Nik is the CEO of Sharma Brands, a strategic initiatives firm working with a wide range of brands to help grow and scale revenue across digital platforms. Nik is one of AdWeek’s Young & Influential, Forbes 30 under 30, Business Insider's up and coming Investors to Watch, and an investor and advisor to some of the fastest-growing brands in commerce.

David Segal is a serial entrepreneur and brand builder best known as the co-founder of DAVIDsTEA, where he helped popularize premium tea across North America. Under his leadership, the company grew to over $200M in sales and went public on NASDAQ in 2015. After exiting DAVIDsTEA, he founded Mad Radish, a healthy fast-casual restaurant chain, and later launched Firebelly Tea, a modern organic tea brand co-founded with Shopify President Harley Finkelstein. David was named to Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 and is also the co-host of the podcast Big Shot, where he interviews top entrepreneurs and leaders. David is currently championing the banking & finance platform Highbeam - where he began as a customer, then became an investor, advisor, and ultimately now the President.  He’s seen first hand the enormous impact better cash management has on the bottom line. Highbeam is on a mission to help merchants run more profitability, and David could not be more excited to help lead the charge.

Rachel Wong is the Co-Founder of Monday Girl, the leading private members’ club dedicated to empowering the modern and ambitious woman to rise to the top and supporting her in staying there.

Monday Girl members get unlimited access to resources, a vibrant community, and mentorship from leading women at top companies including Google, Deloitte, Nike, and Sephora.

Since its inception in 2021, Monday Girl has become a pivotal space for Gen-Z and Millennial women, reaching over 350,000 individuals, facilitating 500+ sold-out events, and gaining recognition from major outlets including Forbes, Elle, Globe & Mail, Financial Post and more. 

Rachel has spent the majority of her career in high-growth startups and joined Uber in its early days to help launch the Uber Eats platform in key Canadian markets.

Alan is the Founder and CEO of Superbar, an AI company that builds search and answers agents to improve conversion. He was a VP of Product at NinjaCat and led a $2B payments business at FreshBooks. Alan built his first ecommerce business in 2005 and has helped companies scale ever since.

Dani12:55 PMDanielle Bernabe-Elum’s entrepreneurial journey began with managing a humble food stall in university and has since evolved into leading Seller Interactive, Canada’s largest Amazon agency. With over a decade of experience, Danielle specializes in hiring and developing top talent to scale businesses to new heights. Under her leadership, Seller Interactive manages 100+ brands and oversees more than $100 million in annual revenue. Driven by a mission to empower entrepreneurs, Danielle and her team help businesses of all sizes achieve their 7–8 figure Amazon goals, proving that with the right strategy and people, big dreams become reality.

Connie Lo is the co-founder of next-level natural skincare brand Three Ships. Her interest in natural skincare began at a young age when she would whip up DIY face masks for her skin after coming home from school. Connie is in the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Class of 2022), winner of the ACCE Young Entrepreneur Award, EY Entrepreneur of the Year® in Ontario, and RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year. Three Ships is also one of The Globe & Mail's Top Growing Companies for the past two years, and most recently one of Canada’s Top Growing Women-Led Companies.

Dan Demsky is the co-founder and CEO of Unbound Merino, a premium
travel apparel brand that grew from a small crowdfunding campaign into
a $40M global ecommerce business. He built it with his two best
friends, proving that friendship can be a powerful foundation for
scaling a company. Based in Toronto, Dan shares lessons on
entrepreneurship, culture, and building businesses that align with
lifestyle and freedom.

