C100 Names New Board to Help Canadian-Based Companies Win Globally

C100 Names New Board to Help Canadian-Based Companies Win Globally

TORONTO — April 28, 2026 — C100 today named a new Board of Directors to help more Canadian tech founders build and scale in Canada. Michael Garrity and Mike Wessinger will serve as Co-Chairs.

Rounding out the board in leadership roles across capital, programs, and network strategy are Janet Bannister, Michael Buhr, David Rozin, Marianne Bulger, Bryan Danielson, and David Belbeck.

Since 2010, C100 has provided the network and experience required for Canadian founders to win globally while remaining rooted in Canada. To date, the 600 companies in the network have raised $16 billion and created over $40 billion in value. Alumni include Canadian-based category-leaders such as Wealthsimple, Mejuri, Ada, ApplyBoard, and Jane.

“Canada already has the founders. Our job is to ensure they have the belief, network, experienced operator learnings, capital, and member support to build Canadian-based companies that  breakout at scale and win globally.” said Michael Buhr, Executive Director of C100.

By 2030, C100 aims to help 150 Canadian-based companies grow beyond $100 million in revenue, with at least 12 surpassing $1 billion.

“Those numbers are the work,” said Mike Wessinger, Co-Chair. “You can build a billion-dollar company from a basement in Mississauga—I’ve done it. Our job is to support founders at all stages, so they too can build globally-relevant companies from Canada.”

“Building from Canada should not mean building with a smaller network,” added Michael Garrity, Co-Chair. “We are connecting founders to peers and investors who can help them win globally while remaining rooted here.”

The Board

Michael Garrity and Mike Wessinger, Co-Chairs. Garrity co-founded Financeit and scaled it into Canada’s largest point-of-sale financing platform. Wessinger built PointClickCare into a billion-dollar company from Mississauga. 

Janet Bannister, Chair of Investment Strategy & Capital. Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures and one of Canada’s most respected early-stage investors. 

Michael Buhr, Chair of Strategy, Alumni & Programs & currently serves as the C100 Executive Director. Buhr has worked in technology leadership roles across Apple, Adobe, and eBay. A repeat founder and CEO, he has spent more than three decades building and scaling venture-backed companies, has mentored thousands of founders across North America, and brings a Silicon Valley and cross-border perspective.

David Rozin, Chair of Strategic Partnerships. Managing Director at JPMorgan leading Innovation Economy banking in Canada. 

Marianne Bulger, Chair of Network Strategy & Value (Canada). Partner at True Search and founder of Canada’s largest startup job board.

Bryan Danielson, Chair of Network Strategy & Value (Silicon Valley). Fellow at Stanford’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and founder of Not Sorry, which champions Canadian entrepreneurs globally. 

David Belbeck, Chair of Finance & Operations. Former CFO and SVP of Corporate Development at PointClickCare, where he guided seven acquisitions to over $350M in revenue. 

About: C100 is a member-driven organization of expat and Canadian technology operators, investors, and executives that only supports Canadian founders. For almost two decades, C100 has connected Canadian founders with the best expert operators, investors, executives, and peers to bring global scale and Silicon Valley velocity to every world-class founder in Canada.

Meet the 2026 C100 Fellows Cohort

 

C100 Fellows | 48hrs is Canada’s most exclusive program for early-stage founders building globally dominant companies.

For more than 15 years, Fellows have gained access to a tight-knit community of bold Silicon Valley builders, immersive exposure to a true growth mindset, and mentorship from world-class founders, operators, and investors.

This cohort brings together a group of standout Canadian founders innovating across finance, hard tech, construction, robotics, healthcare, medical technologies, SaaS, climate, fitness, and real estate.

 

Meet the 2026 Fellows:

 

Blossom – Toronto, ON

The social network for retail investors, where over 500,000 members share portfolios and investment ideas, backed up by over $3B in connected assets from linked brokerage accounts.

 

Blumind – Ottawa, ON

Revolutionizing AI inferencing in edge devices with ultra-low power, low latency, and cost-efficient chips. Powered by a patented analog compute architecture, this technology reduces power consumption by 100-1000x compared to conventional digital approaches.

 

BuildCheck – Montréal, QC

Teaches AI to understand drawings, the language of construction. They work with real estate developers and general contractors, screening plans to catch issues before they become change orders, RFIs or city comments.

 

Clinia – Montréal, QC

An AI development platform purpose-built for health and trusted by health innovators to build incredible products in a secure and compliant way. Their APIs enable rapid deployment of semantic search, generative experiences, and agentic workflows, making the health ecosystem more effective and intelligent.

 

Eli Health – Montréal, QC

Building the real-time interface to the human body, making it possible to improve your daily and lifelong health with instant access to biological signals. The Hormometer, its flagship product, is the first instant hormone monitoring system delivering results from saliva to a mobile app in minutes – anytime, anywhere.

 

EmergConnect – Toronto, ON

Reimagining how people access healthcare. Its platform bridges patients, providers, and systems through seamless digital experiences, making care more intuitive, transparent, and human-centered from the very first point of contact.

 

Haply Robotics – Montréal, QC

Develops the human interface for Physical AI, enabling people to intuitively control, train, and collaborate with robots through touch. Its patented haptic hardware and AI-driven software power real-time, data-rich interactions across industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, bridging the gap between human expertise and robotic intelligence. 

 

MedEssist – Toronto, ON

Enables a new model of care delivery through any pharmacy worldwide. Using technology and AI infrastructure built in-house, pharmacies treat a range of acute conditions from UTIs to birth control and travel health. This enables them to transcend the typical traditional pharmacy model turning them into clinics.

