Road to the Summit
MARCH 5, 2026
Toronto
Where Capital Expands what’s Possible
Across Canada, women are stepping into greater control of capital, not as participants, but as decision-makers shaping how growth happens and who benefits from it.
Road to the Summit Toronto brings that momentum into sharper focus. This stop gathers the investors, founders, and institutional leaders influencing how capital is structured, deployed, and scaled nationally.
Toronto is where ambition meets infrastructure. Over a focused day of insight and exchange, the conversation moves from ideas to execution, examining how capital compounds across private markets, alternative assets, enterprise growth, and institutional decision-making.
PROGRAM OUTLINE | 8 AM - 6:30 PM
The Day’s Journey
Opening Keynote & Fireside
Canada is entering a new era of possibility led by builders who take action. This session explores how founders, investors, and community leaders can actively shape economic outcomes - using practical tools, aligned capital, and collaboration across business and public good to create scalable, durable growth.
Panel: Designing the Future of Finance
Financial systems reflect who they are built for. This session looks at how finance is changing in practice, and what it means to design institutions that scale with women as investors, founders, and leaders.
Panel: Powering Canada’s Future
An inside look at the industries shaping Canada’s next decade of growth. Drawing on leadership across AI, defense, healthtech, cleantech, and critical infrastructure, this session explores how senior women are scaling breakthrough ideas, modernizing legacy systems, and deploying capital and influence where technology, security, and public systems converge.
The Expansive Founder Showcase
Twenty founders step forward to pitch their companies built to scale across fintech, health, sustainability, the future of work, and community innovation.
Connection With Intention
A midday pause designed for meaningful exchange. Founders, investors, and institutional leaders connect across sectors, stages, and perspectives, continuing the conversations sparked on stage.
Session: Alternative Assets & Cultural Capital
A sophisticated, accessible look at how women are investing across art, sport, collectibles, and real estate as part of expansive portfolios. Where culture, capital, and long-term value intersect, with Toronto’s distinct lens on strategy and scale.
Closing Plenary: Legacy & Long-Termism
A closing conversation on expanding time horizons. Wealth advisors, philanthropists, and next-generation investors explore what expansive thinking means for intergenerational impact, stewardship, and lasting influence.
Cocktail Reception & Founder Showcase
An evening reception with founders, investors, and Toronto-based women artists. The focus shifts from programming to connection, where what started during the day begins to take form.
Hear Founders Pitch the Future
At Road to Summit, attendees will hear 20 live pitches from founders in the Movement51 Founder Lab, The51’s independent not-for-profit partner. These founders are building bold, venture-scale companies across AI, health, education, food systems, climate, fintech, and hardware.
Founder of Rawcology
Founder of CoralTalk
Founder of Wireless PnC
Founder of Gisup
Meet the Speakers
Featuring Conversations with
LUCY HARGREAVES
Co-Founder & CEO, Build Canada
JEN MCCAIN
President, Irie Capital Corporation
GILLIAN RILEY
Former President & CEO, Tangerine
DR. KAROLINA VALENTE
CEO, Voxcell
OLGA CRUZ
Director, Impact Investing - Early Stage, Thrive Labs, BDC
COLLEEN MOOREHEAD
The51 Board Chair
MONAS MINHAS
Managing Partner, Thrive Venture Fund, BDC
HELENA RUKEN
Co-Founder and CEO of AFC Toronto
HILARY MACMILLAN
Founder & Fashion Designer, Hilary MacMillan
LEXI MILES CORRIN
Founder, Waxon
MANPREET DEOL
Investor, Inovia Capital
JESSICA MILLER
Founder, RocketBio
OLIVIA STEEDMAN
Executive Managing Director & Global Head Venture Growth, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan
ARATI SHARMA
Entrepreneur & Angel Investor
SHELLEY KUIPERS
Co-Founder & CEO, The51
LISA MALCHOIR
Founder & Managing Partner, Vertu Capital
This lineup is bold, deeply experienced & relentlessly visionary.
More Speakers to Come
The conversation started in Vancouver. Toronto is where it sharpens. Join the second stop on the Road to the Summit, where investors, founders, and institutional leaders dig into how capital moves, scales, and sets the direction toward XX Summit 2026.
