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It's August, and we’re here to keep your momentum strong with inspiring events, valuable resources, and exciting new opportunities.
And because we know every founder needs a good laugh along the way...
Why do innovation founders make terrible secrets keepers?
Because as soon as they get a good idea, they immediately pitch it to everyone in the room!
Explore resources, connect with our innovation community, and take your next step forward by visiting our website.
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Kariya Technologies Inc. is a Brampton-based deep-tech cybersecurity company behind the AI-powered Security Nervous Systemâ„¢, a new approach to cyber defence designed to help organizations combat increasingly sophisticated and AI-orchestrated attacks.
Kariya brings together signals from networks, endpoints, cloud environments and existing security tools, uses artificial intelligence to connect the evidence and coordinates rapid responses while keeping people in control. Kariya is already deployed and helping protect the digital operations of more than 20 organizations across North America and Africa.

Its mission is simple: every business deserves effective cyber defence, without needing to build and maintain a large cybersecurity team.
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Are you a Brampton-based tech startup with a story to share?
Click here to apply to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Brampton Innovation Newsletter.
| | Brampton Founders Shine at Startupfest Montreal 2026 | |
Founders from across the Brampton Innovation District recently made a strong representation at Startupfest Montréal.
These Brampton-based startups established high-value connections with national investors, key customers and industry leaders throughout the event.
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National Recognition: Huge congratulations to Yvonne Osagie (Med Melanin) for winning the Black Innovation Zone (BIZ) Early Stage Prize and Faith Oloruntoba (Cotriply) for taking home the BIZ Growth Stage Prize of $10,000.
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Representing Brampton Innovation: Shouting out fellow Brampton delegates ‘Lanre Olatunde (Kariya Technologies Inc.), Christine Thompson (Blush Me Up - Beauty Confidence AI), Oxana Kovalova (Oxana), and Latchmi Raghunanan (Maman Biomedical) for showcasing the strength and diversity of our startup community.
A special thank you to partners Nobellum, Black Innovation Zone (BIZ), and Startupfest Montréal for collaborating with the Brampton Innovation District to expand access to capital, mentorship and national visibility for local entrepreneurs!
| | Brampton Sets Guinness World Record for Inclusive Innovation | | |
Inclusive Momentum, in collaboration with Enabled Talent, organized a successful Guinness World Record attempt for the Most People Solving a Rubik's Cube Blindfolded (Multiple Venues). The City of Brampton and the Brampton Innovation District served as the host venue for the Canadian site of this global event.
The event brought together 111 local participants in Brampton and 338 participants in Hong Kong to set the record, highlighting community accessibility and inclusion.
Key highlights of the event included:
Congratulations to Inclusive Momentum and Enabled Talent on organizing a successful event and setting a new world record.
| | Brampton Founder Wins $15K at Siakam EdTech Pitch | | |
Randy Osei, Founder & CEO of Brampton-based TrainingGround.ai, took home Second Prize ($15,000) at the Siakam EdTech Engine Demo Day, co-founded by NBA champion Pascal Siakam’s PS43 Foundation and DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University.
The 12-week accelerator helps founders test K-12 educational tech directly in classrooms. TrainingGround.ai stood out for its AI-powered platform, which delivers personalized, scenario-based learning simulations to prepare youth for the future of work.
As a client of the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC) and Brampton Innovation District, Randy's mission is deeply rooted in his home community:
"I moved to Brampton at 13, doing homework at the Brampton Library before crossing the street to the YMCA to chase the NBA. Today, I’m still chasing that same standard of excellence—this time by building TrainingGround.ai in the city that helped shape me... For me, the work is personal."
— Randy Osei, Founder & CEO
Congratulations to Randy and the team, and thank you to the PS43 Foundation and DMZ for empowering Canada’s next generation of innovators!
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  Program Wrap-Up: Celebrating 3 Years of the Cyber Challenge | |
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst has officially wrapped up its Cyber Challenge program, celebrating the graduation of its final cohort!
Over three years and four cohorts, this hands-on accelerator has helped 41 Ontario-based startups validate, scale, and commercialize cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions designed to protect Canada's critical infrastructure.