I’m the Managing Partner at Otherhalf Studio, the official design partner of Ecom North. At Otherhalf, we specialize in designing and developing bespoke Shopify stores, we’re talking about full-stack builds crafted to scale, convert, and build lasting brand equity. Our senior-only team blends design expertise with technical depth, delivering custom storefronts that move beyond templates and turn Shopify into a true growth engine.  Our senior team, consists of ex-Shopify (product designer), Sharma Brands, and Pointer Creative. We’ve built Otherhalf around a simple principle: ecommerce brands deserve design that solves business problems, not just makes things pretty. From rethinking product detail pages to creating entirely new theme architectures, our work is focused on clarity, conversion, and growth.  Before Otherhalf, I spent over a decade building brands from the ground up, from scaling Burgers n’ Fries Forever into a multi-million dollar restaurant chain, to co-founding Yellow Beauty, a skincare brand that grew from a $1,000 investment into major retail partnerships. Those experiences taught me what every founder learns eventually: design isn’t decoration, it’s strategy.  Through Otherhalf and Ecom North, I’m committed to helping ecommerce founders turn design into one of their most powerful levers for scale.

John Kyle “JK” Beaton, co‐founder of China Product Pros, began his entrepreneurial journey in 2007, sourcing from an early version of Alibaba. His early exposure to global commerce led him into selling online in 2013, where he later built and scaled his own 7‐figure brand into a top‐1000 Amazon.ca seller.

Fluent in Chinese and with nearly two decades of experience managing relationships between Chinese and Western businesses, JK and his wife turned their sourcing “superpower” into China Product Pros—a Canada‐based agency with a seasoned local team in China. They help founders from startups to mature 8‐figure brands across almost every consumer goods category, while also specializing in sourcing for universities and the construction industry.

When he’s not working with clients, JK enjoys time with his three kids, keeping fit, and learning new languages—fluent in Chinese, conversational in French, and now in his third year of learning Ukrainian.

Beckie Prime is the founder of Beck’s Broth, a bold line of bone-broth-based drinks like hot chocolate and coffee. A holistic nutritionist and gut-health advocate, Beckie created a product that’s as crave-worthy as it is functional. Under her leadership, Beck’s Broth has scaled to 300+ stores across Canada and major retailers like Well.ca. She’s been named CHFA One to Watch for innovation in wellness.

Inessa is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Aviron, the leader in gamified connected fitness. Under her leadership, Aviron has grown from a niche rowing startup into a multi-modal fitness platform with award winning rowers, bikes and treadmills. Each product is designed using behavioral science and gamification to help people build lasting fitness habits by proving that consistency comes from fun, not discipline.

Inessa began her career in advertising, where she learned to think on her feet and find creative solutions fast. That foundation shaped her dynamic approach to marketing today, blending data-driven insights with real consumer stories to ensure Aviron’s message hits home. With a passion for building brands that feel human and approachable, she has helped establish Aviron as one of the most talked about challengers in the home fitness space and the go-to for people who want workouts they’ll actually look forward to.

Rachel David is the founder of Hashtag Communications, where she has spent the past decade building partnerships between leading brands and top online talent. With over 15 years of experience in the media industry, she has worked with some of the most recognized creators and companies worldwide.

Today, Rachel focuses on the gaming and livestreaming space, helping companies resell digital goods to create new marketplaces and payment verticals. Her e-commerce ventures have generated more than $35 million in revenue over the past five years, with further growth underway through the development of new AI tools. She also leads Hashtag’s production division, producing viral shows for platforms such as Snapchat.

Alongside running her company, Rachel is a regular speaker at digital marketing conferences and an active investor in technology companies including SpaceX, Canva, Boardy, Cake Payments, and Jammcard. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring interior design, staying active at the gym, and tracking down the best burgers.

David Gaylord is the CEO of Bushbalm, a pioneering skincare brand revolutionizing pre- and post-wax care for professionals and consumers alike. With a focus on innovation and education, David has led Bushbalm to become the fastest-growing brand in the professional waxing industry. Today, Bushbalm products are trusted by over 9,000 waxing professionals worldwide, offering targeted solutions for ingrown hairs, razor burn, and skin irritation. David’s strategic vision continues to push the boundaries of body care, positioning Bushbalm as a leader in an underserved category while elevating standards for skin health across the hair removal experience.

