Small Business
Summit 2025

AI-Driven Innovation: Empowering Canadian SMEs

24th October, 2025
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, Level 100
Step into what comes next this October at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where CanadianSME brings together leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of business. The CanadianSME Small Business Summit 2026 moves beyond basic AI adoption and focuses on what truly matters today—turning technology into real outcomes, building resilience, and creating meaningful human experiences.
Small Business Summit 2025

The Canadian SME Small Business Summit 2025, held on October 24th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, ignited ambition guided by the theme “AI-Driven Innovation: Empowering Canadian SMEs.”

Hosted by the Canadian SME Magazine, the summit was attended by Visionaries and entrepreneurs who came together to brighten up the event. Discussions took place on how AI is changing business tactics. Small business leaders were encouraged to put ideas into action and embrace the future of AI-driven growth by the summit’s captivating showcase of cutting-edge technologies and unparalleled networking opportunities.

CanadianSME Small Business Summit 2025
Registrations Begins
Event Host
Adrienne Fish, Event Host
Opening Remark

SK Uddin, Founder of  CanadianSME

Pre-Recorded Remarks by The Hon. Evan Solomon
The Hon. Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Welcome Remarks by RBC
Karen Svendsen, Senior Director, Small Business Client and Partnerships at RBC
Exclusive Keynotes
More focus, less friction: how small teams get big things done

Andrew Turner, Head of Sales, Small and Medium Business (SMB) for North America at  Amazon Business

Digital Transformation in Logistics to Facilitate Growth and Navigate Evolving Regulations

Paul Gaspar, Director, Small Business, UPS® Canada

AI for Small Business: Empowering People and Operations
Mohamed Basma, General Manager, Small Business Services, ADP Canada
Managing risk in a changing world
Melisa Nepravishta, Financial Advisor at Co-operators
Become the Leader They Need You to Be – Realizing Your Full Potential and the Full Potential of Your Business
Robert Gauvreau, Founder and CEO of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory
Unlock your Wealth and Growth Potential by Knowing the True Value of Your Business

DAN SCEPANOVIC, Executive Financial Consultant at SCEPANOVIC & ASSOCIATES IG PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Fireside chat: The economic revolution is here – get your business ready
Sabrina Gollnow, Vice President, Financing at BDC
Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC
Critical Skills for an AI Influenced Workplace
Phil Vokins, Channels Leader for Intel
Take your business to the next level. How Bell is Partnering with Small Businesses.
Melissa Morison, Vice President of Bell
Air Canada - Supporting Canadian SME's
Bradley Sutherland, Senior Manager of Business Development at Air Canada
Authentication in the Generative AI Era
Luis Santos, Sr. Solutions Engineer, Auth0 by Okta
Keeping Your Business Safe in a World That’s Always Watching
Yegor Sak, Co-Founder and CEO, Control D
AI for small business is less sci fi, more ROI
Yves Millette, Chief Executive Officer of, Harvest and its subsidiary Farm Business Consultants (FBC),
Amazing Workshops (Area A)
The Future of Work: How Microsoft 365, Copilot and AI Transforms Your Business

Michael Sirota, Chief Executive Officer, Rational Business Solutions

Tax Tips All Founders Must Know
Stefanie Ricchio, CPA, CGA at Intuit Canada’ alongside CEO of SRBC Inc.
Risk Ready: Building Your First Risk Register. Fast, Simple, Essential
Sohaib Syed, Founder of Solarisk Consulting
Digital Means Business: How to Scale, Connect, and Compete Online
Wade Kuiken-Rogers, Seasoned Media Strategist and Business Leader
Fifty Bucks a Day: Unlocking Profits, Customers, and Freedom Through Digital Marketing
Cory York, Co-Founder & CEO of Webware.ai
Measure What Matters: Optimizing Your Amazon Ads Performance
Ritu Java, Founder of PPC Ninja
Cracking the Code: The Entrepreneurs Guide to the Ultimate Tax Plan
Robert Gauvreau, Founder and CEO of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory
Smart Automation + Real-Data AI: Transforming Canadian SMEs with Zoho

