We’re back with more select cuts from BetaKit Most Ambitious: Town Hall, where we hosted over 500 Canadian tech leaders at the iconic TIFF Lightbox for conversations about
our nation’s autonomy, security, and prosperity. It was all in support of our 2026 BetaKit Most Ambitious issue, which tells stories of nearly 100 innovators strengthening Canadian sovereignty.
“You guys have done what you’ve done with the wind in your face. Imagine if you had the wind at your back. Wow.”
Jim Balsillie
CCI chair
This week, we have two really unique sessions. Think of them as structured lectures followed by fireside chats designed to unpack the implications of those lectures.
First up, we have Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun speaking about the coming physical AI revolution that her company is at the forefront of. Then you’ll see Urtasun in conversation with University of Toronto president Melanie Woodin about how Canada’s AI infrastructure has enabled and supported Waabi’s growth, which includes the largest-ever Canadian tech fundraising.
Next up, we have my old boss Jim Balsillie, former co-CEO of Research in Motion, and now chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators.
This conversation is maybe more sobering than inspiring, as Balsillie walks through the myriad ways the United States has leveraged economic policy to Canadian disadvantage—and the myriad ways in which Canada has just allowed it to happen.
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But hey, this is Most Ambitious, so we’re not going to close on a dour note. You’ll also see me sit down with Balsillie to parse the ways Canada can employ some economic statescraft to ensure Canadian innovators can compete on an even playing field.
As Balsillie says, we’re all economic nationalists now. But what does that modern economic policy look like?
Let’s dig in.
PRESENTED BY
The BetaKit Podcast is presented by BetaKit Most Ambitious.
Amid global uncertainty, the path forward is clear: Canada’s moment to build is now.
Presented by Uber Canada, DMZ, and National Bank of Canada, BetaKit Most Ambitious is back, telling stories of nearly 100 Canadian innovators strengthening our nation’s autonomy, security, and prosperity.
Read BetaKit Most Ambitious now.
Feature image courtesy Lilac Media.