Commerce Toronto
Commerce Toronto is where Canada’s retail, e-commerce, CPG, and tech communities come together to connect, learn, and grow!
200+ attendees from across the retail, e-commerce, CPG, and tech sectors. From early-stage founders, operators, brand builders, and industry professionals.
The evening features presentations and fireside chat with industry leaders who share their journeys, challenges, and strategies shaping the future of commerce.
On-site Marketplace, where a curated selection of CPG brands showcase their latest products - offering a hands-on experience and an opportunity to discover what’s next in consumer innovation.
Agenda
5:30–6:30PM | Doors open, networking and marketplace
6:30–8:00PM | Community open mic, speakers presentations
8:00–8:30PM | Continued networking
8:30PM | End of event and afterparty (offsite of Rotman)
Community Leads
Sharif Virani is the Head of Partnerships at Ecom North, he is a digital communications advisor and fractional CMO with expertise in brand strategy, growth marketing, and content production across DTC, STEM, and public advocacy sectors. He previously led creative and strategy teams at Media Launch (acquired by WebMarketers), working with brands like UberEats and Canadian Blood Services. He co-founded Casper Kitchens and currently leads marketing at Instasnacks and advises Sumer Inc. Sharif has taught brand management at Algonquin College and believes in creative, entrepreneurial approaches to digital problem-solving—helping businesses find their voice, shape their story, and drive purposeful growth.
Steve Ballantyne is a serial entrepreneur, CPG consultant, and 3x founder with successful exits. He founded Station Cold Brew, Canada’s first cold brew company, scaling it to $2M ARR and 2,000+ distribution points before a strategic acquisition. A Dragon’s Den alum, Steve has partnered with global brands like Kraft Heinz, Diageo, and Pernod Ricard. He now mentors CPG founders internationally, bringing hands-on expertise in scaling operations, financing, and exit strategy. With experience leading a $30M+ beverage roll-up and managing large-scale production, Steve is passionate about helping brands grow, innovate, and succeed in competitive markets.
Our Speakers
Josh Guttman is the Co-Founder and CEO of SELLIT9, an integrated trade-in platform unlocking instant liquidity for pre-owned household items. Previously, Josh served as Chief Revenue Officer at Altrio and VP of Revenue at Lane Technologies, helping steer the company to a $200M exit to VTS. He spent over 11 years at Salesforce in roles ranging from SDR to VP of Sales. A graduate of Queen's University (B.S.) and Schulich School of Business, York University (MBA '12), Josh is also a faculty member at Schulich ExecEd, known for his people-first, data-driven leadership philosophy.
Ian Slipacoff is a third-generation butcher with over 20 years of experience, combining traditional craftsmanship with an entrepreneurial mindset. In 2014, he helped launch one of Canada’s first direct-to-consumer fresh meat e-commerce platforms, scaling it into a multi-million-dollar business through disciplined execution and customer-focused innovation. Today, he owns and operates Dumouchel Meat & Deli in Ottawa, focusing on product quality, community engagement, and building a resilient, scalable business. He is also a partner at Bingeworthy Snacks, contributing to growth, product development, and market expansion, bringing a hands-on approach to modernizing the meat industry.
Leila Keshavjee is the Founder and CEO of Happy Pops, an award-winning all-natural frozen treat. After graduating with a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Toronto, she started selling Happy Pops in local farmers markets and in a short time scaled her business nationally. Today, Happy Pops are available in more than 40 flavours and are sold in over 2000 grocery stores across Canada. They have collaborated with global brands including Sesame Street and Mattel. Leila appeared on the season premiere of Dragons’ Den in 2018, was the recipient of the Canadian Grocer’s 2023 Gen Next Award which recognizes rising stars, leaders and innovators in the Canadian Grocery Industry and was celebrated as a 2023 Toronto Notable Professional Under 35. She was also the recipient of the Registered Professional Accountant Women Entrepreneur Award in 2024, and Happy Pops has been recognized nationally for three consecutive years by the Canadian Choice Awards for Best Manufacturer.
Julia Kirouac is Founder and CEO of nud fud, a Toronto-based food company she has built over 13 years into one of Canada's leading producers of nutrient-dense, organic snacks. She recently expanded her entrepreneurial portfolio with the founding of Wild Ones Organics in 2024. Before focusing full-time on building her companies, Julia trained as a Certified Nutritionist at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition and studied Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. Beyond her ventures, she consults CPG brands on food safety, R&D, and scaling, and mentors the next generation of founders through NEXT Canada.
Thank You To Venue Partner
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