Compress sales cycles and turn pilots into purchase orders, the #1 growth obstacle.
Canada Builds.
We Should Buy It.
A one-day event to accelerate the procurement of Canadian technology.
2026 Mission
Build. Buy. Back.
Premier Sponsor
Sovereign Technology Track Sponsor
In 2026, Canada has changed. Buy Canadian is a policy. Defence spending is real. But many questions remain unanswered: What qualifies as Canadian? Who is stepping up and buying? And where will startups find the capital to scale?
There is progress but also the constant headwind of Canada's risk-averse culture.
Source Canada returns with an urgent call to action: buy Canadian innovation now. There is no time to waste.
Event Tracks
Defence.
Closing the gap between Canada's defence ambition and what its SMEs can actually win.
Supported by
Clear the hard entry gates: security clearances, cyber and ISO 27001 / AS9100.
Diversify beyond North America. Open SAFE, EDIP and security-of-information doors.
Close the capital gap: lenders avoid defence and active defence VCs are few.
Sovereign Technology.
Presented by
Strengthening the technologies Canada cannot do without.
Supported by
Turn enterprise and government pilots into purchase orders from banks, telcos, utilities, government.
SOC 2, ISO 27001 and complex procurement processes block startups before the first meeting.
Assemble an end-to-end Canadian alternative to the foreign hyperscalers: compute to models.
The capital gap hits AI, cyber and deeptech hardest with more foreign ownership being the likely path.
Event Experience
Unlike any other event.
Source Canada was architected to connect innovators with the buyers and investors they need to scale. It is a focused, curated experience.
Innovators
- Keynotes and breakout sessions focused on helping startups sell faster
- Pitch rooms with buyers and investors
- 1:1 meetings
- Opportunities to network and build relationships
Government
- Keynotes and breakout sessions on policy, procurement innovation and case studies
- Pitches from Canada's leading innovators
- Curated 1:1 meetings
- Opportunities to network and build relationships
Corporate
- Keynotes and breakout sessions on corporate procurement and case studies
- Pitches from Canada's leading innovators
- Curated 1:1 meetings
- Opportunities to network and build relationships
Capital
- Keynotes and breakout sessions on defence, quantum, AI and deeptech
- Pitches from Canada's leading innovators
- Curated 1:1 meetings
- Opportunities to network and build relationships
Snapshot of the 2025 Event
Inaugural Source Canada
On October 22, 2025, a curated room of Canadian buyers, founders, and operators focused on one question: How do we start buying Canadian tech now?
250
Attendees (sold out)
70
Corporate buyers
100+
Private meetings and briefing rooms
2026 Agenda
The day at a glance
One curated day. The morning is plenary; after the keynotes the Defence and Sovereign Technology tracks run in parallel, with pitch rooms and 1:1 meetings throughout the day.
| 8:00 | Registration and breakfast | ||
| 9:00 | Opening keynote | ||
| 9:30–10:30 | Keynote panels | ||
| Defence | Sovereign Technology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:45–11:15 | Track kick-off | Track kick-off |
Pitch rooms & 1:1 meetings
Running throughout the day
|
| 11:15–12:00 | Defence Startup Funding | Startup Funding | |
| 12:00–1:00 | Lunch | ||
| 1:00–1:45 | Procurement Velocity panel | Procurement Velocity panel | |
| 1:45–2:30 | Defence Readiness workshop | Enterprise procurement readiness workshop | |
| 2:30–2:45 | Break | ||
| 2:45–3:30 | Allied Markets workshop | Sovereign Technology showcase | |
| 4:30 | Closing reception | ||
Agenda subject to change.
“Canada doesn’t have an innovation problem. It has a buying problem. Our defence and security startups build world class tech, but they can’t survive the Canadian procurement gauntlet. The Icebreaker is backing Source Canada to change this reality.”
“If Canada wants to lead in AI, cybersecurity, quantum and defence technologies, we can’t stop at inventing them. We have to buy them. Source Canada is helping bridge that gap by bringing together the innovators, buyers and investors who can turn Canadian innovation into Canadian growth. Every procurement decision is an opportunity to strengthen domestic companies, create high-value jobs, and build the strategic capabilities our country will rely on for decades to come.”
“Source Canada was literally the best event I’ve attended this year as a founder. The conversations were authentic, the connections meaningful, and the mission couldn’t be more important.”
Don't miss the 2026
Event.
Secure Your Spot
Bet on Canada.
Sponsor Source Canada. The choices made now will shape Canada for a generation in defence and innovation. Sponsors help make that work possible. Play a leadership role among Canada's leaders in innovation, business, government and capital.
Contact sponsorships@sourcecan.ca