On a beautiful fall evening in Toronto’s vibrant Riverside neighbourhood, more than 100 entrepreneurs, business leaders and Canada Small Business 100 honourees gathered at the iconic Broadview Hotel for an evening dedicated to one of the most important forces shaping the country: small business.
Hosted by GLORY Media in celebration of the inaugural Canada Small Business 100, the Mastercard Small Business Summit brought together an energizing cross-section of the Canadian business community. From beauty and technology to retail, CPG, hospitality, finance and sports, the room reflected the extraordinary diversity of businesses contributing to Canada’s economy and the character of its neighbourhoods.
The evening began with an experience designed to put connection at the centre. Guests checked in through the custom Canada Small Business 100 app, a dynamic technology platform created by GLORY Media that gave attendees access to the evening’s schedule, a directory of fellow guests, LinkedIn connections, and a chat room where entrepreneurs could introduce and champion their businesses.
The technology was complemented by a physical showcase of Canadian entrepreneurship. As guests arrived, they could explore the Moneris Small Business Marketplace, featuring products from Cheekbone Beauty, ChewyPuff Cookie, Cubed Style Inc., Dakaari Fragrance House, Kalaa and Mahara Mindfulness. The marketplace offered guests the opportunity to discover and shop from a selection of Canadian small businesses, while the Moneris booth provided an opportunity to learn more about the resources and support available to entrepreneurs.
After an evening of mingling and networking, guests took their seats for the first portion of programming: a panel discussion focused on how small businesses can access the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to level up.
Moderated by GLORY Media Editor-in-Chief Lance Chung, the conversation brought together Mark Barnett, Global Small and Medium Enterprise Lead at Mastercard; Gad Elharrar, Vice President, Product for Small to Medium-Sized Business at Moneris; Jodi Kovitz, Managing Director, Business at Tangerine Bank; and Sheba Zaidi, Co-founder of Mahara Mindfulness.
The discussion explored the realities of building a small business in Canada, from finding the right resources and support to navigating growth and turning ambitious ideas into sustainable businesses. More broadly, it underscored the importance of creating an ecosystem where Canadian entrepreneurs have access to the tools, knowledge and connections that can help them achieve their business goals.
The conversation continued with a live recording of GLORY’s Mission Critical podcast, featuring Trisha Pitura, co-founder of MINI TIPI and the recipient of the inaugural Canada Small Business 100 Small Business of the Year honour. In conversation with Lance, Pitura reflected on MINI TIPI’s business journey, the lessons they have learned along the way, and the importance of impact and representation in building a Canadian brand. She also shared advice for fellow small business owners and the ambitious goals that continue to shape MINI TIPI’s future.
With the formal programming wrapped, the room returned to conversation. Entrepreneurs exchanged ideas, made introductions and continued building relationships across industries. The result was a room full of people who may work in very different sectors, but share a common experience: the ambition, resilience and creativity required to build something of their own.
That sense of community is at the heart of the Canada Small Business 100.
The inaugural list was created to recognize the Canadian small businesses, founders and leaders making an impact across the country. But the Mastercard Small Business Summit demonstrated that recognition is only the beginning. Creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect, learn from one another, access resources and champion each other is equally important.
For GLORY Media, this event represents the beginning of a deeper focus on Canada’s small business community. Small businesses are more than economic engines. They are part of what gives Canada’s cities and neighbourhoods their character, from the independent brands and retailers we discover to the restaurants, service businesses, makers and innovators that bring communities to life.
As guests left the Broadview Hotel, the energy in the room was clear: there is enormous momentum behind Canadian small business, and an equally strong appetite to see it supported, celebrated and connected.
The Mastercard Small Business Summit was just the beginning.
Mastercard Small Business Summit Gallery