Anton Tchernikovsky, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Customerization

Be the Mentor You Wish You Had: Give Back, Lead, Connect
Serge Richard Petit Frère, National Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at Futurpreneur
Amazing Workshops (Room 104D)
From Traction to Growth — How Small Businesses Scale
Christine Crandell, Board Director, Vice-Chair, and Consultant at Innovation Cluster
Introduction to Federal Procurement & Innovation for Defence Excellence & Security Overview
Nujhat Bashir, Policy Analyst, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) – Procurement Assistance Canada – Ontario Region
Imanzi Kayitare, Policy Analyst, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) – Procurement Assistance Canada – Ontario Region
Time Is Money: How Ambitious SMBs Reclaim Hours to Focus on Growth
Joanne Snow, Solution Engineer at Net at Work
Dominating Google Maps: A Local Business Guide to Winning in Search
Kyle Sutton, VP of Sales at Page Pros
Say Aloha to Smarter Business: 5-Star Reviews, Every Call Answered, Better Hires on AUTOPILOT
Lorne Shantz, Founder and “Big Kahuna” of Web Geeks Marketing
AI Meets Tariffs: Smarter Trade Decisions in a Complex Global Market
Kyle Peacock, Managing Director of Peacock Tariff Consulting
Edward Johnson, AI Strategy Consultant with PRAKTIKAI
Take Market Share from the Giants: AI & Automation Playbook for SMBs
Mohannad El-Barachi, Co-Founder and CEO at Wrk.com
Legal Drop - Using AI to power last-mile delivery
Abdul Animasaun, Co-Founder of Legal Drop
Exclusive Panel Discussions
Building success through stories: Canadian Rising Stars help inspire business growth
Tech Foundations for Growth: Embracing Cloud, Automation, and Cybersecurity in the Modern SME
Competing on Innovation: How Canadian SMEs Can Thrive in a Global Tech Economy
AI for Every Human: Simple, Intuitive Tools That Empower Small Businesses
Demo Stage
AI-Driven Food Safety and Operational Intelligence
Greg Maloney, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Stratosfy
Empowering Entrepreneurs Financially
Suhaneil Uzcategui, Founder and Accountant at Su Consulting
Employment Hero: Canada's First and Only Employment Operating System

Sarah Topjian, VP, Sales – Canada at Employment Hero

Beyond Borders: The AI Advantage for Canadian Founders
Tehmina A Chaudhry, Founder and President of Canada Startup Association (CSA)
Meet Soteria: Smarter Investing, Powered by AI
Ilyas Zakiat, Founder & CEO at BIASafe AI
The Work You Do Well, and Everything Else

Richard Hall, Chief Operating Officer, Bevelworkforce

Trust is Currency: How Strong Financial & Cyber Practices Win Clients and Partners
Sanjay Chadha, Partner at SAV Associates
City of Toronto - Small Business Enterprise Centre

Vikas (Vik) Jain, Small Business Advisor with, City of Toronto, Economic Development Division

Unlocking Growth with AI and Sheridan EDGE's Rise program

Dihan Chandra, Social Enterprise Coach at Sheridan College

Demo By Biztomate App

Latif Rahimi, Founder of Biztomate Inc

Advertising your business with theScore
Alex Campbell, Senior Director of Ad Tech and Programmatic for theScore

2025 Speakers

Small Business Summit 2025

Hon. Evan Solomon

Canada’s Minister of AI and Digital Innovation and Minister of Federal Economic Development for Southern Ontario. MP for Toronto Centre

Mohamed Basma

General Manager, Small Business Services at ADP Canada

Paul Gaspar

Director, Small Business, UPS® Canada

Andrew Turner

Head of Sales, Small and Medium Business (SMB) for North America at Amazon Business

Karen Svendsen

Senior Director, Small Business Client and Partnerships at RBC

Melissa Morison

Vice President of Bell

Robert Gauvreau

Founder and CEO of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory

Pierre Cléroux

Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC

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