Gillian is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Kiyoko, a Toronto-based Asian beauty e-commerce business. With a focus on organic content marketing, Kiyoko has achieved impressive mid-7 figure revenue while the founders maintain their full-time careers. Gillian leads the brand’s marketing strategies, driving the company’s success through authentic, engaging content that resonates with audiences. Outside of Kiyoko, Gillian enjoys video games, spending time outdoors, and snuggling with her cat.

Domenique Mastronardi is the COO of Beck’s Broth, an innovative collection of bone-broth-based beverages like hot chocolate and coffee. With a background in engineering and a passion for wellness, she specializes in scaling food brands that are both profitable and purpose-driven. At Beck’s Broth, she’s leading operations into an exciting new product launch. Domenique was recently recognized with the OMAFRA Excellence in Youth award for her leadership in sustainable food innovation.

Currently at Seller Interactive, Kristy leads a team of Brand Strategists to deliver high-impact, data-driven results for eCommerce brands navigating the complexities of the Amazon marketplace, leveraging data science to stay ahead of industry trends, forecast opportunities, and continuously refine strategic approaches. With a portfolio of 80+ active brands and 6 years of experience in strategic account management, she helps brands unlock growth, streamline performance and achieve long-term success. You'll find her outside of work challenging herself with puzzles in escape rooms or going out for a sunset drive on her motorcycle.

Thomas Ma is the co-founder of Sapphire Studios, one of the leading TikTok advertising agencies, having partnered with over 250 brands and driven more than $100 million in ad-attributed revenue across TikTok, Meta, and Snap. Known for blending data with creativity, Thomas helps brands scale through high-performing content and paid media strategy. He’s passionate about empowering the next generation and giving back, leading initiatives like his annual Make-A-Wish charity tournament and youth entrepreneurship program, "Hey! You Got This." As a speaker, he brings fresh insights on brand growth, storytelling, and building meaningful impact in the digital age.

Daniel Jantzi, CEO of Henson Shaving, has been helping grow companies
for over a decade.  Previous stops at Sortable, Wise Publishing, and
O2 Canada demonstrate his ability to crack his knuckles at a wide
range of challenges.  His background in advertising technology and
digital marketing paved the way to a shift to e-commerce in the 2020s.
His blend of data analytics and sales enthusiasm has made him a model
early stage CEO.

Laura Thompson is the co-founder of next-level natural skincare brand Three Ships. Her journey into entrepreneurship began at the age of 9 when she sold handmade crafts and jewelry at her elementary school, which kicked off her love for creating something from nothing. Laura is in the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Class of 2022), EY Entrepreneur of the Year® in Ontario, and RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year. Three Ships is also one of The Globe & Mail's Top Growing Companies for the past two years, and most recently one of Canada’s Top Growing Women-Led Companies.

Taran is the CEO and co-founder of Blume, a venture-backed skincare brand creating clean, effective products for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Blume has raised over $4M in venture capital and retails at Sephora and Ulta across North America. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and 500 Startups alum, Taran leads Blume’s long-term strategy, product development, and brand vision. With a background in law and health advocacy, she now focuses on scaling a mission-driven brand that’s redefining self care for the next generation.

Andy Hoang is the founder and CEO of Aviron, a Y Combinator-backed connected fitness company reimagining cardio through immersive gaming experiences. With no technical background and having bootstrapped Aviron through its early days, Andy pivoted the business from B2B to DTC during the pandemic, leading it to 8-figure revenue and a team of 90+. His products have been praised by WIRED, Forbes, and Men’s Health, and are known for blending gaming psychology with high-quality hardware. Passionate about building category-defining products, Andy is on a mission to end boring workouts and help people enjoy getting fit."

Rob Fraser is an entrepreneur and former 5-time member of the Canadian National Cycling Team. In 2016, Rob founded Outway, building it into one of North America’s leading sock brands, recognized for its innovation, quality, and design. Alongside Outway, Rob also founded Custom Lab, a private label apparel company trusted by iconic global brands like Disney, Red Bull, and Uber. Today, Rob serves as the CEO of both companies, driving their continued growth and impact.

