FounderBall
Founder BALL + Pitch competition

$500,000 INVESTMENT. 

ONE WINNER.

The ultimate collision of capital and celebration. Join 250 of Canada’s most influential builders for the annual En Blanc Yacht Party, where every ticket holder joins Founder Ball Fund I to back the city’s next unicorn.

April 15 – MAY 15

THE INTAKE

The window opens. We are filtering for traction, not just decks. 20 Semi-Finalists selected to enter the arena. Status: Applications Open Soon.
May 25 – May 29

THE pitch

The field narrows. 20 Semi-Finalists are chosen to pitch online and 8 finalists are chosen to pitch live.
JUNE 11 @ 5:00 PM

The Battle 
& the bALL

Pitch live at the most exclusive party of the year. 8 Finalists, VC’s, Celebrities, and YOU. This is not your father’s demo day.

FounderBall

PART PITCH COMPETITION.
PART EN BLANC YACHT PARTY.

Founder Ball is where the “Bougie” meets the “Bold.” We’re tearing down the wall between the stage and the crowd. This isn’t just a demo day. It’s a battle for Canada’s top startups, competing for $500,000, national attention, and backing from Founder Ball Fund I.

Access is backed by participation.


 

Your payment isn’t a ticket, it’s an investment. Each contribution is pooled into Founder Ball Fund I and deployed into the winning startup, giving you a seat on the cap table alongside other investors. Instead of paying to attend, you’re allocating capital into a live opportunity, while gaining access to the room.

confirmed angels

$500K

Investment

Event Itinerary

THE battle: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

PITCH off

8 Vetted finalist battle for the glory of half a million dollar.

Location:

TD Terrace, 4th Floor, 160 front St W, Toronto, ON

01

THE WARM UP: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

VIP Cocktails

Exclusive access for the winning Founders, Judges, and Golden Ticket holders to break the ice before we board.

Location:

Toronto Harbour

02

THE celebration: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Yankee Lady III

7:30PM Debark 


Don’t be fashionably late, The Yankee Lady III sets off and the celebration begin.

Location:

Toronto Harbour, We Leave Land.

03

The after party: 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Portland square

The tie comes off. The network opens up. We take over the rooftop at Portland Square for the official closing celebration.

Location:

600 King St W, Toronto, ON

04

250 Founders & Investors

Invite Only

Wherever your gravitational force takes you, our constellation offers wonder. We have invited industry icons like Bruce Croxon and Joanna Griffiths to filter the noise and find the signal.

50 Seats Reserved for Non-Accredited Investors.

Venue: Clio

the start

Address: 600 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1M3

Vessel: The Northern Spirit

The Cruise

Address: 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 1A7

FAQs

Where is the event?
  • Pitch Competition: TD Terrace, Toronto
  • VIP Cocktails: Toronto Harbour
  • Yacht Party: Yankee Lady III, departing from 207 Queens Quay West
  • After-Party: Portland Square, 600 King St W

June 11, 2026. The full day runs from 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM.

An all-white dress code celebration aboard the Yankee Lady III on Lake Ontario. The yacht departs at 7:30 PM. Do not be late.

Founder Ball is an independent event in partnership with Deno Experiences, the experience arm of Denobiq Technologies Inc. It is sponsored by partners including TD, DMZ, Framework VC, Kaizen, ventureLAB, and others.