we're back from Collision 2023 and we'd like to share our impressions with you.

we had the opportunity to take part in collision as part of the investissement Québec delegation, made up of Quebec start-ups and partners. once we got off the bus (organized by startup montréal), all we had to do was immerse ourselves in the excitement of the business world.

The Quebec booth at Collision 2023.

Collision is one of the world's liveliest business events, bringing together speakers, media and technology companies from around the globe. For three days, in the heart of Toronto, over 36,000 people converge in one place to connect, inspire and learn.

we talked to nearly a hundred Quebec start-ups, hoping to convince as many as possible of their growth potential. and we can confirm: there are somepromising companies out there!

Quebec talent shone in a pitch session orchestrated by Investissement Québec with 10 startups taking part. The jury, made up of CIBC Innovation, Mars and Boreal Ventures, named Haply Robotics the winner 🎉.

haply robotics won the pitch competition.
two startups also made it through to the semi-finals of the pitch competition organized by collision: acrylic robotics and vope medical.

For people working in business, collision is a whirlwind of meetings of all kinds. Whether you're taking part in organized pitches or not, you always have to be ready to describe your project... often in well under 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 with the same buzzwords.

this influx of people and express conversations, however, comes with an imponderable: noise, which is constant. let's just say that the hustle and bustle of Toronto's urban life sounded like birdsong compared to the constant pounding on the expo floor.

Beyond the mental preparations, getting properly equipped is crucial: comfortable walking shoes will be your allies in tackling your 20,000 daily steps. And why not get some earplugs to filter out the ambient hum?

the kiosk is essential to ensure visibility and a constant flow of new people. on the other hand, the majority of exhibitors we met told us the same thing: it was the off-show events that were the most noteworthy. Masterclasses, networking cocktails, after-hours parties, the collision mobile app, the (too many) queues for coffee, the food truck, the bar, or even the drive to the hotel: each and every one of these occurrences is an opportunity to meet and network. let's also mention the exclusive partner evenings, which are a guarantee of prolific talks.

there was talent in collision.

Joining an organized trade mission like Investissement Québec significantly increases our chances of success in collisions. The ties that are forged are business relationships that often become rich social relations.

In fact, we found that the companies that attended with their accelerator/incubator were more likely to be successful and to meet the right people. We also had the opportunity to talk about Quebec's various support programs for companies that had come to challenge collision solo. let's hope it leads to some great collaborations!

networking, networking and more networking!

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

at collision, we discovered that many regions of the world were present to showcase their successful companies. talent is everywhere, and we learned even more about how to grow a startup ecosystem. but here in Quebec, we have an undeniable advantage: our solid collaboration 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 collision lettering.

- guillaume and merryl @ collision 2023