 

NegotiateAI – San Francisco, CA

Building the AI control tower for manufacturing spend. The platform cleans and unifies fragmented ERP and invoice data, exposes pricing gaps and supplier inefficiencies, and automates sourcing and negotiation workflows. They unlock millions in savings and operational leverage for the world’s leading manufacturer

 

Nimble Science – Calgary, ON

A precision medicine company delivering data-driven products to clinicians, drug and consumer product companies. Their SIMBA GI Platform is revolutionizing the very definition of gut health by leveraging an ingestible capsule to collect rich multi-omic data from a region previously inaccessible.

 

OraQ AI – Calgary, AB

Transforming dentistry by unifying dental and key medical data into one AI-powered clinical intelligence platform. By integrating fragmented data systems into a unified intelligence layer, they deliver clear, actionable risk insights and treatment recommendations that providers and patients understand – helping standardize care and improve outcomes.

 

Ribbon – Toronto, ON

An AI-powered hiring platform that transforms recruitment for high-volume roles. Using intelligent voice interviews, they screen candidates 24/7, reducing time-to-interview from 48 hours to under 5 minutes. Helping companies hire faster while improving candidate experience.

 

SenseNet – Vancouver, BC

The most advanced wildfire intelligence system on the market, detecting and responding to wildfires faster than traditional methods. Using ultra-sensitive sensors, autonomous vision systems, and multi-satellite data fusion, it delivers real-time alerts, risk modeling, and full situational awareness within minutes of ignition.

 

Sibli – Toronto, ON

Helps institutional investors improve their decision-making and risk management. By converting research, forecasts, and analyst logic into a secure, connected data asset, investors improve forecast accuracy, personalized research and connectivity to other datasets, and gain a fund-wide view of their investment research process.

 

Train Fitness – Toronto, ON

An AI-powered workout tracking platform that automatically detects and logs exercises using Apple Watch motion data. Designed for strength training, it delivers real-time performance insights, personalized recommendations, and seamless Apple Health integration, helping athletes and everyday users train smarter, track progress effortlessly, and optimize every workout.

 

Upside Robotics – Kitchener, ON

Transforms agriculture with affordable, autonomous robots for farms of all sizes. Its Maize Runner robot applies nutrients precisely where needed, improving yields tenfold and sustainability through data-driven precision.

 

Virtuo – Calgary, AB

A home-journey platform for builders and brokers. They combine human concierge support and AI to guide clients from contract to move-in and throughout homeownership. Virtuo connects tools, teams, and buyers into one experience that boosts efficiency, drives referrals, cuts costs, and delivers measurable ROI.

 

Xatoms – Toronto, ON

Using AI and quantum chemistry to discover new patented photocatalytic materials for water and air purification, activated by sunlight. Designed for the world’s toughest contaminants, these materials can be customized for industries like agriculture, mining and textiles, delivering high-performance next generation purification solutions for global challenges.

 

Congratulations to the 2026 Fellows!

 

Meet the 2025 C100 Growth Cohort

The C100 Growth Program continues to propel Canada’s most promising AI and technology  scale-ups on their path to become global market leaders.

The program provides customized mentorship for leadership teams, role-based peer groups, in-person workshops, and access to a world-class network of growth operators, executives, investors, and service partners.

This year’s cohort exemplifies the next wave of Canadian  innovation—where AI is powering breakthroughs across fintech, robotics, behavioural tech, B2B SaaS, health tech, energy tech and more.

On average, these companies are on track to exceed $10M in annual revenue in 2025, with revenue growth rates ranging from 100% to 500% YOY.

 

The 2025 C100 Growth cohort includes:

4AG Robotics

Salmon Arm, British Columbia

4AG Robotics is a Canadian agtech company building fully autonomous robotics that pick, trim and pack mushrooms. The company has developed the world’s first commercial harvester capable of end-to-end mushroom picking without human involvement. Designed for Dutch rack farms, 4AG (pronounced “forage”)  replaces labor-intensive tasks with precise, continuous operation, which can deliver harvest-quality produce comparable to top human pickers worldwide.

 

Acorn Biolabs

Toronto, Ontario

Acorn Biolabs is a regenerative medicine company that has developed the world’s first non-invasive, follicle-based cell cryopreservation service and patented cell-based treatments derived from patients’ own hair follicles. Acorn provides accessible, personalized therapies through partner clinics, helping patients preserve and unlock their own cells’ potential.

 

Bree

Toronto, Ontario

Bree is a consumer finance platform providing better, faster, and more affordable services to the 20M+ Canadians living paycheck to paycheck. The company provides an interest-free line of credit that helps people bridge short-term financial gaps without falling into costly debt traps. Since 2021, Bree has served more than 100,000 customers by turning emergency credit into a path towards financial stability.

 

Finni Health

Toronto, Ontario

Finni Health powers behavioral health and autism clinics with an end-to-end provider operating system. Its platform integrates credentialing, billing, compliance, HR, recruitment, and growth tools in one comprehensive solution. By removing barriers to scale, Finni enables clinicians to focus on care while shaping the future of pediatric mental health.

 

Future Fertility

Toronto, Ontario

Future Fertility is unlocking the future of personalized fertility care worldwide. Its AI software analyzes oocytes and provides objective evidence-backed fertility intelligence that guides treatment plans and counseling. By collaborating with fertility professionals, Future Fertility optimizes reproductive care and empowers patients at every stage of their journey, transforming outcomes in assisted reproduction.

 

MedMe Health

Toronto, Ontario

MedMe Health has developed a pharmacy operating system that is trusted by 4,500+ pharmacies and has already supported more than 25 million patient services. Purpose-built for pharmacist-led care, MedMe’s modular platform and AI assistants streamline workflows from scheduling to billing. MedMe reduces administrative burden, expands pharmacy capacity, and enables pharmacists to focus on providing accessible, high-quality care to patients.

