By: Shivani Persad, July 26 2024
It’s almost time for Elevate Festival 2024, Canada’s premier tech and innovation event, which has been shaping Canadian tech since 2017. We’re bringing you a rockstar lineup of Elevate Festival speakers who are true trailblazers in their fields. From AI pioneers to sustainability innovators, our stages will be graced by the minds that are quite literally inventing tomorrow.
This year, we’re focusing on bringing you iconic tech leaders, startup founders, and global investors, all in the heart of Toronto. Elevate Festival isn’t just an event; it’s a launchpad for the next big ideas that will transform our future.
Here are some of the speakers you don’t want to miss:
Erika Ayers Badan – CEO, Food52
Formerly the CEO of Barstool Sports until January 2024, Erika is now the CEO of Food52, a cooking and home company with a monthly reach of over 30 million people.
As a veteran brand builder, Erika can offer insight into developing a clear brand identity, knowing your audience, and designing your brand with scalability in mind. With a track record of launching over 35 brands, she has demonstrated incomparable expertise in cultivating iconic franchises like Call Her Daddy.
She has a digital business playbook that combines the creation of viral, culturally resonant content with savvy monetization strategies. This a formula that has consistently driven explosive growth and engagement across diverse digital platforms. Under Erika’s leadership, Barstool Sports experienced massive growth, with its valuation skyrocketing from $15 million to $450 million between 2016 and 2020.
Between her success in areas like podcasting and TikTok, Erika is an expert in making multimedia work for you. If you’re interested in brand building, scaling a digital business, or multimedia expertise, you can’t miss Erika’s session.
Teresa Resch – President, WNBA Toronto
As the former VP of Basketball Operations with the Toronto Raptors, Teresa has been at the forefront of innovation and strategic growth in the sports industry. From spearheading the launch of the first international G-League team to managing a state-of-the-art practice facility, she’s proven her ability to bring her visions to life.
Teresa’s resume includes resource allocation, player development, and fostering a championship-level organizational culture. Her commitment to advancing diversity in sports is evident through her work on the NBA Global Inclusion Council and the creation of a fellowship program for aspiring Canadian sports professionals.
Now, as the President of the WNBA Toronto, Teresa will work toward Toronto’s first WNBA team game in two years. She will also be setting up a new international franchise without the MLSE’s resources. Curious about how she’ll navigate this uncharted territory and turn Toronto into a WNBA powerhouse? Hearing this Elevate Festival speaker at her session will be a courtside view of sports and business happening in real-time.
If you’re interested in the business of sports, particularly women’s sports, innovation and building culture, you’ll want to hear Teresa’s conversation with Jayna Hefford.
Antoine Leblond – CTO, Bumble
As one of our Canadian Elevate Festival speakers, Antoine has 30 years of experience driving technological innovation. He has a vast base of knowledge leading groundbreaking software investments at Sonos and leading major product divisions at Microsoft. He’s demonstrated his ability to transform SaaS into optimized UX.
Antoine’s journey spans software development, product management, and fostering innovation-driven organizational cultures. His experience in leveraging technology for positive user impact is clear through his work across various platforms and companies. With his extensive career progression and leadership roles, Antoine offers invaluable guidance on building a successful, long-term career in technology.
Now, as CTO of Bumble Inc., Antoine will leverage his background to drive the technological vision for the entire company. His focus will be on integrating both foundational and emerging technologies, with a particular emphasis on AI, to enhance online dating and social connection platforms. Antoine’s goal is to deliver more compelling and positive experiences for all users across Bumble’s suite of products.
If you’re interested in the future of social technology, innovation in UX, and building a long-term career in tech, you can hear from Antoine this year.
Richard Socher – Founder & CEO, You.com
With a distinguished career in computer science and artificial intelligence, Richard Socher has established himself as a legend in generative AI. From groundbreaking research to founding an AI-powered search engine, he’s demonstrated his ability to transform cutting-edge AI technology into user-centric applications.
Richard’s career encompasses machine learning, AI development, and challenging traditional search engines. In fact, Richard’s research on Natural Language Processing was instrumental in its growth and application.
As the founder and CEO of You.com, Richard is using his extensive knowledge to reimagine how we use search engines. His goal is to address the shortcomings of other AI chatbots like Bard by offering a more reliable and privacy-focused alternative. Additionally, he focuses on integrating AI technology to provide faster, more accurate information while prioritizing user privacy.
If you’re interested in the development of generative AI and innovation in search technology, Richard’s session is a must-attend. You’ll gain insights into the challenges small startups face when competing with tech giants. His perspective on AI’s role in how we interact with the Internet makes him one of our most popular Elevate Festival speakers.
Tori Dunlap – Founder & CEO, Her First $100K
As the founder of Her First $100K, Tori Dunlap has been at the forefront of financial empowerment for women. From saving $100,000 by age 25 to becoming a multimillionaire by 27, she’s turned her financial dreams into reality. Tori’s experience encompasses personal finance, entrepreneurship, and financial independence for women. Her dedication to advancing financial literacy is clear. Through her social media, she reaches millions of followers, and her book “Financial Feminist” is a best-seller.
Currently, a successful entrepreneur and angel investor, Tori is working towards reshaping how women approach money and investing. Also, she’s challenging traditional financial advice, advocating for “loud budgeting” and rethinking the rent vs. buy debate. Often, she’s credited for her transparency in calling out the systemic barriers to financial independence. Her session will offer a real-time view of the intersection between personal finance, feminism, and social change.
If you’re interested in financial empowerment for women, innovative approaches to money management, and building a culture of financial transparency, be sure to catch Tori’s session in October.
Which Elevate Festival speakers will you see this year?
These five Elevate Festival speakers represent just a fraction of the incredible talent and knowledge you’ll encounter this year. From Erika Ayers Badan’s brand-building mastery to Richard Socher’s industry-changing knowledge, each speaker brings a unique perspective that’s shaping the future of tech, business, and society.
Elevate Festival isn’t just about listening to great speakers—it’s about being part of the conversation that’s driving innovation. It’s your chance to network with industry leaders, learn emerging trends, and find your next big opportunity or collaboration.
Not sure how to convince your boss to send you to Elevate Festival? Read this blog post!
Secure your spot at Elevate Festival 2024 today and be part of shaping tomorrow. Grab early bird tickets now; they’re going fast. The future is waiting—will you be there to help create it?
