Build for Canada: An AI Hackathon for Economic Resilience
About the event
A one-day hackathon for people who want to work on something that impacts Canadian innovation and the economy.
The Theme: AI for Canadian Economic Resilience
The Challenge: Build an AI tool that solves a problem created or worsened by the current trade environment.
You don't necessarily need to be a trade expert or an economist to join. We will form teams for you and ensure that each team has a strong mix of skills.
This isn’t your typical hackathon - it’s a structured, supportive experience where everyone can contribute, whatever their background. There will also be mentors to support you throughout.
Co-hosted by NovaForge AI Venture Lab and My Creative Break, you’ll pair cutting-edge AI tools with expert facilitation so your team is supported every step of the way, from icebreakers, to brainstorming, to the final pitch.
Why are we doing this?
This event is about:
Turning a national economic disruption into something people can work on together.
Putting technical builders in the same room as people who understand trade, industry, and policy - because neither group solves this alone.
Producing work that outlives the day: Open tools, research, and analysis that Canadian businesses and communities can actually use.
Building meaningful connections while creating solutions that address real human needs.
You’ll leave with new skills, new connections, and a real sense that you can contribute to the AI ecosystem in Canada.
The problem we’ll tackle:
Canada is in the middle of a trade dispute that's reshaping how goods cross the border. New counter-tariffs took effect this September on roughly $27.6 billion of imports, hitting steel and aluminum, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics, and electronics. Businesses across the Greater Toronto Area are re-pricing products, hunting for new suppliers, and rewriting customs paperwork - many without the tools, time, or extra resources to do it well.
We think AI can help. Not as a demo, but as something a business owner, a worker, or a policymaker could actually use.
Ideas you could work on:
Trade & tariff intelligence
Supply chain resilience
Industry deep dives (e.g. steel and aluminum, agri-food and dairy, manufacturing, construction materials, or retail)
Small business survival
Workers, regions & communities
Macro, policy & public insight
What makes this hackathon different?
Guided team formation - come solo or with a team, no one gets left behind
Facilitated icebreakers and connection activities
Structured build sprints with mentor support throughout
Pitch-prep mentoring before your final presentation
Access to mentors, judges, and ecosystem leaders
Exposure to AI community tools and platforms
Food, coffee, and energy resets built in
A low-pressure, encouraging environment
Networking with builders, founders, and creatives
Prizes across multiple categories
Who is this for?
This event is built for mixed teams. Every one of these backgrounds has something the others need:
Software engineers, data scientists, and AI builders
Supply chain, logistics, procurement, and trade professionals
Consultants, strategists, and business analysts
Economists, policy professionals, and public sector staff
Founders and small business owners living this problem directly
Researchers, journalists, and graduate students
Designers and product people
You do not need to be an AI expert. You just need to be curious and willing to dig into a hard problem with people who think differently than you do.
What you’ll walk out with:
New connections across Toronto's AI startup and industry community
Hands-on experience applying AI to a real economic problem
Access to mentors, judges, and ecosystem leaders
A real project you helped create with real data
Prizes across multiple categories
The Judges
(TBA)
The Organizers
NovaForge AI Venture Lab: A non-profit AI hub on a zero-equity model, dedicated to supporting AI founders.
My Creative Break: A team-building and event organization that specializes in connection, play-based experiences, and creativity workshops across Toronto and Montreal.
The Venue
ForgeVenue, Office146: Located in Etobicoke at 146 Thirtieth Street, is a modern coworking and event space that doubles as the home campus of NovaForge AI Venture Lab. Just 15 minutes from downtown Toronto and 10 minutes from Pearson Airport, with free on-site parking and easy access via the Gardiner, Highway 427, Long Branch GO, and TTC.
Built for builders, it offers high-speed Bell Fibre WiFi, presentation screens with a sound system, and a variety of meeting spaces, including seven boardrooms, breakout areas, and a full kitchen/bar with unlimited coffee, tea, and kombucha. Everything a full day of building needs. The space, ForgeVenue, comfortably hosts up to 200 attendees, making it an ideal setting for an inclusive, energetic hackathon.