Startup Events in Kitchener

Human Intelligence (HI) is a Waterloo Tech Week mixer celebrating the people behind Waterloo Region’s technology and innovation community. In a year when so much of the conversation around technology is focused on artificial intelligence, HI takes a step back to focus on something equally important: human connection, collaboration, and community. Hosted by Workhaus, the event brings together founders, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, students, investors, operators, and technology professionals from across the region for an evening of food, drinks, conversation, and connection. Rather than another panel or keynote, HI is designed as an informal and engaging environment where people can meet others outside of their usual networks, exchange ideas, discover opportunities to collaborate, and build relationships. The evening will include interactive elements designed to spark meaningful conversations and make networking feel natural - not transactional. Whether you're building a company, working in the tech sector, exploring your next opportunity, or simply interested in connecting with Waterloo Region’s innovation community, there will be an opportunity to participate. At its core, Human Intelligence is a celebration of the people who make Waterloo’s tech ecosystem what it is. Because while technology continues to evolve, the most valuable connections are still made face-to-face.

For people using AI agents to get real work done. Claude Code, Codex, Hermes Agent, and other harnesses are shipping very fast. Every agent is good at something and bad at something. People will show how they use different agents for ordinary work - automating workflows, building internal tools, managing communications, and turning ideas into working prototypes. You'll meet CEOs, founders, students, and consultants - all exploring how AI agents fit into their day-to-day. What to expect A short opening talk about building on context that every agent can use, six demos from people using different harness, and time to talk with other builders in KW area! Agenda 5:30 - 6:00 | Arrivals and networking 6:00 - 6:10 | AI Agents for Everyone opening talk 6:10 - 6:45 | Demos 1, 2, 3 6:45 - 7:10 | Pizza break and networking 7:10 - 7:45 | Demos 4, 5, 6 7:45 - 8:00 | Final message and networking Each demo is 10 minutes, with time for questions and setup between them. Pizza and drinks provided. Want to present? Demo your workflow with AI Agents, no slides required. No pitches. Apply here (few open spots left): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfL6QZgb_KKU93kbaL-q5J_8AGPmbFsSM73_PSmcM2f2lXNhg/viewform Looking for sponsors We're looking for community-minded companies to sponsor food and drinks. Reach out to Artem to see what we offer in return.

Where commercial innovation meets defence opportunity. Dual-use technology is opening new pathways for Waterloo Region companies to work in defence and this is where those opportunities come into focus. The Dual-Use Tech Summit brings together founders, tech workers and operators working at the intersection of commercial and defence technology. From AI to Quantum to advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, this is your chance to explore how dual-use innovation is shaping what’s next and how your company can be part of it. Agenda Keynote address: Christine Hansen, North American Director, NATO DIANA Session 1: Procurement & the Path to Contract Dariusz Grabka, Head, Digital Lab and Shipper Technology, Purolator Adam Gryfe, Co-founder & COO, CSMC Mike Peasgood, Co-founder & CEO, ENVGO LCol Amanda Whalen, Director, RCAF Digital Hub Session 2: Follow the Money - Canada's Defence Funding Landscape John Barry, Managing Director, EY-Parthenon Niramay, Executive Director, CIBC Innovation Banking Peter Suma, Managing Partner, BDC StrongNorth Fund Session 3: Securing the Advantage — IP, Standards & Strategic Control Khanjan Desai, Co-founder & CEO, Alchemy Jim Hinton, Founder, Own Innovation Mark Sangster, CMO, Palitronica By the end of the day, you’ll: Gain real-world perspectives on building and selling dual-use technology Direct exposure to NATO DIANA companies and programming Conversations with founders, operators, tech workers and defence stakeholders A curated, high-quality group of attendees and speakers Who is this for? Founders building advanced or dual-use technologies Tech workers working in the defence or dual-use sector Tech Leaders exploring defence applications Investors and organizations working in defence innovation In partnership with: Sponsored by:

Every startup faces defining moments. The difference between those that scale and those that stall often comes down to a handful of critical decisions. Join us for an honest, founder-focused conversation with leaders who have collectively advised hundreds of startups through fundraising, hiring, scaling, legal challenges, and financial growth. Rather than telling you what should happen, we'll share the real patterns we see every day—the costly mistakes founders make, how to spot them early, and what you can do differently. You'll hear from: Robert Bowness – RBCx Radhika Vaidyanathan – Pulse Law Alex Hardy – BDO Moderated by Shawn Chance, Partner and head of Go-To-Market services, BrightIron and former VC. We'll tackle questions like: What are the biggest mistakes founders consistently make—and why do they keep happening? Which problems start small but become incredibly expensive if ignored? When is the right time to engage legal, finance, banking, or HR partners? What separates the startups that scale successfully from those that struggle? If each panelist could give every founder one piece of advice, what would it be? Whether you're raising capital, hiring your first team, or preparing for your next stage of growth, you'll leave with practical insights you can apply immediately—and a chance to ask your own toughest questions during an interactive discussion. We are official event hosts with Waterloo Tech Week 2026, a celebration of what’s been built here, and what’s still to come. We’re building something great together. September 12-17, 2026. waterlootechweek.ca

End Waterloo Tech Week with a fun meetup and live Devin builds. $20 usd credits to all check-ins. $200 usd for selected demos. Ship for kicks. Let's have some fun. Agenda: Socialize at 6pm or start building w/ Devin. Demos start at 8:30pm Event continues to 10pm Who it's for: ai curious, anyone who builds, students, staff engineers, founders, career-switchers. What happens Connections are made Live demos from local builders, working software only, demo or it didn't happen A live Devin build session: watch an agent take a real task from ticket to PR Time to actually talk to the people whose demos you just saw Same floor, same bar. If you've shipped something with Devin (or any agent) and want to demo it, say so when you RSVP. The details: 6pm, Builders Club, Waterloo. Free food, drinks, and DJ. RSVP takes ten seconds and we do check it at the door. Part of Waterloo Tech Week. Devin is built by Cognition. kick003 Hosted by DevKick · co-hosted with Builders Club

Kitchener-Waterloo Infosec and Privacy Salon (KWIPS) is an event where folks interested in information security and privacy can come together, learn about a niche topic, and network with like-minded folks. This meetup will start with a presentation by Straithe on the open access paper "Experimental Security Analysis of a Modern Automobile" by Karl Koscher et al. (https://feihu.eng.ua.edu/NSF_CPS/year1/w9_1.pdf). This will be followed by a brief Q+A session. Afterward, there will be an hour+ for you to get to know the other attendees. Please know that masks are required at this event. If you do not have a mask there will be some at the door. There will be an ambassador at the entrance checking folks in and checking for masks. The meeting space for this event is in the Builders Club, which is on the third floor of the building. There are both stairs and a lift to access the space.

AI can write code, draft pitches and automate research—but relying on it too early can hinder the very skills that make you defensible. So where do you fit in when execution gets automated and how do you stay undeniably you while using it? Join speakers Ashley Francisco, Jen Smith and Heather Galt for a candid conversation diving into practical AI strategy, founder enablement, authentic career building and how diverse perspectives—especially from women and non-binary builders—are essential to keeping innovation grounded, ethical and human. What we’ll explore: Where you sit changes what AI means for you: From entry-level roles to founder to leader, AI shifts the ground differently at each stage. We'll dig into what skills actually build career and founder credibility once AI handles the basic execution — and how to avoid the trap of surface-level output. Being strategic, not just fast: How founders and emerging leaders can use AI to punch above their weight — in prototyping, research, and positioning — without losing their edge or leaning on hype. Using AI without losing yourself: What "un-automatable" actually means: your personal brand, your judgment, your voice. Why diverse lived experience matters more, not less, as AI use becomes the default. Agenda 8:30 AM Registration & Networking 9:00 AM Welcome and Introduction 9:05 AM Panel begins 9:45 AM Q&A begins All genders and allies are welcome.