The Shortlist Founder Showcase: Presented by Boardy (Toronto Edition)
The Shortlist (Toronto Edition)
We're coming to Toronto for Tech Week with our friends at Boardy!
Our lineup:
Nick Frosst, Co-founder of Cohere. Co-founded one of the top AI research labs in the world (last valued at $5B+)
Vitalii Dodonov, Co-founder of Stan. Scaled to over $40M ARR as one of the fastest-growing creator economy platforms in the world
Paul Klicnik, Co-founder of Relay. Co-founded the modern business banking platform serving tens of thousands of small businesses across North America (backed by Bain Capital Ventures (BCV) w/ $30M+ raised)
Yasser Elsaid, Co-founder of Chatbase. Bootstrapped Chatbase to $10M+ ARR, serving thousands of businesses building AI chatbots trained on their own data
Liza Akhvledziani Carew, Co-founder of Chexy. Building the consumer fintech turning rent into credit card rewards for Canadians (raised $14M from Khosla Ventures)
Ruslan Nikolaev, Co-founder of Float. Building one of Canada's fastest-growing fintechs (backed by Tiger Global and Goldman Sachs w/ $50M+ raised)
This is a monthly curated, application-only event connecting early-stage founders with exceptional operators across New York. No panels. No pitches to VCs. Just six founders building breakout companies, a room full of people who've built things themselves, and the kind of candid conversation you don't get at most events.
Each founder will share what they're building, why it matters, and the specific roles they're actively hiring for right now — followed by a mixer.
What to expect: Top founders presenting on stage. Operators, builders, and executives who've seen what good looks like. An intentionally small room designed for real connection.
Who this is for: Exceptional operators — whether you're actively exploring your next role, casually curious, or simply want to stay close to what's being built in Toronto right now.
Boardy will be helping us curate the room and connect you with the right opportunities after the show. Hop on a quick call to be considered.
Founders will be announced in the days leading up to the event. 👀 If you want to apply as a Founder, talk to Boardy about who you're hiring.
Attendance is intentionally limited. Apply to be considered.
Toronto Tech Week is a citywide celebration of the people building what’s next. From May 25–29, 2026, founders, investors, and builders come together for hundreds of community-led events across Toronto, connecting tens of thousands of people around Canadian tech. Torontotechweek.com
BrainStation is a global leader in digital skills training and workforce transformation. Founded in 2012, BrainStation has certified over 35,000 professionals and worked with some of the largest companies in the world through cutting-edge digital skills training delivered online and in person from campuses in New York, London, and Toronto.
Boardy is an AI Superconnector connecting founders, operators, and investors across the world's most ambitious networks.
Ginny is a sparkling non-alcoholic drink made with adaptogens, crafted to help you unwind and stay present all night.
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More information on The Shortlist can be found here.
Founded by Andrew Yeung & Ivor Straford.