Rob leads by example in his personal life, remaining an active and competitive runner with ambitious goals. Balancing high performance with a focus on longevity and fitness, Rob embodies the principles of resilience and strategic growth that define his professional and personal pursuits.

As SVP of Product and Marketing at Levelwear, Hyman Ngo defines the brand’s identity through its bold rallying cry —“Who’s With You”— a message rooted in community, loyalty, and performance. He leads product and brand strategy for a company trusted by PGA Tour athletes including Corey Conners, Ryan Fox, Taylor Pendrith, and Adam Hadwin. Levelwear is also an official partner of iconic teams such as the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Lightning, and San Diego Padres. With a focus on functional design and elevated aesthetics, Hyman has helped establish Levelwear as a premium presence in golf and pro sports retail across North America. His cross-functional leadership bridges innovation and storytelling, driving consistent growth across consumer and retail channels.

Ghassan is the Founder and CEO of EMERGE Commerce (TSXV: ECOM), a premium e-commerce brand portfolio across North America.

Over the past 15 years, e-commerce businesses owned, acquired, or exited by Ghassan and his partners have driven cumulative sales approaching $1 billion from category-leading brands such as truLOCAL, UnderPar, WholesalePet (sold to Tiny), Shop.ca (sold to Shopify), BattlBox, WagJag, Carnivore Club, and Buytopia, among others.

Ghassan’s entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 25. Since then, Ghassan has employed over 350 staff members and raised over $100M in capital for his ventures.

Ghassan was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 honourees for 2020, a Caldwell Award, presented by BNN Bloomberg.

Scott Cunningham is an award-winning e-commerce sales expert, entrepreneur, and speaker who has helped thousands of Shopify stores master their sales positioning with his Offer Harmonics framework and StorySelling strategies.

Scott's agency, Social Lite, was honoured with the Agency of the Year Award from DigitalMarketer.com in 2022, and is acknowledged as one of only a few Klaviyo Platinum Partners worldwide. Merchant Mastery, Scott’s Shopify mentorship community, was recognized as the best-selling e-commerce system on Thinkific in 2022.

Over the past several years, Scott’s team has hosted over 40 Shopify Meetups across North America that connect, educate, and empower store owners to grow in the competitive e-commerce space.

Have you met Boardy yet? Send him a message on WhatsApp and get to know him!

Mike Zhmudikov is the SEO Director at One Core Media, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in search engine optimization and digital marketing. With a background in applied linguistics, project management, and UX/UI, Mike leads a team of SEO strategists focused on building sustainable, data-driven growth strategies. Known for his collaborative leadership and forward-thinking approach, he helps brands improve visibility, drive organic traffic, and achieve long-term success in competitive markets.

Ali Babul is the Chief Growth Officer at Trellis, leveraging a decade-spanning agency background to drive growth strategies for brands of all sizes. Possessing an acute awareness of immediate needs and overarching objectives, Ali specializes in orchestrating the expansion of products and the amplification of success for these brands. His pivotal role involves shedding light on the challenges that brands encounter while navigating diverse marketplaces.

Vinod Varma is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Creator.co, recognized by G2 as an influencer marketing leader that bridges the gap between brands and creators. With over a decade of experience in marketing and brand development, Vinod has been instrumental in shaping strategies that foster collaboration and growth within the creator economy. Under Vinod's leadership, Creator has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers both brands and nfluencers with clients that include Amazon, Nike, Oakley, Best Buy and Groupon.

