Connecting Fintech: A Networking Reception Bringing Together Ontario and Quebec’s Financial Innovators
- Date
- 2023-04-18
- Host
- Highline Beta
About this event
Ontario and Quebec are home to some of the most active fintech communities in Canada, but too often the conversations stay separated by geography, language, or existing networks. Connecting Fintech is designed to close that gap with an in-person reception built for the people shaping financial innovation to meet, compare notes, and build relationships that can lead to real momentum. Whether you work in product, regulation, investing, partnerships, or company-building, this is a room for practical connection. The focus is simple: bring together financial innovators from both provinces in a setting that makes it easier to start strong conversations, spot shared opportunities, and expand your network beyond your usual circle. About the Event This event is an in-person networking reception for people working across fintech, financial services, and the broader tech ecosystem. It brings together attendees connected to Ontario and Quebec's innovation communities, with an emphasis on cross-provincial relationship-building. Rather than centering on a long stage program, the reception format keeps the attention on the people in the room. That means more time for direct conversations, more flexibility to meet a range of attendees, and a better environment for discussions that are relevant to your work right now. You can expect a mix of professionals from across the fintech landscape, including operators, founders, ecosystem builders, and others interested in where finance and technology are heading. The event is especially well suited to people who want to understand what is happening across provincial ecosystems and where collaboration may be possible. At its core, the purpose of the evening is to create a stronger bridge between two major centers of financial innovation. If your work benefits from better market visibility, stronger partnerships, or broader community ties, this reception is built with that in mind. What to Expect The evening begins at 5:30 PM EDT on Tuesday, April 18, with a reception-style format that encourages people to arrive, settle in, and start meeting others right away. Because the event is built around networking, you should expect the flow of the evening to prioritize conversation over formal programming. A reception like this typically creates space for several kinds of interactions, including: Introductions across sectors, from startups and scale-ups to investors, advisors, and community leaders Informal market conversations about fintech activity in Ontario and Quebec Partnership and business development discussions for teams exploring expansion, collaboration, or new relationships Peer exchanges on product, operations, compliance, go-to-market, and ecosystem trends The value of the format is that you can shape your own evening. You might reconnect with familiar faces, meet people outside your immediate network, or focus on a few deeper conversations with attendees whose work aligns closely with yours. Because this is an in-person event, the quality of interaction is different from a virtual panel or webinar. You can ask follow-up questions naturally, read the room, make introductions on the spot, and leave with a stronger sense of who is building what across both provinces. Why Attend If you work in fintech, proximity matters. A short conversation can surface a hiring lead, a product insight, a customer introduction, a regulatory perspective, or a partnership that would have taken months to uncover through cold outreach alone. This event creates those openings in a focused setting. There is also real value in getting out of your local bubble. Ontario and Quebec each have distinct strengths, networks, and market dynamics. Meeting people across both ecosystems can help you understand where opportunities overlap, where approaches differ, and where your work may have more room to grow. You should attend if you want to: Expand your network with intention, not just collect contacts Get a clearer view of the fintech landscape across two major provinces Meet potential collaborators in product, distribution, investment, operations, or ecosystem development Strengthen your presence in the community by showing up where meaningful conversations are happening Even if you are early in exploring the fintech space, this kind of room can accelerate your understanding quickly. Listening to what people are building, where they see friction, and how they are approaching growth gives you context that is hard to get from articles or online updates alone. Practical Details This is an in-person event, which means the experience is built around face-to-face interaction rather than passive attendance. Come prepared to introduce yourself clearly, talk about what you are working on, and be open to conversations that may cut across sectors and roles. Date and time: Tuesday, April 18 5:30 PM EDT Because this is a reception, it makes sense to approach the evening with a networking mindset. A concise introduction, a few topics you want to discuss, and a willingness to make warm introductions for others will go a long way. If you are deciding whether it is worth your time, the strongest reason to attend is straightforward: this event gathers people who care about the future of financial innovation in Ontario and Quebec in the same physical space. If that future overlaps with your work, this is a smart room to be in.
Who should attend
This is for people who want stronger fintech connections across Ontario and Quebec, not just another event on the calendar. - **You work at a fintech startup or scale-up** and want to meet potential partners, customers, collaborators, or peers facing similar growth and product challenges. - **You are part of a financial institution, innovation team, or digital transformation group** and want a clearer view of emerging companies, ideas, and talent across both provinces. - **You invest in or support early-stage companies** and want direct access to founders, operators, and ecosystem players in a setting built for conversation. - **You lead partnerships, business development, community, or ecosystem efforts** and are looking to build cross-provincial relationships that can turn into practical opportunities. - **You work in adjacent areas like tech, policy, regulation, legal, or advisory services** and want to stay close to the people and companies shaping financial innovation. - **You are building your presence in the fintech community** and want to meet the right people in person, learn how the Ontario and Quebec ecosystems connect, and become part of those conversations.