​Cue the Battle Music

​Forget pitch decks and cap tables — bring up type charts and move tables. We're going head to head in a literal Pokemon Showdown.

​Patagonia vests are out.

​Blue vests with all your gym badges are in.

​When the dust settles, only 1 founder will hold the title of Toronto Tech Week's Ultimate Pokémon Master.

​Your Ticket Includes: Appetizers & Drinks & A Pre-Formulated Pokemon Team Draft & Tournament

​Are these Normal-Type Pokemon calling your name?

​The Pokemon Format

​We use a battling simulator called Pokemon Showdown. You can use it on your phone/laptop. No need to own a Switch or any actual Nintendo/Pokemon games.

​We're going to battle using the ruelset for National Dex Monotype (Singles). This is like being a 'Gym Leader' in Pokemon, where all 6 of your Pokemon will share a type.

​We will have 19 teams prepared for you - one for each Pokemon type, and at the start we'll each draft a type/team & an opponent (snake draft style). We will take care of ensuring all teams are viable & competitively balanced (EV spreads, items, movesets, etc.). You just show up!

​Using your team, we'll do some round robins & a double elimination tournament to decide the Toronto Tech Week Pokemon League Champion!

​Your Hosts

​Derek Jouppi

​Highest Ranking: 25th / 7,000,000 on Pokemon Showdown

​Founder of Advite & Founder Poker Toronto

​Ryan Ing

​Toronto's Best Event Host

​Founder of Swift Outbound & TOIRL

​About Toronto Tech Week

​Toronto Tech Week is a citywide celebration of the people building what’s next. From May 25–29, 2026, founders, investors, and builders come together for hundreds of community-led events across Toronto, connecting tens of thousands of people around Canadian tech. Torontotechweek.com.