 

Missive

Québec City, Québec

Missive is a collaborative inbox platform that transforms email from a single-player to team experience. With Missive, teams can assign conversations, co-author replies in real time, and comment internally without overlap. Missive takes advantage of the familiar email interface to support collaboration through email, chat, and WhatsApp and already centralizes communication for more than 4,500 businesses worldwide.

 

Oxygen8

Vancouver, British Columbia

Oxygen8 is a clean energy technology company that creates healthy and sustainable buildings by developing, manufacturing and selling high-performance Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems. Oxygen8’s systems are able to provide 100% fresh, outside air with low energy consumption and no greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Pontosense

Waterloo, Ontario

Pontosense translates everyday signals into mobility and safety intelligence that protects and empowers people. Its coin-sized sensors use patented wireless radar and AI to detect breathing, heartbeats, and movement up to 15 metres away without cameras, microphones, or wearables.

 

Quandri

Vancouver, British Columbia

Quandri transforms the insurance policy renewal process for agencies and brokerages. The company automates time-consuming and repetitive tasks, identifies policy issues and opportunities using AI, and enables insurance companies to achieve profitability and scale with more speed and less resources.

 

ShopThing

Toronto, Ontario

ShopThing is transforming e-commerce through live video commerce—think QVC with influencers on mobile. ShopThing’s app lets its 550,000+ users watch live events, chat with shoppers, and see products tried on in real time. By merging entertainment and shopping, ShopThing delivers convenience, confidence, and access to the best luxury and high-end deals daily.

 

Total Life

Vancouver, British Columbia

Total Life is a healthy aging platform helping older adults thrive. It combines therapy, daily live wellness classes, and expert-guided programs in mindset, movement, nutrition, sleep, and connection. From personalized teletherapy to group support, thousands are already using Total Life to redefine aging with strength, purpose, and joy.

 

ViTAA Medical

Montréal, Québec

ViTAA Medical Solutions is a MedTech company that is developing AI-driven cloud software to analyze vascular images to map aneurysm strength and weakness non-invasively. Its precision-medicine platform improves risk stratification and predicts outcomes like growth or rupture. Covering the entire vascular system, ViTAA empowers clinicians to deliver timely, accurate interventions with evidence-based intelligence.

 

Wisedocs

Toronto, Ontario

Wisedocs is an AI-powered claims documentation platform built for insurance and medical record processing. Trained on more than 100 million documents, Wisedocs delivers structured, defensible outputs—from summaries to insights—with expert human oversight. Wisedocs enables carriers, government agencies, legal teams, and medical experts to improve efficiency, reduce administrative burden, and make more accurate decisions.

 

Congratulations to this year’s C100 Growth cohort.

We’re excited for the journey ahead and eager to help support these leaders as they continue to build global companies from their Canadian roots.

And to all who applied but were not selected this year: please keep trying. We’d love to see you again for next year’s cohort.

 

The Future of Canadian Tech Is Already Being Built

If you want to understand where Canadian tech is headed, don’t look at policy. Don’t look at another task force. Look at the companies and founders building here.

Over the past 11 months, I’ve had the privilege of spending time with some of Canada’s most promising tech founders and leaders through C100’s Fellows and Growth programs. These are not hypothetical future winners—they’re already proving it. They are raising capital, hiring senior leaders, launching new products, acquiring companies, expanding globally, and, in many cases, defying the odds from within Canada.

And the odds have been tough.

The macro environment hasn’t been kind to startups anywhere, but Canadian tech founders in particular are still navigating shallower capital markets, a more conservative investor base, and a lingering instinct to validate success only once it’s been exported. Yet this cohort, like those before them, is choosing to build anyway. And they’re doing it with global ambition.

Just look at the data.

Among the 2024 Growth cohort companies:

  • 7Gen scaled its EV fleet deployments and signed major partnerships to decarbonize last-mile logistics.
  • Arteria AI was named a finalist for the 2025 Banking Tech Awards USA and selected to the global AIFinTech100 list, while launching a new AI research arm and appointing a Chief Science Officer to deepen its innovation in financial services.
  • Phoenix closed a $50M Series A in March 2025, led by Valspring Capital with continued support from Y Combinator and venture debt from CIBC Innovation Banking, to expand its operations, team, and ecosystem reach.
  • e-Zinc opened a 42,000 sq ft pilot manufacturing facility in Mississauga for developing commercial pilot systems.
  • MY01 secured FDA 510(k) clearance along with Breakthrough Device Designation for its perfusion-pressure sensing platform.
  • Stan, Uride, Humi, and others made meaningful progress on scaling, product expansion, and talent.
  • Rebel raised $18M Series A in September 2024, led by Maveron with participation from Serena Ventures and expanded its recommerce model beyond baby gear into the home essentials vertical.

And the momentum isn’t limited to scale-stage companies.

Founders in our 2024 Fellows cohort—many still pre-Series A—are moving just as fast:

  • Friendlier signed major enterprise food service contracts and expanded its reusable packaging footprint across Canada.
  • Rootd, one of the most downloaded anxiety apps in the world, added new science-backed tools and crossed a new milestone in user growth.
  • Hyper exited stealth with a $6.3M raise to expand its footprint across the US.
  • Swap Robotics was recognized as part of SOSV’s Climate Tech 100 and featured in hard-tech startup forums such as TechCrunch Disrupt and BuiltWorlds Top 50 Robotics.
  • Numr was selected for the 2025 Google for Startups Accelerator: Canada cohort.

These aren’t outliers. They’re signals.

The next generation of Canadian tech isn’t waiting for better conditions. It’s building through them. These founders are writing a different story—one that’s more global, more product-first, more assertive, and more willing to play for high stakes.

This is why I continue to believe that Canada doesn’t have to lose its best companies to win. But it does have to get more comfortable backing them before they’ve made it. As I’ve written before, that means embracing bigger bets, louder wins, and yes, a little more hubris.

