Ezra Firestone has been recognized by Shopify and Entrepreneur Magazine as a leading ecommerce expert and a refreshing voice in the entrepreneurial community. He has founded multiple 7- and 8-figure brands (generating over $200 million in the past 5 years), and shares his personal and professional insights through Smart Marketer and Zipify Apps. An outspoken proponent of “people over profit,” he leads a team of 195 employees while traveling the world educating business owners on how to build brands with integrity and purpose. Ezra partnered with Shopify to create their premier course on Facebook advertising and most reached acquired a stake in SafeSleeveCases.com and is the acting Chief Strategy Officer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mehtab Bhogal is a serial DTC founder & investor. He’s scaled multiple consumer brands to 8-figures in revenue, both bootstrapped and with outside capital. As co-founder of Karta Ventures, he backs & builds brands; specializing in complex opportunities that others are unable or unwilling to tackle. 

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.