?

Learn how registering a trademark may protect your brand identity, help you meet your business objectives and set you apart from the competition.

About the speaker:

Elizabeth Collinson has worked with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for more than 20 years.

While working with CIPO, Elizabeth has held various positions including a Trademarks Examiner, a Business Development Officer, a Project Manager and now as an IP Advisor.

Elizabeth has successfully passed the Trademark Agent examination and is listed as an inactive Trademark Agent on the Canadian Patent Agent and Trademark Agent (CPATA) register.

About CIPO:

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is a special operating agency of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. We deliver intellectual property (IP) services in Canada and educate Canadians on how to use IP more effectively.