Dreaming big

A weekend of big ideas came to life at the Dream Launch Startup Weekend, hosted by Communitech in downtown Kitchener on March 1 and 2. Over 50 aspiring entrepreneurs formed 14 teams to fast-track their business ideas with coaching from local experts and workshops on pitching and problem-solving.

Taking the top spot was Vali Tech, a team working on an innovative anti-theft solution that automatically deflates a car’s tires when unauthorized use is detected. Vali Tech won a $1,000 cash prize from the City of Kitchener, three hours of one-on-one marketing support from Communitech Pro Squad member Prosh Marketing and admission to this year’s SAAS North conference.

Vali Tech founder Taiwo Oyewole also earned a spot in the next cohort of the Communitech Startup Bootcamp.

“I think most people worry about how to start something,” said Oyewole. “But what I have learned is there is no way to start it without actually doing it. Just begin and everything falls into place.”

Making buying Canadian easier

Serial entrepreneur Derek Jouppi is on a mission to keep Canadian dollars circulating locally with ByCanada.Tech, a platform designed to connect businesses and consumers with homegrown tech companies. 

The idea sparked during a poker game when Jouppi realized that in San Francisco, "the money never leaves the city." He envisioned a similar ecosystem for the Toronto-Waterloo corridor. 

ByCanada.Tech operates like a phone book for tech businesses, allowing users to search for Canadian alternatives to foreign digital products and services. For instance, typing in "QuickBooks" suggests "FreshBooks," and "Uber" points to "HOVR." 

The platform has rapidly grown, listing over 10,000 Canadian startups within a month of its launch.

"The best thing you can do right now is spend your money here. At the end of the day, all these small things add up to a stronger economy here in Canada,” Jouppi said.

​Setting big, gorgeous goals

Julie Ellis, co-founder of Mabel’s Labels and author of Big Gorgeous Goals, is helping entrepreneurs dream bigger and set goals that go beyond the everyday to-do list.

Speaking at an International Women’s Day event hosted by Women In Communications & Technolog (WCT) Waterloo Region, Ellis shared the lessons she learned building and selling Mabel’s Labels and how those experiences shaped the “Big Gorgeous Goals” framework. 

“It fuelled this fire within us to keep moving forward and keep dreaming and keep thinking bigger about where we could go,” Ellis said.

She emphasized the importance of making time for aspirations.

“All of those little nos are what add up to our big yes. The biggest way to end our frustrations and worries about ourselves is to build community,” she said.

New trade playbook

On March 18, 2025, Canadian tech leaders gathered for our annual CEO dinner to hear from Dan Herman on how the global trade landscape is shifting — and what it means for the sector. Herman co-founded the Centre for Digital Entrepreneurship and Economic Performance to advise governments and businesses on global competitiveness and previously led Canada’s Inclusive Innovation Agenda at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Herman encouraged leaders to explore new markets and think beyond the U.S. “Wake up in the morning and think of two or three places that are off the map,” he said. “For some reason, your product might fit there.”

The CEO dinner also highlighted how Waterloo Region’s tech community is no stranger to challenges or finding ways to turn them into opportunities.

“We celebrate each other’s successes, and when times get tough, we rally. That’s who we are,” said Jennifer Gruber, Interim CEO and CFO at Communitech. “We need everyone in this room to rally, be present, give back and help connect. Whether you’re a founder, a partner, an investor, or a policymaker, your involvement is needed more than ever to keep building the future we want to see.”

Quantum-safe cybersecurity initiative

Two Ontario companies, Metropolitan Technologies and Quantum Bridge Technologies, are collaborating to develop a quantum-safe cybersecurity solution aimed at protecting Canada's critical infrastructure from future cyberattacks. This project is supported by a $1.2 million investment from Canada's Digital Innovation Cluster (DIGITAL) and involves partnership with Thales, a global advanced technology company.

"This is our first paid pilot project," said Daly Brown, co-founder and CEO of Metropolitan Technologies. "It solves a real problem for industries, particularly for critical infrastructure."