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Real-World Impact: Participating founders worked directly alongside seasoned industry organizations across seven essential sectors which includes smart infrastructure, automotive, mining, advanced manufacturing, agri-food, life sciences and law enforcement.
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Accelerating Growth: Through these strategic partnerships, startups gained invaluable client product testing, market access and industry trust to scale their businesses.
Congratulations to all 41 graduating companies on shaping the future of Canadian cybersecurity!
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Brampton SecOps Hackathon 2026
Protect Canada's Critical Infrastructure
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Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is bringing together top tech talent, developers and problem-solvers for the Brampton SecOps Hackathon 2026.
Taking place in person from September 25-27 in Downtown Brampton, this high-stakes event challenges teams to build real-world cybersecurity solutions for Canada’s most vital supply chains.
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The Challenge: Over three dynamic days, participants will collaborate alongside industry mentors to tackle complex security threats facing essential sectors like agri-food and multimodal logistics.
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Why Join: Whether you’re looking to showcase your security skills, gain hands-on experience, or network with top industry experts, this is your chance to build solutions that protect critical infrastructure.
Ready to take on the challenge? Apply now to secure your spot!
|   | Altitude Accelerator Opens Applications for Flagship Programs & Summit Edge | | |
Fresh off celebrating its Spring 2026 graduates, Altitude Accelerator is accepting applications for its upcoming founder programs, including the launch of Summit Edge. This pitch and investment readiness program offers commercial-ready tech startups in the Western GTHA the chance to compete for access to up to $300,000 in capital.
Choose the track that fits your stage:
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Summit Edge: For commercial-ready tech startups (under $250K lifetime revenue) preparing to raise capital and pitch to investors.
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Investor Readiness (8 Weeks): Master financial modeling, cap tables, valuations, and VC pitching.
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Market Readiness (12 Weeks): Go-to-market strategies, sales pipelines, and customer validation for MVP-stage startups.
All programs feature zero-cost participation and 1-on-1 coaching with expert advisors.
Deadline for Flagship Programs: August 10, 2026
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  Partner Spotlight: Empowering Black STEM Founders at Nobellum Summit 2026 | |
The Brampton Innovation District is proud to partner with Nobellum to empower Black STEM innovators, expand access to capital, and drive inclusive venture growth.
Join us on Friday, August 14 at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto for the Nobellum Summit 2026. Anchored by the theme Accessing Capital Pathways, the evening features:
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$20,000 Founder Pitch & Expo: Spotlighting Nobellum’s 2026 Growth Founders.
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Capital Insights: Panels with leading fund managers and lenders from BKR Capital and the FACE Coalition.
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Major Announcements: The launch of Canada's first STEM Facility Database, a federal government partnership and the Top 10 finalists advancing to the $200,000 MelaMoon Pitch.
Network with investors, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners who are accelerating the future of Canadian tech.
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Brampton’s largest technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship event is officially back for its 6th year under the theme Where Industry Meets Innovation.
Hosted by Brampton Venture Zone by TMU (BVZ) at The Rose, BVX 2026 brings together startups, investors, and industry leaders across HealthTech, Robotics & AI, and Cybersecurity.
Highlights include live founder pitches, keynotes, and a featured session with Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst on "Navigating AI Tools, Threats & the Future of Work," offering practical strategies on AI adoption, cybersecurity risks, and workforce skills.
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (AI Session: 3:40 PM - 4:30 PM)
Location: The Rose Brampton
Cost: Free - RSVP required to reserve your spot!
| | Brampton Starter Company Plus: Up to $5000 Grant & Training Program | | |
Existing business owners in Brampton and Caledon looking to expand or scale can now register for the Starter Company Plus program, delivered by the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre.
Designed for serious, full-time entrepreneurs, the program provides free hands-on business training, 1-on-1 mentorship, financial guidance, and the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant.
