The Head Start: Advance Networking for Elevate
UpNext Global presents The Head Start
Advance Networking for Elevate · Powered by Gatherly
Virtual · Thursday, September 10 · 11:00 AM ET
Why come
Elevate Festival brings thousands of founders, investors and operators together from September 22–24. The best conversations usually happen on day three, once you've worked out who's actually in the room.
This is how you skip to day three.
Two weeks before the festival opens, we're running a 90-minute virtual session where Elevate attendees meet properly. Not a webinar. A venue you move around in. You walk into Toronto already knowing who you want to find.
How it works
Speed networking, four rounds. Groups of three, ten minutes each, everyone shuffled between rounds. No standing at the edge of a room working out how to introduce yourself. The format does that part for you.
Open networking. The floor stays open after the programme ends. Follow up with whoever you clicked with, or keep meeting people.
Boardy starts before you do. Our AI superconnector calls you after you register, learns what you're looking for at Elevate, and begins making introductions before the session starts.
Who's in the room
Founders meeting investors and other builders heading to Toronto.
Investors seeing who's attending and booking meetings before calendars fill.
Connectors building the list before the floor gets crowded.
First-timers getting oriented and walking in with a plan.
Run of show
11:00 — Venue open, welcome
11:10 — A word from our partners
Speed Networking
11:15 — Round one
11:25 — Round two
11:35 — Round three
11:45 — Round four
11:55 — Open networking
12:30 — Programme ends. Venue stays open until 1:00 for anyone still talking.
Ninety minutes of programming. Come for all of it or drop in for one round.
Tickets
Networking Pass — $50 For anyone attending Elevate, or still deciding. The full $50 is credited toward your Elevate conference pass.
Elevate Ticket Holder — Free Already have your Elevate pass? Use the code from the Elevate team at checkout. Requires approval.
Questions
Do I need to download anything? No. It runs in your browser. Chrome works best — enable camera and mic.
Do I need an Elevate ticket? No. Anyone can join for $50, and that full amount comes off your Elevate pass if you decide to attend.
I already have an Elevate pass. Do I pay? No. Use the coupon code from the Elevate team.
Is this a Zoom call? No. It's a venue you move around in.
What if I hate networking? The speed rounds do the hard part. You get put in a group of three with a timer running. Nobody has to break the ice.
Who's behind this
Presented by UpNext Global — Editorial covering founders building across borders, and the organisations helping them expand.
Powered by Gatherly — Event platform. Virtual venues built for moving around and meeting people.
Matchmaking by Boardy — AI superconnector, making introductions across the world's most ambitious networks.
About Elevate Festival
Canada's premier innovation conference. Toronto, September 22–24, 2026. This session is for Elevate attendees — get your pass here.
Interested in partnering? events@upnext.world