New for 2027

Startup & Investor Lounge

Building connections between founders, investors and industry leaders.

The Show brings Canada's startup ecosystem together through the inaugural Startup & Investor Lounge — a dedicated space where founders, investors, corporate buyers and innovation leaders meet under one roof, gain visibility, explore funding and build the relationships that accelerate growth.

May 21, 2027

One day, one floor

MTCC, Toronto

North Building, Level 100

Explore the Lounge Register for the Show

Founders presenting to attendees at the CanadianSME Small Business Show

Inaugural in 2027

Why it matters

A platform for founders to be seen, funded and connected

Many startups have strong ideas but struggle with visibility, customer access and investor connections. The Lounge closes that gap by putting all four sides of the table in the same room.

Founders

Connect with investors, enterprise customers and ecosystem leaders in one room.

Investors

Discover promising Canadian startups and emerging innovations, early.

Corporate buyers

Explore new technologies, solutions and potential partnerships.

Ecosystem leaders

Support and shape the next generation of Canadian businesses.

Inside the Lounge

Three ways the room works for you

01Showcase your innovation

Startup Pods

A dedicated showcase area where selected Canadian startups demonstrate their products, solutions and business models to investors, customers and industry leaders.

Showcase your startup to Show attendees

Build enterprise connections

Generate partnership opportunities

Increase brand visibility

Premium and standard pod opportunities for Seed to Series A founders.

Startup Pods at the CanadianSME Small Business Show

02Connect with decision makers

B2B Matchmaking

Curated introductions that move beyond networking and create meaningful business conversations with the people who can buy, partner or invest.

Enterprise buyers

Corporate innovation teams

Business leaders

Potential partners

Meetings are matched ahead of the day, not left to chance.

B2B Matchmaking at the CanadianSME Small Business Show

03Pitch. Inspire. Get recognised.

Startup Pitch Showcase

Selected startups pitch their businesses in front of investors, ecosystem leaders and industry experts on the Lounge stage.

Investor exposure

Recognition

Business connections

Growth opportunities

Applications are reviewed on traction, team and market fit.

Startup Pitch Showcase at the CanadianSME Small Business Show

Why join the Startup & Investor Lounge?

Access capital

Connect with investors and funding networks.

Find customers

Meet organisations looking for innovative solutions.

Increase visibility

Showcase your company at one of Canada's leading SME events.

Build partnerships

Create relationships that support long-term growth.

Partnership

Sponsor the Lounge

Two headline positions own the room and the capital side of it. Pods and pitch passes put individual startups on the floor.

Title Sponsor

$25,000

20+ benefits included

Own the Startup Lounge end to end — naming rights, the stage and the room. The single most visible position at the Show.

Naming rights & branding

The 'Startup Lounge' powered by ___

Logo on backdrops, media wall, standees, lanyards, digital screens and all event collateral

Announcement posts across social, print and digital, plus one post-event blog

Speaking & stage

15–20 min main stage keynote at the Startup Lounge

Invitation to the SME Awards ceremony

Host a panel or join the Executive VIP Roundtable

Award presenting opportunity at the Startup Growth Awards

Ads, inserts & reporting

Full-page ad in the event directory

Branded insert in all delegate bags, logo on 2,000+ tickets

Post-event engagement metrics report

Digital & media reach

Studio podcast recording

Pre and post social across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X

Full profile in CanadianSME Magazine and 45,000+ subscriber newsletters

VIP passes & access

10 full-conference VIP passes (valued $500+ each)

VIP Lounge access and pre-event sponsor reception

Up to 5 curated 1-on-1 stakeholder meetings

Premium booth & activation

Premium branded booth at a prime Lounge location

Exclusive activation and demo area

Media interviews with two senior leaders

5 testimonial shoutouts and promotional videos

Enquire about this tier

Investor Lounge Sponsor

$15,000

15+ benefits included

Align your brand with the capital side of the room — the Investor Lounge, the Pitch Showcase and curated matchmaking.

Supporting sponsor & branding

The 'Investor Lounge' supported by ___

Logo on Lounge backdrop, signage and investor collateral

Branding across pitch-stage screens and print

Pitch Showcase association

Named sponsor of the Startup Pitch Showcase

Logo on stage, finalist decks and event materials

Digital & media reach

Profile in CanadianSME Magazine and 45,000+ newsletters

Pre and post coverage on LinkedIn, Instagram and X

Online podcast recording

Programme participation

Join a roundtable or session

A seat on the investor judge panel

3 testimonial shoutouts

Award presenting opportunity at the Startup Growth Awards

Investor & matchmaking access

Media interview with one senior leader

Priority access to curated B2B matchmaking

Direct introductions to angel networks and VC fund managers

VIP passes & networking

6 full-conference VIP passes

VIP Lounge access and pre-event sponsor reception

Up to 3 curated 1-on-1 meetings

Enquire about this tier

01Best visibility

Premium Pods

$2,750

10 units

2 B2B meetings + 2 investor meetings

High-visibility outreach to 3,000+ visitors

Full-day refreshments

1 article in Startup Growth Magazine

15-min onsite interview

Includes editorial coverage and an onsite interview.

Bookings live soon

Premium Pods at the CanadianSME Small Business Show

02Core exhibiting option

Standard Pods

$1,500

15 units

1 B2B meeting + 1 investor meeting

High-visibility outreach to 3,000+ visitors

Full-day refreshments

The straightforward way onto the Lounge floor.

Bookings live soon

Standard Pods at the CanadianSME Small Business Show

03Entry level

Pitch Only Passes

$499

30 units

Promotional opportunity to win investment

Engagement with a 3,000+ audience

Stage time without a physical pod.

Bookings live soon

Pitch Only Passes at the CanadianSME Small Business Show

Who should participate?

Startups

Seed-stage companies

Series A startups

Technology companies

High-growth businesses

Innovation-driven founders

Investors

Angel investors

Venture capital firms

Corporate investors

Funding organisations

Industry leaders

Corporate innovation teams

Enterprise buyers

Business ecosystem partners

May 21, 2027 · Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Ready to showcase your startup?

Limited startup opportunities are available. Secure your pod, apply for the Pitch Showcase, or explore partnership options — the Lounge is part of the CanadianSME Small Business Show 2027, "Grow Smarter. Grow Stronger. Practical Tools, Capital and Talent for Canadian Small Business".

Apply for a startup pod Join the Pitch Showcase Register for the Show