Commerce Toronto
Commerce Toronto is where Canada’s retail, e-commerce, CPG, and tech communities come together to connect, learn, and grow!
Commerce Toronto brings together 200+ attendees from across the retail, e-commerce, CPG, and tech sectors. From early-stage founders, operators, brand builders, and industry professionals, this event is designed to spark conversations, share insights, and foster connections across the commerce ecosystem.
The evening features presentations and fireside chat with industry leaders who share their journeys, challenges, and strategies shaping the future of commerce.
Explore our 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)
Your Hosts
Sharif Virani is the Head of Business at Canada Robot.com, 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.
Alan Nowogrodski is the CEO & Founder of Superbar, the Sales AI that's like having ChatGPT trained to sell on your website. He's a conversion veteran, formerly a VP of Product at NinjaCat and led a $2B payments business at FreshBooks. Alan built his first ecommerce business in 2005 and has helped companies scale ever since.
Beckie Prime is the Founder and CEO of Beck’s Broth and a registered holistic nutritionist passionate about making healthy living simple and delicious. Inspired by the powerful benefits of bone broth, she created innovative products that infuse this superfood into everyday comfort drinks like coffee and hot chocolate. Beckie’s mission is to help people nourish their bodies with ease, combining wellness and flavor in every sip. Through Beck’s Broth, she is redefining how bone broth can fit seamlessly into modern lifestyles.
Domenique Mastronardi, President and Partner at Beck’s Broth - the innovative brand transforming everyday coffee, matcha, and hot chocolate into nourishing bone-broth-based wellness drinks. Domenique brings entrepreneurial energy, a background in biological engineering, and a passion for sustainable, health-forward food products to everything she does. Under her leadership, Beck’s Broth is redefining comfort beverages with gut-nourishing protein and bold brand storytelling, while scaling rapidly across Canada and beyond
Krista Norris is the Founder & Creative Director at Krista Norris Collection, a Canadian-made accessory brand creating timeless essentials like scarves with classic style and thoughtful craftsmanship. She launched her line to focus on quality fabrics and design that withstands seasons and trends, and her pieces are now carried in select contemporary boutiques across Canada and the U.S. Krista studied at Carleton University and has built her business from design roots into a growing fashion label.
Assel Beglinova is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, is the Co-founder and CEO of Paperstack. Prior to this, Assel spent 5 years in finance, working in high-net-worth tax planning and small business lending.
Marie Chevrier Schwartz is the CEO at RETHINK Retail and Strategic Advisor at TechTO. As the founder and former CEO of Sampler, Marie led the company in revolutionizing the product sampling industry, helping brands like L’Oréal and Kroger digitize product sampling for millions of consumers. Her journey - marked by both successes and challenges - inspired her to dedicate the next part of her journey toward fostering Canada’s tech ecosystem with a deep focus on supporting the people behind the companies.