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Elevate Festival, Canada's largest made-in-Canada tech and innovation event, today announced programming details for its ninth annual edition, returning to downtown Toronto September 22-24, 2026. 

When Mike Katchen took the stage at CIX Summit 2026 to accept the Innovator of the Year award, he shared that it was a full-circle moment. The last time he stood at that podium was in 2014, the year Wealthsimple launched. CIX had noted it as a “Top 20 Hottest Innovative Companies.” Twelve years later, Wealthsimple had just closed a $750 million round at a $10 billion valuation — one of the largest tech financings in Canadian history — and crossed $100 billion in assets under administration.

When StackAdapt raised $235 million in February 2025, it wasn’t just another funding announcement. It was the culmination of 12 years of disciplined execution, capital efficiency, and a willingness to do things the hard way. StackAdapt’s total funding is now over $500 million.  Founded in Toronto in 2013, StackAdapt built a multi-channel programmatic advertising platform […]