News Summary

The tenth-annual SAAS NORTH conference in Ottawa was a significant event for the software-as-a-service (SaaS) and artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem in Canada, featuring keynotes, panels, and networking opportunities. A total of $310,000 was awarded during the pitch competitions. The SheBoot program, focusing on women-led, early-stage tech companies, awarded $300,000 to winners from its sixth annual cohort. Lab4 Inc., led by founder Nifemi Oguntuase, won the top prize of $150,000 for its advanced mineral recovery technology. Traqc, led by CEO Mariia Zhuldybina, secured $100,000, while Paloma, co-founded by Ania Geerts, received $50,000. In the SAAS NORTH PitchFest, 23 finalists competed, with Xena Intelligence, a unified sales intelligence platform for e-commerce merchants founded by Akhil Suresh Nair, winning the $10,000 grand prize. The event highlighted the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit driving Canada’s tech industry.