Joey has spent the last 15 years working with Canadian entrepreneurs and private companies to finance growth and scale through acquisitions and operational investments. Over his career, he has advised hundreds of business owners in building companies to 8- and 9-figure revenues—both organically and through strategic acquisitions. As the Founder and Managing Principal of Crete Capital, a corporate debt and M&A buy-side advisory firm, Joey specializes in helping entrepreneurs acquire competitors, expand into new markets and invest in PP&E. His work spans industries from fast-growth e-commerce and tech-enabled firms to established sectors like food processing, logistics, and manufacturing. Crete Capital’s clients include some of Canada’s fastest-growing businesses, Top 40 Under 40 winners, and EY Entrepreneur of the Year honourees. Joey holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and is a CFA Charterholder. A strong advocate for Canadian entrepreneurship, he is also an active member and past sponsor of Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

Jaz started out her design career as a product designer, discovering her love for e-commerce while working at Shopify. In her spare time, she co-founded Yellow Beauty out of her kitchen, which went on to be sold in Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Hudson's Bay, and FabFitFun.

Jaz spent the last two years helping build the design team at Sharma Brands as Director of Design, where she led the design and launch of websites for some of the top DTC brands in the U.S., like Everlane, The Skinny Confidential, Halfdays, and Salud.

Today, Jaz runs Otherhalf – a lean, senior-only studio that creates custom Shopify websites where standout design meets conversion-focused performance.

Yoni leads the DTC and Ecom team at Meta Canada.  They are a team of growth strategy and performance marketing consultants who work with the largest and fastest-growing e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands in Canada.

Courtney Morris is the Director of Business Development for Walmart Canada Marketplace, where she leads strategies to expand Walmart.ca’s third-party seller ecosystem and deliver more choice and value to Canadian customers. Over her seven years at Walmart, Courtney has held roles across marketplace development, brand partnerships, and category management, playing a key role in Walmart.ca’s rapid eCommerce growth. With more than 15 years of experience in retail and eCommerce - including previous roles at Canadian Tire Corporation and Nestlé Waters - Courtney brings deep expertise in marketplace strategy, merchandising, and vendor collaboration. She is passionate about helping sellers scale their businesses while advancing Walmart’s position as a trusted leader in Canadian retail.

I’ve never summited Everest or planted a flag on a famous peak, but I’ve climbed plenty of mountains, the personal, professional, and deeply human kind. My journey has always been less about a single destination and more about growth, resilience, and the people I bring along the way.  As one of the founders and Chief Strategy Officer of Umbrella Inc., an end-to-end technology partner spanning 11 countries with 120 team members, I focus on building strategy, shaping vision, and surrounding myself with exceptional talent. We hire from the top one percent of global consultants, not just for skill but for their ability to challenge, inspire, and help us see what others do not yet see.  I believe success comes from the early steps: planning well, traveling light, adapting quickly, and staying humble enough to course-correct when needed. The work that matters most to me happens with teams I trust, people who broaden my perspective, keep me grounded, and share accountability for outcomes.  At the end of the day, I want to feel that good tired that comes from pouring energy, focus, and heart into something that matters. And I want to wake up ready for the next climb, because there is always another mountain.

Ryan Kulp is an entrepreneur and software builder. Currently, he is the CEO of Fera, a product reviews and social proof application trusted by over 10,000 e-commerce brands worldwide.   He has spent more than seven years building Shopify apps with a focus on social proof and honest marketing. Since founding Fomo.com in 2016, Ryan has also operated Cross Sell, Picture It, and a few other e-commerce apps serving 10s of 1000s of merchants.  Beyond building software, Ryan is an entrepreneur and investor through Fork Equity, where he acquires and scales bootstrapped internet businesses. He is also the founder of TRMNL, an e-ink dashboard.   Outside of work, Ryan is a musician, fitness enthusiast, and shares his insights on entrepreneurship, personal development through his personal newsletter and social media.0

Cam Crowder is a former Tim Hortons franchisee turned venture investor. Drawing on his background in building and running food businesses, he now leads Redstick Ventures, where he invests in startups shaping the future of food. Cam focuses on companies that make the food system more efficient and cost-effective — from farm production to processing and supply chains. His work centers on backing innovations in robotics, automation, and AI that solve critical challenges around efficiency and labor. He leverages both his operator experience and industry network to help founders scale early-stage ideas into lasting businesses.

