Startup Investor Drinks
If you are building a company, raising capital, looking for customers, selling a product or service, or trying to meet the right people in Toronto’s startup community, Startup Investor Drinks gives you a welcoming room where useful conversations can actually happen.
Startup Investor Drinks has brought Toronto’s founders, investors, operators, and startup professionals together since 2015. The format is simple:
Networking. Open pitches. More networking.
You can meet people as soon as you arrive. During the open pitch, founders and companies can introduce what they are building, selling, or looking for to the room. Afterward, the conversations continue over drinks and pizza.
Historically, Startup Investor Drinks has been an intimate event of approximately 50 people with an average of 6+ investors in the room. Attendance varies by event, but the smaller format is intentional: it gives people time for real conversations rather than rushed introductions in a huge crowd.
Why come?
You may leave with:
honest feedback and practical advice from investors, founders, and operators;
a promising investor conversation and a reason to schedule a follow-up meeting;
a potential customer, partner, advisor, co-founder, or hiring connection;
new people who understand what you are building or selling;
a clearer next step for your raise, pitch, product, or growth plan;
useful introductions within Toronto’s startup community.
Funding, sales, introductions, and follow-up meetings are never guaranteed. What the event provides is access to a welcoming, business-focused room where you can introduce yourself, talk with the people you want to meet, and see where there may be a genuine fit.
Open Pitch. Open Bar.
The open pitch is not only for founders raising investment.
You can pitch:
a startup or new venture;
a product or service;
an investment opportunity;
a customer or partnership opportunity;
a role you are hiring for;
the kind of connection or expertise you are looking for.
Keep it clear, useful, and relevant to the startup community. Pitch participation depends on the ticket selected and available pitch capacity.
What to expect
A casual, welcoming room where Craig and the TorontoStarts community help people connect
Networking before and after the pitches
Open community pitching
Founders, investors, operators, customers, partners, and startup professionals
Honest conversations, feedback, and practical advice
Open bar, drinks, food, and pizza
Panoramic Toronto views from Workhaus’ 25th-floor space
Date, time, and location
Thursday, September 17, 2026
6:00 PM–8:30 PM EDT
Workhaus
180 Dundas Street West
25th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
Ticket options
⭐ Deal-Flow Access Pass — $25 CAD
The complete Startup Investor Drinks experience at an accessible price.
Includes:
Full event access
Open bar, food, drinks, and pizza
Networking with founders, investors, operators, business owners, customers, partners, and startup professionals
The option to join the short open-pitch list when space is available
Pitch-list availability is limited and is not guaranteed with this ticket.
⭐⭐ Guaranteed Pitch Slot — $50 CAD
For people who want a guaranteed opportunity to introduce their startup, product, service, or opportunity to the room.
Includes:
Everything in the Deal-Flow Access Pass
A guaranteed 30-second pitch
One slide in the event presentation when submitted before the deadline provided by the organizer
Best for founders and company representatives with one clear message and a relevant next step.
⭐⭐⭐ Founder Spotlight — $100 CAD
More time to explain what you are building, why it matters, and who you want to meet.
Includes:
Everything in the Guaranteed Pitch Slot
An extended 60-second pitch
More time to explain your company, product, service, or opportunity
One slide in the event presentation when submitted before the organizer’s deadline
Best for founders actively raising, hiring, finding customers, developing partnerships, or introducing something new to the community.
🏆 Lead-Gen Sponsor Package — $200 CAD
For relevant agencies, platforms, professional-service firms, and companies that want meaningful visibility with Toronto’s startup community.
Includes:
High-visibility brand placement at the event
A pitch opportunity
A promotional table
Inclusion in the event slide deck
Attendee-list access, subject to the organizer’s current terms and privacy requirements
Event access for up to three guests
Sponsor space and fulfillment details are managed by TorontoStarts. Contact the organizer through Luma if you have questions before purchasing.
Who this is for
Founders from pre-seed through growth
Angel investors, venture investors, and ecosystem funders
Operators, advisors, and experienced startup professionals
People looking for customers, partners, co-founders, talent, or opportunities
Agencies, consultants, lawyers, accountants, marketers, and service providers working with startups and SMBs
Aspiring founders looking for the right people and their next step
Community builders and ecosystem partners
You do not need to be raising money or pitching to attend. You are welcome to come for the conversations, connections, drinks, food, and Toronto startup community.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pitch?
No. Pitching is optional. Choose the ticket that matches how you want to participate.
Can I pitch a product or service instead of an investment opportunity?
Yes. The open pitch can introduce a startup, product, service, customer opportunity, partnership, hiring need, or other relevant opportunity for the room.
What should I bring?
Bring a concise introduction and a clear explanation of what you are building, selling, or looking for. If your ticket includes a slide, submit it before the deadline provided by the organizer.
Will investors be attending?
Investors have been an important part of Startup Investor Drinks since 2015. Historically, the event has averaged 6+ investors in a room of approximately 50 people, but attendance and the mix of attendees vary for each edition.
What if I do not know anyone?
That is completely normal. Startup Investor Drinks is designed to be welcoming, and the host helps people start useful conversations and find relevant connections.
Are food and drinks included?
Yes. The event includes an open bar, drinks, food, and pizza.
Is the venue accessible?
If you require an accommodation or have a venue-accessibility question, contact the organizer through Luma before the event so the current Workhaus information can be confirmed.
About the presenter
Craig Major is the founder of Flowgrammer, an AI automation agency helping organizations turn manual processes into practical AI-powered systems. He works with founders, operators, and teams to design and implement useful automation without the hype.
Learn more about Flowgrammer: https://flowgrammer.ca
Brought to you by
Reserve your ticket and join Toronto’s open-pitch, open-bar startup night.
Registration: https://startupdrinksto.com/