Co-founder and CEO of Quantum Bridge Technologies, Mattia Montagna, highlighted the urgency.

“If you deal with data which have value for you in the future, whether in 5, 10, or 15 years, you need to protect that data with some form of cryptography that you are sure will resist anything happening in the next 15 years,” Montagna said.

From startup struggles to multi-million dollar success

Stephany Lapierre, founder and CEO of TealBook, shared her entrepreneurial journey at a Communitech Breakfast event on March 25, 2025. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Lapierre started her first company at 18. 

While working in the pharmaceutical industry, she observed that many companies lacked reliable data on their suppliers, leading her to launch Matchbook in 2006. This venture eventually evolved into TealBook, a supply chain software startup that uses AI and machine learning to provide accurate supplier information. 

“I started seeing these companies had no way of purchasing what was really efficient, so I pivoted to building procurement functions for these scaling companies, and that gave me a lens into information about suppliers,” she said. “It became so apparent how big this opportunity was.”

Lapierre faced significant challenges in securing funding, initially receiving $50,000 from her husband and later a $1 million investment from a fellow mother she met at her daughter's soccer game. Despite these hurdles, TealBook has secured approximately $73 million in funding to date. Even with all the success, Lapierre said the journey has been stressful, and that’s why she’s made wellness a priority.

“Mental health is really important for founders,” she said. “I work out every day. You’ve got to find time for yourself. You have to train yourself to be healthy.”

From plush toys to multimillion-dollar success

Makeship, a Kitchener-born startup founded in 2018 with just $8,000 and no external funding, has rapidly grown into a leading player in the creator economy. The company collaborates with online content creators to transform their characters into high-quality, limited-edition plush toys through crowdfunding campaigns. 

"Our founders started this business in 2018 with a mere $8,000 and in 2024, we were able to do eight figures of profit," said Landon Brett, Chief Operating Officer at Makeship. "It’s incredible how fast we have grown. The fact that we’ve done it without any debt nor funding, is an extraordinary feat." 

Makeship has paid out more than $20 million U.S. to creators, with some campaigns reaching over $2 million in sales. As the company expands into new product lines like apparel, it continues to support creators in offering high-quality merchandise.

"At the end of the day, creators are conduits for their fans," Brett said. "They really want a partner they can trust."

Local startups partner with the City of Kitchener

Three Waterloo Region tech companies—ConeLabs, Real Life Robotics, and TextGenetic AI—have been selected to pilot their solutions with the City of Kitchener through the Pitch Kitchener program. The program offers $100,000 in pilot funding to connect Canadian tech founders with municipal partners to address local challenges.

Kitchener-based ConeLabs will deploy AI-powered drones to inspect the city's bridges and roadways, aiming to enhance safety and efficiency in infrastructure assessments. 

Waterloo's Real Life Robotics plans to implement its autonomous robot platform at Doon Valley Golf Course to monitor operations and improve customer experience. 

TextGenetic AI, also from Kitchener, will utilize its AI-driven platform to provide predictive analytics for the city's vehicle fleet, aiming to reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

"Helping grow and support locally-grown technology companies is a great example of the City’s commitment to fostering economic resilience and prosperity," said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

Innovating menstrual pain relief

Engineers Lynn Doughane and Nanette Sene co-founded Juno Technologies in 2022 to challenge traditional approaches to managing menstrual pain. Frustrated by the limited options available, they set out to create a solution that would be both effective and drug-free.

“We said it would be great to have a medical device that you can wear on the go, that reduces menstrual pain,” said Doughane. Their wearable device uses microelectronic currents to relax uterine muscles and block pain signals, offering discreet and portable relief.

In a pilot study, users reported an average 79 per cent reduction in pain levels, and 78 per cent said they would prefer using the device over traditional medication in future cycles.

Juno Technologies is currently pursuing Health Canada approval, with plans to scale manufacturing and bring the device to market later this year.

Other news


This edition of the Roundup was compiled by the Communitech News Team. Sign up to receive the Roundup each month by visiting communitech.ca/technews and scrolling to the bottom of the page.