We're back from Collision 2023 and would like to share our impressions with you.

We had the opportunity to participate in Collision as part of the Quebec investment delegation, made up of start-ups and partners from Quebec. Once we got off the bus (organized by Startup Montreal), all that was left to do was immerse ourselves in the excitement of the business world.

The Quebec booth at Collision 2023.

Collision is one of the most exciting events for businesses, bringing together speakers, media, and tech companies from around the world. For three days, in the heart of Toronto, more than 36,000 people converge in one place to connect, inspire, and learn.

We spoke with nearly a hundred Quebec start-ups, hoping to convince as many as possible of their growth potential. And we can confirm: there are somevery promising companies out there!

Quebec talent was also showcased in a pitch session organized by Investissement Québec with 10 participating startups. The jury, composed of CIBC Innovation, Mars, and Boreal Ventures, named Haply Robotics as the winner 🎉.

Haply Robotics won the pitch competition.
We should also mention two startups that made it to the semifinals of the pitch competition organized by Collision: Acrylic Robotics and Vope Medical.

For people working in a company, Collision is a whirlwind of encounters of all kinds. Whether or not we participate in organized pitches, we must always be ready to describe our project... often in less than a minute. In short, everyone wants to get to know each other, and no one wants to waste their time listening to yet another pitch that includes the same buzzwords.

However, this influx of people and lively conversations comes with an unpredictable factor: noise, which is constant. Let's just say that the hustle and bustle of Toronto city life was like birdsong compared to the constant clatter on the exhibition floor.

Beyond mental preparation, having the right equipment is crucial: comfortable walking shoes will be your allies in tackling your 20,000 daily steps. And why not bring earplugs to filter out ambient noise?

The kiosk is essential for ensuring visibility and a constant flow of new people. However, most of the exhibitors we spoke to told us the same thing: it was the events outside the show that were the most memorable. Master classes, networking cocktails, after-hour parties, the Collision mobile app, the (too) long lines for coffee, the food truck, the bar, or even the trip to the hotel: each of these occasions is an opportunity for meeting people and networking. Let's also mention the exclusive partner evenings, which are a guarantee of productive discussions.

There was talent aplenty.

Joining an organized trade mission such as Investissement Québec significantly increases our chances of success. The connections that are made are business relationships that often become rich social relationships.

In fact, we found that companies with accelerator were more likely to succeed and meet the right people. We also had the opportunity to talk about Quebec's various support programs for companies that came to Collision on their own. Let's hope this leads to some great collaborations!

Networking, networking, and more networking!

After all, we have an impressive number of organizations that guide businesses at various stages and for various reasons. Not taking advantage of this to accelerate growth would be a missed opportunity.

We discovered, through collision, that several regions of the world were present to promote their successful businesses. Talent is everywhere, and we learned even more about how to grow a startup ecosystem. But we in Quebec have an undeniable advantage: our strong collaborative network.

and we were delighted to see this network shine at the Quebec pavilion.

So, see you at Collision 2024?

A classic: a team photo in front of the crash lettering.

— Guillaume and Merryl @ Collision 2023