If you still think Canadian tech is risk-averse, you’re not paying attention to the founders I meet every week.

It’s not perfect. There’s still work to do—especially when it comes to matching US levels of growth capital and talent mobility. But the momentum is real.

In fact, it’s measurable.

C100 has now supported over 500 companies. Collectively, they’ve raised more than $15.9 billion, created thousands of jobs, and generated dozens of successful exits. That track record isn’t just an endorsement of good programming—it’s proof that great Canadian companies are being built every day.

And this year’s cohort is already extending that legacy.

We’ll be announcing our next class of founders this September. But if you want to understand where Canadian tech is headed, start by watching the companies already leading the way.

Because the future isn’t hypothetical. It’s already in motion.

Changing the Odds: How C100 Programs Are Fueling Canada’s Next Global Tech Leaders

In the world of startups, the odds are stacked against you. Most startups don’t even make it to their 5th birthday before they fail.

Less than one out of 10 early-stage companies go on to scale significantly. Fewer than 5% ever raise a Series B or beyond. 

It’s a different story for companies that have participated in  C100’s startup development programs. A story not only of surviving, but thriving.

Our Results: 5–10x Better Than Industry Norms

Since launching our Fellows and Growth programs, over 500 C100-supported companies have dramatically outperformed industry success benchmarks:

  • Nearly 90% of Fellows alumni are thriving or have successfully exited, compared to ~10% industry survival.
  • 99% of Growth alumni are still operating or have exited successfully — almost 10x the industry average for scale-stage companies.
  • Over 40% of Growth companies have raised Series B, C, D, and beyond, a level fewer than 5% of startups typically reach.
  • Fellows companies are 5x more likely to raise venture capital and 3x more likely to be acquired than the average startup in Canada.
  • Fellows and Growth alumni have raised over $13.2B in venture funding and created over 23,000 jobs.

These aren’t just numbers. They’re proof that with the right support at the right time, Canadian tech companies can compete—and win—globally.

Mike Wessinger, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at PointClickCare, runs a Leadership Workshop for the 2024 Growth Cohort.

What Sets C100 Programming Apart

Success at scale isn’t an accident, and at C100, it’s never left to chance. Our Fellows and Growth programs are built on an unmatched combination of high-touch expertise, world-class mentorship, and peer connections that founders and leadership teams can’t find anywhere else.

Here’s what makes the difference:

World-Class In-Person Workshops

Every session is designed to tackle the real-world challenges of scaling a company, whether it’s navigating a Series fundraise, evolving your go-to-market strategy, or scaling your executive team. Founders and leaders walk away with frameworks, strategies, and actionable insights they can apply immediately.

Expert “Been There Done That” Mentorship

At the heart of C100’s success is our exceptional network of mentors: seasoned builders and operators who have scaled companies to $10M+, $100M+, $1B+ and beyond.

Our mentors bring deep experience from the world’s most influential companies, including Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Shopify, and more. They aren’t consultants or theorists—they are the people who have been in the trenches, built category leaders, and know what it takes to win on the global stage.

This level of mentorship is rare, and it’s what changes the trajectory for C100-supported companies.

Exclusive Peer Networks

In addition to mentorship, Fellows and Growth participants connect through curated, role-specific forums. These groups serve as trusted advisory boards, providing founders, CEOs, and executives with invaluable real-time support, experience-sharing, and candid guidance from peers on the same path.

Silicon Valley investors Joanna Lee Shevelenko (Co-Founder and GP, f7 Ventures and Perplexity Fund), Zeya Yang (Partner, IVP, ex-Andreesen Horowitz), and Alex Kolicich (Founding Partner, 8VC) speak to Fellows at 48Hrs in the Valley.

Strategic Access to the C100 Network

Participants also tap into a curated global network of top-tier investors, senior executives, and strategic partners. Whether securing a key customer, finding the right late-stage funding partner, or recruiting executive talent, C100 opens doors that accelerate momentum and open up new possibilities for scale. 

The Companies Proving It’s Possible

C100’s impact isn’t theoretical. It’s visible in the real companies reshaping industries and scaling beyond Canada’s borders:

  • Ada (Fellows 2017) has become a global leader in AI-powered customer experience, achieving unicorn status with a $1.2 billion valuation. (as of 2021)
  • ApplyBoard (Fellows 2017) has grown into one of Canada’s largest edtech success stories, helping thousands of international students access education opportunities globally.
  • Jane App (Fellows 2020 and ScaleUp 2018) has scaled sustainably to surpass $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), building a profitable, resilient business with minimal outside funding. 
  • StackAdapt (ScaleUp 2016) is a global leader in programmatic advertising, having grown from a startup to a global powerhouse with a $2 billion+ valuation (as of 2025).
  • Wealthsimple (Fellows 2015) disrupted the financial services sector and has become one of North America’s most recognized fintech brands, reaching a peak valuation of $5 billion (as of 2024).

These companies—and dozens more—represent a new generation of Canadian-led, globally competitive businesses. They show that with bold ambition, strategic support, and the right network, Canadian tech leaders can not only survive—they can define the future.

Why It Matters Now

The Canadian tech ecosystem has no shortage of talent or great ideas. What it needs is more success at scale—more companies that don’t just start strong but build enduring, global businesses.

That’s what C100 was built to do.

Through the Fellows and Growth programs, C100 is helping Canada’s top entrepreneurs and leadership teams overcome scaling bottlenecks, access critical capital and talent, and build globally dominant companies.

The numbers tell the story. The companies prove the impact. And this is just the beginning.

Applications for C100’s 2025 Fellows and Growth programs are now open. If you’re ready to change your odds—and your company’s trajectory—apply here.