Founder & CEO of RYSE, an IoT PropTech startup, creating devices to motorize window blinds & shades, controllable via smartphone, schedules, voice, or automated to reduce indoor cooling and lighting electricity, and GHG emissions. Our technology has been featured by TechCrunch, CNET, Fox News, CBS, and has been awarded the Mark of Excellence by the Consumer Technology Associated in 2017 at CES. We have generated over $10 million in revenue, shipping 40,000 devices to date, and secured over $10 million in funding. Learn more at https://invest.helloryse.com

Dani Kagan is a driven serial entrepreneur, community leader, podcast host, and mom of two young girls. She is the Co-Founder & CEO of Mave & Chez, her third venture, a rapidly growing 7-figure e-commerce brand behind the world’s first luxury ergonomic slippers for women. Dani has raised $1M in venture capital, secured a deal on Dragons’ Den, and earned features in Vogue, Globe & Mail, Breakfast Television, and more. Mave & Chez products are carried by luxury hotels like The Fairmont, The Four Seasons, and are in boutiques across North America. Passionate about empowering women to lead and create impact, Dani extends this mission as the host of her podcast, which relaunches this fall, where she sparks honest conversations at the intersection of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and personal growth. Her mission is to grow Mave & Chez into a global powerhouse helping millions of people step into their days more confidently, pain free, and in style.

Aditya (Adi) leads Walmart fulfillment services for Canada Marketplace since its launch 3 years ago. He has nearly a decade of experience in e-commerce and has previously led Product and Operations at Flipkart - India's leading e-commerce platform. He has deep expertise in post purchase customer journeys and has designed scalable B2B/B2C platforms serving millions of digital customers. Besides work, Adi is an angel investor and startup mentor in personal capacity.

Sarah Jordan is a purpose-driven, transformational leader with experience as a private equity CEO, bank executive, strategy partner and board member with deep expertise in consumer retail & financial services, customer & employee experience, value creation & profitability. She is currently a Deals Partner with PwC Canada where she specializes in midmarket portfolio companies and private equity funds. Previously she was the CEO of Mastermind Toys, the nation's largest specialty toy and kids’ bookstore where she transformed the retailer into Canada's Authority on Play. Most notably she delivered a digital transformation, created a private label line of bestsellers and elevated the brand to a purpose-driven culture. Under her leadership, Mastermind Toys was recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in 2023 & 2022 and was named Canada’s Brand of the Year in 2022 by Strategy Magazine. Previously she was the Senior Vice President, Customer Experience and Omni Channel Strategy at Scotiabank where she led the bank from #5 to #1 in customer experience ratings. She spent a decade with Boston Consulting Group as a Partner, where she advised Fortune 500 companies on large scale retail & financial services customer-centric transformations and cultural change agendas. She is passionate about using her platform for trailblazing investments. She is a co-owner in AFC Toronto, the city's first professional women's soccer team. She is also an investor in Rawcology, Dough Parlour and Wellness Monster. She is a board member at the Ingenium Foundation (Canada’s Museums of Science & Innovation), at Canada Soccer Foundation, an advisory council member at Women Funding Women, and a member of the Kids Help Phone fundraising cabinet. Previously she was a board member at Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, and served on the Retail Council of Canada, the Canadian Toy Association and the Queen’s University MBA Advisory Boards.

I’m Clara Jina Kim, Co-founder and CEO of Cloré Beauty, a family business close to my heart. I’ve worked in the beauty industry for more than 25 years, and since we rebranded Cloré in 2012 we’ve grown to 10 stores across Canada and an e-commerce site that reaches even more people.

Cloré has never just been about products for me, it’s always been about people. What I love most is helping someone find what they need to feel confident, seen, and uplifted.

Our purpose is simple: inspiring beauty, building community, and empowering people through knowledge and genuine personal connections. That is what drives me every day and makes this journey so meaningful.