Market Overview - Travel @ TechTO HQ at Espace CDPQ
Market Overview: Travel
A 2-hour deep dive on travel industry, this event will feature a market outlook and a review of several innovations leading the way.
The travel industry has undergone a massive reset. From the rise of AI-driven trip planning and personalized recommendations to shifts in consumer behavior, sustainability demands, and evolving business models, travel tech is reinventing how we move, connect, and experience the world.
At this Market Overview, we’ll unpack the latest trends, funding patterns, and innovations shaping the sector. You’ll hear how startups and established players alike are responding to challenges such as fluctuating demand, operational costs, and traveler expectations, all while finding new ways to deliver seamless, memorable experiences.
Agenda
4:00pm - 4:20pm : Arrivals & Networking
4:20pm - 4:50pm: Research presented by Mia Morisset and Rania Ajakane from Inovia
4:50pm - 5:00pm: Peer Discussion
5:00pm - 5:10pm: Presentation by: Jo Lai (Hopper)
5:10pm - 5:20pm: Presentation by: Marc-Antoine Bonin (Planned)
5:20 - 5:30pm: Presentation by: Michael Carfagnini (Wingbuddy)
5:30am - 6:00pm: Fireside chat featuring Andrew Lockhead and Max Tremaine
Featured Speakers
Max Tremaine is the Co-Founder & CEO at sherpa°, a Toronto-based, venture-backed travel tech startup that streamlines visas and travel documentation through an API used by airlines, OTAs, and TMCs, trusted by over two billion travelers to date. Max cut his teeth in market research at Nielsen before launching Sherpa° to solve the growing challenge of international travel complexity.
Andrew Lockhead is the CEO at Stay 22, a travel tech startup offering an interactive, map-based accommodation booking solution for event-goers and publishers. A native of Montréal and serial entrepreneur, Andrew has consistently disrupted the travel and entertainment space, pioneering solutions that simplify lodging discovery near events and unlock new revenue streams for partners. He navigated Stay22 through the COVID downturn—pivoting to AI and media-based distribution—to grow from near zero to multi-million-dollar ARR. Andrew’s approach blends resilience, innovation, and a deep understanding of customer-driven product design.
Mia Morisset is a Principal at Inovia Capital in Montreal, where she focuses on later-stage growth opportunities in B2B SaaS, with a particular emphasis on the future of work and travel & hospitality, e.g. Hopper, Super.com, Guesty, Lightspeed, Lark, Sonder, Diamo. Previously, Mia honed her expertise in private equity at PSP Investments and management consulting at Roland Berger. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with distinction) from McGill University.
Rania Ajakane is an Associate on the Growth team at Inovia Capital, having joined the firm in February 2022. Prior to her role at Inovia, Rania was a Business Strategy Consultant in Accenture's Banking Strategy practice from July 2018 to February 2022. In that capacity, she advised top-tier financial institutions and large enterprises on navigating complex transformations, including AI adoption and cost reduction strategies. Rania holds a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, where she also served as the president of the school's Finance club, PolyFinances.
Jo Lai is SVP, AI Solutions & Customer Experience at Hopper, where she leads strategic initiatives in digital customer experience, AI, and self-service innovation. Jo directs transformative projects that leverage advanced AI to boost efficiency and elevate customer satisfaction for millions of travelers worldwide. Known for her deep industry expertise, collaborative leadership, and commitment to innovation, she is a respected voice shaping the future of customer experience in the travel industry.
Marc-Antoine Bonin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Planned, a marketplace platform that streamlines the sourcing, planning, and payment process for corporate events.
He is an entrepreneur who previously co-founded another startup called Entr (a rental platform for event planners) and before that, Uvolt (a bracelet that charges mobile phones using renewable energy).
Michael Carfagnini is a seasoned executive with over 18 years of experience in finance and operations across various industries. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Wingbuddy, a travel planning company, a role he took on in mid-2022 to oversee the company's strategic and operational execution.
Previously, Michael was involved in the media and content space, notably as the General Manager (GM) of Global Shutterstock Studios in 2020. During his time at Shutterstock, he was involved in initiatives such as "HIV in View," a collaboration with ViiV Healthcare focused on creating authentic and fresh imagery to fight HIV-related stigma.
Thank You To Our Venue Partner:
Thank You To Our Community Partner:
La base entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal
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Découvrez le calendrier complet des événements TechTO à Montréal ici.
This event is part of OHMTL 2025 - Montreal’s tech week of builders.
Cet événement fait partie de OHMTL 2025 - La semaine tech montréalaise des bâtisseurs.