C100 Opens Applications for Canada’s Leading Early & Growth Stage Programs Supporting Tech Entrepreneurs

May 1, 2025, San Francisco, CA – C100 has opened applications for its flagship Fellows and Growth programs, the leading development platforms for Canadian tech entrepreneurs and leadership teams building global category-leading companies.

Backed by a track record of alumni companies outperforming startup success by nearly 10x, C100’s programs provide world-class support at critical inflection points and give Canada’s highest-potential tech leaders the network, expertise, and insights to scale smarter, faster, and farther.

As Canada’s innovation economy evolves, C100’s mission to help founders and entrepreneurs build and scale global businesses is more urgent than ever. Global success demands bold thinking, deep networks, and long-term conviction. C100’s Fellows and Growth programs are designed to provide that.

“Canada’s economic future depends on a strong tech economy and bold tech entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid to think bigger, scale faster, and compete globally,” said Michael Buhr, Executive Director of C100. “C100 exists to help Canadian founders and entrepreneurs tilt the odds in their favour by giving them access to the world-class expert network, capital, knowledge, and comprehensive support they need to scale.”

Proven Impact: C100 Alumni Outperform Industry Benchmarks

Since 2010, companies that have completed C100 programs have created over 23,000 jobs and reached cumulative valuations exceeding $26.6B.

C100’s programs have consistently helped Canadian companies outperform typical startup success rates by 5x to 10x:

  • Growth Program: Among the 94 companies that have completed C100’s Growth program (and the prior Lazaridis ScaleUp program), nearly 99% are thriving or have achieved a successful exit, surpassing the industry average of just 10% survival beyond Series A/B.
    • Over 40% have raised a Series B round or beyond.
    • 13.8% (13 companies) have been acquired by firms such as Apple, Autodesk, and Instacart.
    • Growth Program alumni have collectively raised over $1.75 billion since joining the program.
  • Fellows Program: Among the 403 companies that completed the program, nearly 90% are active or have been successfully acquired, far exceeding the typical 10% startup success rate.
    • 140 Fellows companies have since raised Series A or beyond.
    • 26% have been acquired, and two have gone public.
    • After joining the program, Fellows Program alumni have collectively raised over $11.5B to date.

About the Programs

  • Growth: Tailored for scaling-stage leaders—founders, CEOs, and executive teams—who are growing beyond Series A, with $10M+ in revenue and 50% YOY growth, and facing the complex challenges of building global category leaders. Growth focuses on scaling smarter, faster, and with stronger foundations.
  • Fellows: Designed for early-stage founders who have raised early angel or seed capital or are generating meaningful early revenue. The program supports entrepreneurs at a critical inflection point by connecting them with seasoned operators, investors, and peers who have scaled companies before.

Both programs offer extensive, curated, 12-month cohort-based experiences led by C100’s global network of accomplished operators and investors, many with deep Silicon Valley experience. They are built for leaders serious about achieving global scale.

Applications Now Open

Applications for the Fellows and Growth Programs are open now. Founders, CEOs, and executives of Canadian-led and based tech companies are encouraged to apply to join a proven “been there, done that” powerful network committed to helping build Canada’s next generation of global companies.

To learn more and apply, visit: www.thec100.org

Contact

Marie Cook 

VP Marketing, PR & Communications

mcook@thec100.org

About C100

C100 is the leading global tech expert network supporting Canada’s most ambitious tech entrepreneurs and leaders. Founded in 2009, C100’s mission is to help Canadian-led and based technology companies scale globally by providing access to world-class operators, seasoned investors, and veteran executives with deep expertise in building category-defining businesses.

Through its Fellows and Growth Programs, C100 helps early-stage founders and growth-stage leadership teams dramatically tilt the odds of success in their favour. Companies that have completed C100 programs outperform typical venture-backed success rates by nearly 10x and have collectively raised over $13.2B in venture funding, created more than 23,000 jobs, and reached cumulative valuations exceeding $26.6B.

C100’s membership includes over 400 experienced founders, CEOs, executives, and investors dedicated to advancing Canadian innovation globally.

Doubling Down on What Matters: Our First-ever Second 48Hrs

Two days might not seem like much, but in the right room, with the right people – everything can change.

That’s the essence of 48Hrs in the Valley, a cornerstone of the C100 Fellows Program. More than just an event, it’s a high-impact experience designed to give Canada’s most promising early-stage founders unfiltered access to Silicon Valley’s top founders, operators, and investors, all while strengthening the bonds within their cohort.

When we kicked off the Fellowship in September 2024 with the first 48Hrs, it was clear how transformative these connections could be. The experience immersed Fellows in the Valley’s ecosystem, introduced them to the C100 membership, and sparked relationships that have shaped their journeys. 

But one touchpoint wasn’t enough.

That’s why, for the first time ever, we introduced a second 48Hrs in January with two clear intentions:

  • Deepen Fellows’ exposure to Silicon Valley’s network of mentors, investors, and seasoned operators. Access to the right people at the right time can change the trajectory of a company, and this was a chance to build on those relationships.
  • Create space for Fellows to reconnect as a cohort halfway through the program. Startups move fast, and challenges evolve. This was an opportunity for Fellows to share what’s changed, challenge assumptions, and learn from each other in a setting designed for honest, high-value conversations.

“I joined C100 Fellows for the chance to connect with amazing founders and accomplished mentors, and 48Hrs delivered beyond my expectations. The relationships I formed have helped me tackle our biggest challenges—there’s real power in having the right people in your corner.” Rishard Rameez, Co-Founder & CEO of Zown

Speaker Sessions: Insights from Those Who’ve Done It

The event started with a fireside chat featuring Shuman Ghosemajumder, Co-Founder & CEO of Reken, who previously scaled Shape Security to a billion-dollar exit. Shuman shared candid insights on scaling in today’s market, when to double down vs. pivot, and what it truly means to build something that lasts. His conversation set the tone for the next two days – inspiring Fellows to ask tough questions, reflect on their own journeys, and think bigger.

