Network with the business and innovation community

Networking is much more than exchanging business cards. It’s about building lasting partnerships, fostering collaboration, and creating a solid foundation for your business to thrive and grow. Attend our signature events to grow your network, gather insights, and share ideas within the innovation ecosystem. 

Engage our dynamic ecosystem and meet innovators, investors, business and industry leaders, government officials and academic minds.

Big DiF — Open House & Networking

Annual event in May

Celebrate BIG ideas that make a bigger impact at The Big DiF, Innovation Factory’s annual open house and client showcase.  Join 250+ people from the Hamilton community to celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation. 

Whether you’re looking to connect with like-minded professionals or meet some of the industry’s up-and-coming innovators, join us and get ready to network.

LiONS LAIR Pitch Competition by Innovation Factory

LiONS LAIR Competition & Gala

Annual event in September

Attend Hamilton’s premier gala event and celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship. Innovation Factory’s LiONS LAIR is the region’s top start-up competition and is designed to invest in and support high-potential innovators. 

LiONS LAIR unites a vibrant community of innovators, investors, business professionals, and industry leaders. Get your tickets and network with 300+ professionals over dinner, drinks and a lively pitch competition.

Synapse Life Science Competition - Pitch competition for life science entrepreneurs in Ontario

Synapse Life Science Competition Showcase

Annual event in March

Meet the future of life science and healthcare. The Synapse Life Science Competition Showcase by Innovation Factory has been recognized as Ontario’s leading pitch competition in the life sciences sector for over a decade. The competition is designed to help move innovative products and services out of the lab and into the market.

Learn about emerging life science companies, network with 150+ industry leaders, and support Hamilton’s growing life sciences ecosystem.

Future of Transportation and Mobility Series Event

Annual event in November

Get a first-hand look at the next era of transportation. CITM’s annual Future of Transportation and Mobility Event Series (FTMS) explores a wide array of topics and solutions to accelerate the future of the smart, connected and electrified transportation sector. Each year, the virtual series explores a new theme and aims to involve key stakeholders, including decision-makers, industry, government, innovators, and academia.

Expand your network at this annual event in November and learn about the latest ventures, sector headwinds, technology milestones, and key sector challenges.

Get your invitation to network

You could mark your calendars, or you can simply subscribe to our newsletter to receive your invitation to our signature networking events.

Take a peek at our events

Get your business cards ready to network after you watch these highlights from some of our signature events.

Position your brand at the centre of innovation

Become an event sponsor and see your leading industry services and expertise prominently recognized in front of hundreds of members from the business and innovation community.

News from Innovation Factory's events

Synapse Life Science Pitch Competition

Get tickets for the 2024 Synapse Competition!

Innovation Factory’s Synapse Competition is Ontario’s premier life science pitch competition, dedicated to fostering innovation in the life science sector.

Why you should attend:

  • Meet the finalists at the 11th annual Synapse Competition showcase!
  • Discover emerging life science innovations
  • Network with industry leaders and a thriving life science ecosystem.

March 20, 2024 | 4:00pm – 8:00pm EDT