Together Toronto and YC S26 Application Session
Toronto's tech scene moves fast. But the stories that actually matter - the pivots, the hard calls, the lessons learned the hard way - rarely get told.
Together Toronto changes that.
At this signature event, we bring founders onto the stage to share what it actually looks like to build a company here. Honest behind-the-scenes conversations from entrepreneurs who've taken bold bets, hit unexpected walls, and figured out how to keep moving.
What to expect:
🎤 Raw founder stories with real frameworks you can apply
🤝 A room full of builders, investors, and operators
💡 Conversations that challenge how you think about your own work
Whether you're launching your first thing, scaling a team, or just curious about how Toronto's best companies get built - there's a seat here for you.
This isn't just an event. It's your community.
Come ready to listen, connect, and meet the people building what's next.
Led by YC Alumni, this exclusive one-hour session gives active S26 applicants a focused session, right before Together Toronto kicks off.
This is not a panel. This is prep.
Walk in with your application. Walk out sharper.
In one hour, you'll get:
🎯 Honest feedback on your application
🧠 What YC actually looks for - from people who know
📈 Tips on nailing your idea, traction & founder story
🤝 A tight-knit room of builders on the same path
Spots are limited. Approval required. Select the YC (S26) Applicant Pass above - our team will confirm your spot.
Agenda
5:00-6:00PM | Y Combinator Application Info Session (Selected Founders Only)
6:00-7:00PM | Doors open and networking
7:00-8:30PM | Community open mic, speakers presentations and fireside chat
8:30-9:00PM | Resume networking
9:00PM | End of event and After Party (Offsite of MaRS)
Speakers
JJ Tang is the founder and CEO of Rootly, an AI-native incident-management platform born of his experience at Instacart and trusted by companies such as LinkedIn, NVIDIA, Replit, Wealthsimple, DoorDash, Grammarly, Tripadvisor, SoFi, Canva, and many more. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, he has led Rootly through Y Combinator, achieved 400 % revenue growth YoY, and secured a $15 million Series A - transforming how engineering teams manage incidents.
Mark Hlady is the CEO & Founder SimpleHedge. Mark has founded, built and sold multiple companies. Mark’s last company, “Tripleplay”, was acquired by Roblox in 2022. Before founding Tripleplay, Mark held leadership positions at startups as well as established companies such as Facebook (Product Lead) and McKinsey & Company (Engagement Manager). Mark has an MBA from the University of Oxford and a Bachelors in Materials Engineering from the University of Alberta.
Rob Imbeault is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and CEO of Backboard.io. He is best known as the technical co-founder of Assent, the Ottawa-born supply chain compliance company that scaled into one of Canada’s SaaS unicorns, reaching a valuation of more than $1.4 billion. Over his career, Rob has founded and backed ventures across AI, biotech, agtech, and enterprise software, and helped scale companies with global reach. He is also the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Before I Leave You.
Jocelyne Murphy is the Co-founder and CEO of Wygo, a platform helping community builders create the real-life spaces and support systems young entrepreneurs need to connect and thrive. A University of Waterloo alum and TD National Scholar, she brings experience across product, software, and design, alongside a longstanding commitment to community leadership. Through Wygo and her public advocacy, Murphy has become a leading voice for the next generation of Canadian builders, championing a more connected, ambitious, and founder-friendly innovation ecosystem.
Thank You To Our Venue Partner
TechTO is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Y Combinator. Many TechTO members, speakers, and sponsors are alumni of the YC program, including TechTO’s co-founder.
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