The second day brought a series of high-impact talks from experienced leaders who have been in the trenches. Madeline Price, a two-time Olympian, drew powerful parallels between elite athletics and entrepreneurship, showing Fellows how to build mental resilience and high-performance habits. Henry Shi (Super.com) unpacked what it truly takes to sustain product-led growth—not merely achieving product-market fit but aligning the right product, audience, and distribution strategy to create long-term momentum.

Lara Cumberland (Pacaso), drawing from her own experience scaling companies, emphasized that growth alone isn’t enough—it has to be built on a foundation of operational clarity, structured decision-making, and alignment across teams to ensure a company doesn’t break as it scales. And Ed Ortega (Machine & Partners) walked Fellows through the art of crafting compelling investor narratives, offering practical tips on refining pitches and standing out in a competitive fundraising market.

While each session brought unique insights, the common thread across all speakers was clear: building a great company requires more than just execution—it demands the right mindset, strategy, and resilience to overcome challenges.

“Henry Shi’s talk was a game-changer. Hearing firsthand from a founder who’s scaled product-led growth to a global level underscored the caliber of experts we get to learn from at 48Hrs.” Rezaul Hoque, Co-Founder & CTO of Endor Health

Breakout Sessions: Founder-Led, Member-Supported

Breakout sessions were where theory met reality. These conversations were led by Fellows themselves, designed to tackle the toughest challenges they were facing in real time.

Fundraising strategies, hiring decisions, go-to-market execution, and scaling pain points. Each table took on what mattered most, with C100 Members in the room as thought partners, offering their experience and insights and helping founders stress-test their thinking to refine strategies.

This format put founders in the driver’s seat, ensuring that every conversation was high-impact, deeply relevant, and immediately actionable.

“The breakout sessions were invaluable. Having time to dive deep with fellow founders and C100 Members in my field gave me fresh perspectives on everything from company holding structures to go-to-market tactics. The intentionality in pairing us together made all the difference.” Ania Wysocka, Founder & CEO of Rootd

More Than an Event—A Community That Moves Companies Forward

Some of the most valuable moments at 48Hrs weren’t scheduled – they happened in the in-between moments. Over dinner, during coffee breaks, in late-night conversations at the hotel bar.

A first-time founder swapping notes with a serial entrepreneur. A casual chat turning into a game-changing introduction. A candid conversation with an investor that shifted the way a founder thought about their next raise.

48Hrs isn’t just about content—it’s about building a network that moves companies forward. By giving Fellows direct access to the right people at the right time, we’re shaping trajectories in ways no other programs can.

“The real magic happened in those unscripted moments—grabbing coffee, hanging out after sessions, and talking through our plans to scale. The itinerary created a great environment for honest, impactful conversations.” Noah Palansky, Founder & CEO of Taiv

Know a founder who could benefit from an experience like this? Tell them about the C100 Fellowship. The right connections at the right time can change everything—and that’s exactly what 48Hrs is designed to do. Applications open soon for our 2025 program!

Scaling Sales and GTM: Lessons from C100’s Growth Workshop

Scaling a go-to-market (GTM) function requires more than just hiring sales reps and hoping for the best. It demands a strategic, data-driven approach, deep understanding of a clearly defined ideal customer profile (ICP), and commitment to continuous improvement.

In February 2024, C100 hosted a GTM-focused workshop as part of its Growth Program. Canada’s top scale-stage founders and executives gathered in Toronto to learn from some of the country’s best GTM experts. The sessions, led by Kyle Norton, Geoff Baum, George Kyriakis, April Dunford, James Yersh, Julie Bruk, Mark Bergen, and Alia Pirani, covered GTM efficiency, positioning, partnerships, revenue optimization, post-sales expansion, and scaling sales teams.

Here are some of the top takeaways from our expert speakers:

Data is Your GTM Cheat Code

Kyle Norton emphasized that data is the foundation of an efficient GTM strategy. Without it, sales teams waste time chasing unqualified leads. Amazingly, companies waste up to 40% of sales time on “customers” who aren’t going to buy. That’s no way to win in a competitive market. Kyle outlined key strategies to improve GTM efficiency:

  • Ensure top-of-the-funnel leads are highly qualified. That’s non-negotiable.
  • Sales reps shouldn’t be responsible for qualifying data—build structured systems instead.
  • Scoring your market matters—use data-driven models to prioritize deals with the highest likelihood to convert.
  • Leverage automation—scrapers, enrichment tools, and structured call data help improve accuracy.

When done right, good data eliminates inefficiencies, increases conversion rates, and drives predictable revenue growth.

Build a Repeatable GTM Playbook

Scaling from founder-led sales to a structured, repeatable sales process is one of the hardest transitions a startup makes. Geoff Baum shared how companies can navigate this shift:

  • Create a GTM playbook that maps out the buying stages from the customer’s perspective.
  • Reverse-engineer the sales process to understand what customers need at each stage AND be prepared to give them what they need at every step of their buying journey.
  • Train your team relentlessly—the best sales reps are made, not found.
  • Audit the use of playbooks—consistency is key to scaling success.

Without a scalable, repeatable and teachable go-to-market process, even the best products will struggle to scale. What’s more, the process of developing your GTM playbook is a great way to get your entire leadership team involved and aligned on your GTM and bigger company strategy.

Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and Stick to It

Mark Bergen emphasized that many sales teams fail because they haven’t nailed their ICP. Signs of a poorly defined ICP include:

  • Low conversion rates and extended sales cycles
  • Overreliance on discounting or special deals
  • High churn and poor Net Revenue Retention (NRR)

To fix this, companies must clearly document who their best-fit customers are and structure their sales and marketing efforts accordingly. A well-defined ICP ensures teams focus on high-value prospects instead of wasting time on unlikely buyers.