Following a strong turnout of over 100 businesses for the first kickoff call, only two mandatory information sessions remain for this year's intake:
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Thursday, August 6 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Wednesday, August 26 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Note: Attending an information session is a mandatory first step before applying.
| | Upcoming Events/Programming | | BVZ Launch Pitch Competition | |
Join Brampton Venture Zone by TMU (BVZ) and the TMU School of Medicine on Thursday, August 13 for an evening celebrating Canada's next generation of health tech innovators.
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The Pitch Competition: Watch the top 10 startups from the 2026 BVZ Launch HealthTech Cohort deliver fast-paced 3-minute pitches showcasing solutions in clinical care, wellness, and community health. The top 5 ventures will advance to the Brampton Venture Expo (BVX) Demo Day on September 10 to compete for up to $70,000 in non-dilutive funding.
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Featured Panel: Hear from Dr. Jobin Varughese, Latchmi Raghunanan, Ph.D., and Andrea England on "The Entrepreneurial Healthcare Professional: Innovation in Modern Clinical Practice," exploring how frontline clinical experience drives scalable health solutions.
Admission is free, but space is limited.
| | Hockey Night in Brampton Returns: Canada's Premier Charity Game | | |
Get ready for another high-energy showdown on the ice! Hockey Night in Brampton returns on Wednesday, August 19.
Following last year’s sold-out game that raised $6.7M and a historic $50M pledge to build Brampton’s second hospital, this year brings together NHL greats like Paul Coffey, Ryan Getzlaf and top stars to support local healthcare.
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | Puck Drop: 7:00 PM
Location: CAA Centre (7575 Kennedy Rd S, Brampton)
Grab your tickets or become a sponsor today to be part of the action!
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Discover and support Brampton's next generation of business leaders!
Hosted by the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC) in collaboration with the Brampton Farmers' Market and the Summer Company program, this vibrant market highlights local entrepreneurs under 30.
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What to Expect: Shop unique local products, hear inspiring talks from guest speakers, enter to win raffle prizes, and connect with emerging young founders.
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Community & Networking: Meet representatives and explore resources from BEC, Brampton Recreation, the Brampton Honey Badgers, and Brampton Innovation District partners.
Join us Saturday, August 22 anytime between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Admission is free and open to everyone
Reserve your spot today!
| | Dealroom: Claim Your Profile and Get Discovered | |
Looking to boost your startup's visibility and attract capital? The City of Brampton has launched an open-access ecosystem platform powered by Dealroom, a real-time data platform connecting local founders, investors and ecosystem partners.

Whether you are seeking seed funding or preparing to scale, having an active profile ensures global investors, corporates and collaborators can find you.
Brampton-Based Startups: Claim or Create Your Dealroom Profile Today to showcase your venture and get discovered.
|   Brampton Startups: Founders Helping Founders | |
Brampton Startups is a founder-led community based in the City of Brampton. It's not an incubator, accelerator or program; it's founders helping founders build real Canadian technology and impactful companies.
Become a member and join us at the BHive, where members meet every week in the heart of the Brampton Innovation District.
Learn More
| | Want to Grow Your Startup? BReady is Here! | |
Looking to grow your startup without spending hours sifting through resumes or paying steep recruiter fees? BReady is an AI-powered platform connecting startups and SMEs in Ontario with highly educated, diverse talent from underrepresented communities.
Since launching in April 2024, BReady has onboarded over 1,100+ candidates and 140+ employers, with success stories growing every week.
Whether you're hiring for tech, biotech, operations, or business roles, BReady helps you discover talent ready to grow with you.
Join Now
| | SAVE 10% - Innovation District Theatre Offer | |
Interested in watching artistic and musical showcases in the heart of Brampton?
Bring your team, friends, or community group to enjoy live performances at The Rose Brampton and save! Innovation District partners can access 10% off group bookings with promo code 'INNOVATION' at bramptononstage.ca.
Don’t miss out on this chance to experience Brampton’s vibrant performing arts scene together!
Buy Now
| | Get Connected with the Team | | |
Tara Hunter

Manager, Innovation & Technology
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Suvid Ajmera
Coordinator, Innovation & Technology
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Uche Okugo
Coordinator, Innovation & Technology
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Manav Sidhu
Programmer, Innovation & Technology
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