up26 Agenda
April 29
Pitch Competition Qualifiers
For selected tech startups participating in the Prize of the Prairies (participating founders will be notified in advance).
Registration Open
Doors open at 12:00 pm SK time. Show your ticket to get your lanyard and name badge.
Level UP
Pull up a chair and spend some time with the best builders and operators in the ecosystem. These mentor-led roundtables are your chance to ask questions, share challenges, and learn from people who’ve been there before. Level UP is supported by Innovation Saskatchewan and the Trade Commissioner Service.
UP26 Welcome Happy Hour
This is your chance to mix and meet other UP attendees! Hit the bar, grab a snack, and go connect. This Happy Hour is in partnership with RBCx.
Main Stage Opening Remarks
This is where Prairie tech meets - grab a seat as we kick off the main event! The UP26 Main Stage is proudly supported by PrairiesCan.
Game On! The new playbook for Canadian founders
The tech world is changing fast. And with it, Canada's role is changing too. Former VC Chris Neumann shares his outlook on how Canadian founders need to study the Valley, yet play their own game to win.
Building with Ambition
A manifesto to embracing discomfort, learning fast, and building big. Hear from one of Canada's most ambitious founders - how he built a massive tech company, left, and started over again to create an AI superconnector.
UP Late
Stick around after the Main Stage content for a soiree event, complete with evening bites and a live pianist on the 2nd floor of the Remai. UP Late is powered by TeamLinkt.
April 30
Women in Tech Breakfast
Kick off your morning at the Remai with an energizing celebration of Women in Tech, featuring Dr. Monique Simair and Karen Greve Young, moderated by Joanne Fedeyko. Everyone is welcome! Breakfast is served to the first 200 people to attend.
Day 2 Remarks
Day 2 of the conference continues, Emcee'd by special guest, Juanita Lee-Garcia! The UP26 Main Stage is proudly supported by PrairiesCan.
Raising Capital in 2026: Two Truths and a Lie
There's raising capital from Sand Hill Road, and then there's raising capital from Growth Street, where rent is lower, the employees are loyal, and the companies solve real problems. Steve Wolfe shares the truth on how most tech companies are raising and preparing for exits in 2026.
Lunch Break
We'll be back after a quick lunch break. All UP attendees get 20% off at Hearth restaurant (located on the 1st floor of the Remai), courtesy of 7shifts.
The Turbo-Charged Talent Engine
Golden Ventures, known as one of the top seed-stage venture funds in Canada, connects its founders to 1,000+ top candidates annually. Alison Kaizer shares how she built the system that does this, and she and Andrew D'Souza discuss what the recruiter-founder relationship really looks like.
Pitch Competition Showcase
Cheer on the top Prairie startups as they pitch live on the UP26 Main Stage to win the $30K Prize of The Prairies! Sponsored by McKercher LLP.
Main Stage Closing Remarks
Time for the conference wrap UP! Hear from the Uniting the Prairies team as we close out the conference with final remarks. The UP26 Main Stage is proudly supported by PrairiesCan.
VIP Dinner
An invite-only dinner at The Avenue Room connecting UP26 speakers, major sponsors, & investors.
UP26 OFFICIAL AFTER-PARTY
Deemed one of the best parts of UP! Unite with the whole conference at the UP26 After-Party, hosted at Vendasta's offices (including the rooftop patio). Capacity is 400 people; come early to secure your spot. UP26 name badge required for access. The UP26 Official After Party is powered by Vendasta.
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Doors Open + Opening Remarks
Doors open at 9:00 AM, opening remarks begin at 9:15 AM sharp. Gear up for a full day of content and connection!
The AI Arms Race
Caught in the hype storm? Hear about the future implications of AI once the dust settles.
Portfolio Company Ponderings, In This Economy?
2 world-class companies, 2 totally different industries, 1 common investor. What does building, scaling, and surviving a startup look like in 2023?
Break
Take a break to explore restaurants downtown, have a nap, whatever you need!
Mastering Customer Success
Closing the sale is just the start. Learn from one of the world's top customer success experts as they share ways you can turn customer acquisition into revenue expansion.
Divine Category Creation
Learn how creating products with no existing market can have the power to revolutionize entire industries.
Investment Prize Pitches
Finalists competing for the UP x Firehood Women in Tech & UP Angel Syndicate investment prizes are pitching on stage!
Raising Rewind
Hear the highs and lows of scaling an early-stage startup from the Co-Founder of Rewind, who had 10,000 customers before raising capital & closed $80M within 2 years.
Closing Remarks
Come together as we wrap up the conference content & announce the winners of the investment prizes on stage!
UP23 After Party!
For UP23 attendees only. Join the official after party to close out the festivities! Hosted on Vendasta's rooftop patio.