Positioning: The Foundation of GTM Success

April Dunford stressed that poor positioning is one of the biggest barriers to scaling a GTM motion. Companies often struggle because they:

  • Fail to differentiate from competitors
  • Don’t clearly articulate their unique value
  • Position themselves in the wrong market category

April’s advice? Start by identifying what customers would use if your product didn’t exist, then define what makes your solution unique, valuable, and relevant to your target audience. Strong positioning helps provide customers the context they need to evaluate your product and provides the foundation for scalable growth.

Build Partnerships That Drive Leverage

George Kyriakis shared insights on strategic partnerships, emphasizing that not all partnerships are created equal. To maximize success:

  • Prioritize depth over breadth—fewer, high-value partnerships outperform scattered, low-impact deals.
  • Clearly define partner ICPs—just like with customers, alignment matters.
  • Ensure internal buy-in—a partnership strategy is only as strong as the internal support behind it.

Done right, partnerships unlock new channels, drive revenue, and expand market reach.

Optimize Revenue Through Recurring Impact

Alia Pirani shared the “bowtie funnel” approach to maximizing recurring revenue. The key insight? Revenue doesn’t stop at the sale—it also happens after the customer sees value. Expansion of current accounts, when done well, can deliver another critical revenue driver for companies and turbocharge growth. 

  • Onboarding is the first impact moment—invest in it.
  • Retention depends on recurring impact—if customers continuously see value, they stay.
  • Customer success must speak the same language as sales—misalignment leads to churn.

A great GTM strategy extends beyond acquiring customers—it ensures they succeed long-term.

Scaling Requires Strong Revenue Operations

Julie Bruk emphasized that ops teams are critical to GTM success—they provide alignment, visibility, and efficiency. She outlined when and how to invest in revenue operations:

  • Early-stage startups (Seed–Series A) should focus on foundational processes.
  • Growth-stage companies (Series B–C) must scale automation and analytics.
  • Late-stage companies (IPO track) should build predictive modeling, advanced lead scoring, and cross-functional alignment.

Without proper ops investment, companies struggle with inconsistent data, process inefficiencies, and poor sales visibility.

Align Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success

At scale, the best-performing companies align all GTM functions—from sales and marketing to customer success. James Yersh highlighted that:

  • Sales cycles need clear KPIs—dissect the funnel to identify areas for improvement.
  • Onboarding is a revenue driver—treat it as an investment, not a cost center.
  • Data-driven decision-making is critical—track performance metrics, iterate, and refine.

A unified GTM approach ensures sustainable, long-term growth.

Scaling GTM the Right Way

The insights shared at C100’s GTM-focused workshop emphasized that efficient, scalable sales and marketing require structured processes, data-driven decision-making, and strong team alignment.

Founders can build a GTM engine that drives long-term success by optimizing ICP, refining positioning, leveraging partnerships, and investing in operations.

C100’s Growth Program continues to equip Canada’s top tech companies with the strategies, frameworks, and expert insights needed to scale successfully.

Want to learn more? Stay tuned for future workshops and insights from the Growth Program.

C100 ED Michael Buhr’s New Year’s Message for Members

Dear Friends-

Reflecting on my first year as Executive Director of C100, I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made together. When I stepped into this role, I committed to delivering greater engagement opportunities for our members while also exploring additional ways for the C100 to make a greater impact on Canadian tech overall – and thanks to your support, we’ve made meaningful strides toward that promise.

Looking Back

This past year, we launched the C100 Growth Program, incorporating the best elements of the Lazaridis Scale-Up experience to support CEOs/executives/founders in scaling their companies beyond $100M USD in revenue. Our inaugural cohort includes 12 remarkable companies (adding to the previous 80+ Scale-Up Alumni) – four are alumni of the C100 Fellows program—proof of the learning and development value we’re creating for Canadian entrepreneurs. 

We added the C100 Leaders’ Circle to our programming, bringing together 13 exceptional leaders from 10 award-winning $100M to $1B USD revenue companies, half of which are C100 program alumni. These leaders have all shared that while they may cross paths in public forums, this recurring peer gathering with simple agendas and Chatham House rules is the only space where they can connect deeply, honestly collaborate, and learn from one another. 

We also invested more into our early-stage C100 Fellows Program, adding Mastermind classes in funding and storytelling, developing matched mentoring for each founder, and adding a second deeper dive 48Hrs in January.  In its 15th year, 48Hrs and Fellows remain a cornerstone of C100’s brand, ethos and mission. This year’s largest-ever cohort represents a cumulative $100M+ USD in funding, with almost 40% of the companies founded by serial entrepreneurs. 

Looking Ahead

The talent, ambition, and innovation underway across all of the companies in our 2024 programming cohorts gives me incredible confidence and pride in the future of and for Canadian entrepreneurs and Canadian tech. The success of these programs is built upon investments made by the C100 in programming and member connections across the last decade or so.

This past year, 18 of Deloitte’s Fast 50 companies—including four of the top five—and 30 of the Fast 500 are C100 program alumni. It’s clear: companies supported by C100 are deeply part of the foundation of Canada’s tech ecosystem

However, there is more work to be done – our impact on Canadian founders, entrepreneurs, executives, and their companies must be broader and deeper to help create a self-sustaining Canadian tech ecosystem.

In 2025 we need to make meaningful progress toward our goal of propelling more than 100 Canadian technology companies past $100M and elevating at least 10 to surpass $1B in USD annual revenue by 2030. Our 2025 priorities are to ensure that every ambitious Canadian entrepreneur — whether a founder or CEO building a tech company in Canada — fully recognizes the unique and transformative value of engaging C100. 

