US EditionTech execs say building up tech ecosystem means resisting allure of U.S., acquisition
- On June 24, 2025, three prominent Canadian tech executives—Shopify's Harley Finkelstein, Cohere's Aidan Gomez, and Wealthsimple's Michael Katchen—shared their insights during the first-ever Toronto Tech Week event held in the city.
- They shared how they resisted pressure to relocate to the U.S. or accept a nine-figure acquisition offer, stressing the importance of building tech companies within Canada.
- Finkelstein recounted Shopify faced conditional funding tied to moving south, but the company eventually secured investors who prioritized operating in Canada.
- Gomez stated that Cohere 'was facing a nine-figure acquisition offer' which they refused, while the event included over 300 activities uniting entrepreneurs nationwide.
- The trio emphasized that keeping companies in Canada is vital for the tech ecosystem’s future and encouraged upcoming entrepreneurs to resist similar temptations.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Three of the biggest names in technology claim to have resisted the attractiveness of the United States – and wealthy companies that viewed it as a target for acquisition – and hope that the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs will do the same.
Winnipeg Free Press
Tech execs say building up tech ecosystem means resisting allure of U.S., acquisition
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
"We urgently need to build Canada," said Michael Katchen. The post Technology leaders encourage entrepreneurs to grow in Canada appeared first on Les Affaires.
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