Toronto was the latest stop for UAtech Venture Night on June 25, a community-driven event where early-stage founders pitched their startups to a room full of active investors, peers, and ecosystem builders. Held at Highline Beta’s downtown venue, the evening gathered around 80 attendees, including over 30 startup teams and 20+ investors, for a tightly run program of live pitching, expert discussion, and networking.
The format was simple: early-stage founders pitched in 3-minute rounds, followed by rapid-fire questions and real-time feedback. The energy in the room was fast-paced but focused, and the audience leaned in, not just to hear the ideas but to engage with the people behind them.
Throughout the evening, investors scored each pitch in real time using a custom-built app developed for the UAtech Venture Night series. After a full round of presentations, Raghavender Sahdev was named the winner. His pitch stood out for its clear vision, strong execution, and real-world traction, earning recognition from both investors and fellow founders alike.
The winner received an exclusive prize package to support their growth, including:
- SaaS tool discounts and 25,000 AWS credits from recurring prize partner Spendbase
- A full year of access to Reply.io
- 3-month “Professional” subscription from Bonzai.AI
- 6-month subscription to the Full-Service Startup Plan from TextMe Accounting
After the pitch rounds, attention shifted to the panel discussion, “Toronto 2025: Building a Tech City That Thrives.” The conversation brought together three experienced voices from different corners of the tech ecosystem:
- Sharon O’Sullivan, Global Head of Tech Research & Innovation at BMO, spoke about the role of corporate innovation and the need for long-term thinking in emerging tech.
- Keren Moynihan, an investor at Sublime and a longtime entrepreneur, shared insights into scaling SaaS through AI and her experience supporting startups through various mentorship programs.
- Vadim Lidich, Co-Founder of Paperstack and a familiar face in both Canadian and Ukrainian tech circles, reflected on what founders need in their first stages of growth, and what often holds them back.
Moderated by Svitlanka Sergiichuk, Co-Founder at Neofin Solutions, the discussion explored broader questions about the Toronto ecosystem: What kinds of support are founders still lacking? How can big tech, corporate players, and emerging startups collaborate more effectively? And where is the untapped potential?
Backstage moments
UAtech Venture Night Toronto was made possible with the support of its community partners, including Bonzai AI, Spendbase, Reply, TextMe Accounting, and Techosystem, along with UAtech team behind the scenes who kept things running smoothly.
The energy, faces, and standout moments of UAtech Venture Night Toronto are now captured in our official photo gallery. From sharp pitches and thoughtful panel exchanges to the candid moments in between, the evening comes to life through images.
Experience the Highlights
Whether you couldn’t make it or simply want to revisit the standout moments, our official video recap brings the energy, ideas, and atmosphere of UAtech Venture Night Toronto to life.
The Toronto edition captured the spirit of what UAtech Venture Night is becoming known for: a place where early-stage ambition meets real-time feedback, and where the formal program is only the beginning of the conversation.
Stay tuned for our upcoming events!