  • We want to inspire these entrepreneurs and executives to actively seek opportunities to participate in C100 programs, events, and socials or to benefit from the mentorship, coaching, and expertise offered by C100’s exceptional network of members and industry experts.
  • To capture attention, we must continue to flawlessly execute and improve our development programs for early, growth, and scale-stage Canadian company founders, CEOs and executives. 48Hrs/Fellows, Growth, and Leaders Circle must be the best programs for Canadian founders/entrepreneurs/executives.
  • In addition, we need to strengthen member engagement by creating opportunities for stronger interaction between our members, our program cohort founders and executives, and the top US and Canadian investors. Our Annual C100 Summit 2025 is one of those opportunities – it is a must and will be the milestone event for any C100 member, Canadian entrepreneur, executive, advisor, or investor. We have an epic line-up of speakers and attendees.
  • We ask for more than just Summit participation — we need you at our Socials to connect with our program companies (they love it), mentor our cohort company leaders (if you are interested, please let me know), share your thoughts and ideas on improving our programs and our membership, attend the Town Halls for updates and feedback, and engage in the new member database/Portal.

Let me close by saying thank you. There has been a lot of change this past year. Thank you for engaging, supporting, reaching out, attending, providing feedback, and being involved. We cannot do this without you – together, we’re making a difference. 

I look forward to the year ahead.

Onwards!
Michael

PS—Please make sure you sign into the Member Portal. We will be adding more features this year. If you have not or have any problems, please contact Anna Drabovskaya (adrabovskaya@thec100.org).

48Hrs in the Valley

Central to the Fellows Program is our signature “48Hrs in the Valley” event. Held twice a year in Silicon Valley, this impactful gathering brings together our Fellows with C100’s membership of seasoned founders, experienced operators, and top-tier investors. Over two days, Fellows are immersed in a high-energy, intimate environment that fosters deep, authentic relationships with their peers and the broader C100 community.

In September 2024, we kicked off our first 48Hrs gathering with our largest cohort of Fellows, setting the stage for a year of growth, learning, and connection.

Feedback from the Fellows after the first 48Hrs event showed us how deeply this community resonated with them. 

“It’s easy to underestimate the power of being surrounded by people who inspire you to push beyond your limits. Entrepreneurship can often feel isolating, but connecting with others who face similar challenges is a game-changer.” – Kayli Dale, CEO, Friendlier

Building a company is one of the most ambitious and, at times, loneliest journeys. At 48Hrs, we intentionally foster a space where founders can connect with others who share their struggles and triumphs, enabling them to draw strength from each other. These connections go beyond networking—they are about shared purpose and building lasting bonds. 

Kicking Off the 2024 Fellows Program with Impact

At this initial gathering, our Fellows met not only each other but also a group of C100 mentors, members, and successful alumni. This first 48Hrs offered invaluable opportunities for Fellows to open up, ask questions, and be genuinely heard, setting the tone for what lies ahead.

The event started with Fellows-only time and a fireside chat with Mike Wessinger, co-founder and executive chairman of PointClickCare

“The first evening included a fireside chat session and small groups to discuss what made us become founders. I knew I’d be building relationships with the co-fellows, but what I did not expect was the depth of it. I often hear: “It’s a lonely place at the top (referring to being a founder)”. I can tell you that I was not feeling alone at that moment.” – Annie Cyr, CEO, Tengiva 

Informative Sessions with Experienced Leaders 

48Hrs isn’t just about sharing challenges—it’s also about learning from leaders who have navigated the path to success. 

A session on Storytelling by Edmundo Ortega guided the Fellows in restructuring their company pitches from logical statements into compelling narratives that will resonate emotionally with audiences, be it customers, investors, boards, media, etc.

The Leadership Panel, featuring Julie Currie, Tate Hackert, and Evan Macmillan, discussed how the best leaders grow and evolve with their businesses rather than reinvent themselves entirely.

Elissa Barrett, Henry Shi, and Lara Cumberland led a session that included insights into how to hire the right people at each critical stage of your business. Many leaders hire talent that may be too senior for what’s needed now; our panellists cautioned to hire for what you need. 

“I’ll be honest—sometimes you attend programs and leave feeling unsure about what you gained from the time spent. But this was truly unlike any program I’ve ever experienced!” – Kaylee Lieffers, CEO, Blanka

Fundraising is central to any early-stage founder’s journey. The fundraising panel, led by Alex Kolicich, Joanna Lee Shevelenko, and Zeya Yang, provided Fellows with highly actionable and candid insights. Fellows appreciated the off-the-record nature of the discussion, which encouraged transparency and practical advice. The panellists focused on key fundraising strategies and navigating the nuances of relationship-building in the venture ecosystem.

“It was inspiring to connect with many talented Canadian Founders, each bringing their unique story and passion. It’s not every day that we get to dive deep into our challenges and learn so much from one another. A heartfelt thank you to the amazing speakers and business leaders who shared their wisdom and experiences.” – Sachin Bhalla, CMO, GoVeyance

In addition to the panels, breakout sessions included relevant and meaningful discussions with the Fellows. Each table grouped Fellows in similar industries with invited C100 members with expert experience to help guide them through their most pressing issues.

“Building a category-defining company takes more than just heart and grit—it takes a village to help you elevate to the next level, and the C100 community embodies that perfectly.” – Joel Nicholson, CEO, Youthfully 

Looking Ahead: Building Momentum for January’s 48Hrs

As we wrapped up the first 48Hrs, the Fellows, mentors, and C100 team felt the momentum. We’ve seen the power of this program to transform not only the trajectory of individual founders but also to strengthen the Canadian tech ecosystem as a whole. 

The energy from September’s event carries forward into the second 48Hrs, set for January 2025, where Fellows will reconnect, tackle new challenges, and continue learning from each other and our community of experts.