SAAS NORTH to spotlight AI-driven SaaS future at Ottawa summit
SAAS NORTH will return to Ottawa for its 10th annual conference this November, focusing on the future of Software as a Service (SaaS) in the context of artificial intelligence (AI).
The event is scheduled to take place at Ottawa's Rogers Centre and is expected to attract over 2,000 attendees, representing approximately 800 SaaS companies from across North America. The gathering will host founders, technology leaders, and professionals to discuss trends and strategies relevant to the AI-driven transformation of the SaaS sector.
Unified theme
This year marks the first time that SAAS NORTH will focus on a single overarching theme: "Future-Proofing SaaS in the Age of AI". Organisers state that the conference is designed to prepare founders and leaders for success in an AI-centric marketplace by offering practical strategies, tools, and frameworks currently used in the industry.
The 2025 agenda will provide insights on how SaaS companies can innovate and maintain growth amid increased competition and technological change brought by AI adoption.
Programmeme and speakers
The full conference programme has been released, featuring notable figures in Canadian technology who are scheduled to present. The line-up includes Savinay Berry of OpenText, Michael Garrity of Financeit, JD Saint-Martin of Lightspeed Commerce, Vitaly Pecherskiy of StackAdapt, Marie Chevrier Schwartz of TechTO, and Katherine Homuth of Oomira & SRTX.
Speakers are expected to cover a range of topics relevant to SaaS professionals, including innovation, funding, and the impact of AI on business models.
"This year marks a major milestone for SAAS NORTH, and we're ready to make it our most impactful event yet," said David Tyldesley, Co-Founder of SAAS NORTH and Cube Business Media. "With AI reshaping the SaaS landscape, this year's conference highlights its continuing impact. Attendees will connect directly with founders and industry leaders, gaining first-hand insight into how AI is shaping innovation, competition, and growth."
Conference highlights
The two-day event will feature several sessions and special programmes. One of the conference's main panels is titled "Hot Tub Time Machine: SaaS Legends on the Past, Present & AI Future", in which veteran SaaS professionals will discuss the evolution of the sector, key decisions, and forecast the implications of AI for the future.
Returning to the conference is "The Masked Investor", where a mystery investor appears in disguise to offer candid insights on startup investment and funding strategies, building on the positive response to last year's session.
The Women in SaaS programme, organised in partnership with The Firehood, is another feature of the event. This initiative provides female founders with dedicated access to mentorship, including meetings with founders Danielle Graham and Claudette McGowan, designed to support women in the SaaS sector.
Startup support and exposure
The Gateway Stage offers a platform for early-stage startups, featuring Pitch Fest Qualifiers where participants compete before expert judges. Finalists will then progress to the main stage to compete for the title of Pitch Fest 2025, alongside exposure opportunities and a cash prize of CAD $10,000.
Additionally, regional showcases will be featured to highlight emerging startups from across Canada, facilitated by leading accelerators in the sector.
Growth of the event
Since its inception, SAAS NORTH has become established as a yearly focal point for Canadian SaaS companies and their partners. Last year, the event recorded 1,700 attendees from 700 companies and hosted hundreds of meetings between investors and startups. Organisers anticipate increased participation for the 10th anniversary, reflecting the continued expansion of the SaaS and AI industries within Canada and across North America.
The conference is presented with support from National Bank and produced by Cube Business Media, in collaboration with the L-Spark accelerator.
