Meet Your Next CoFounder: Co-Founder & Advisor Matchmaking
💡 Tickets on sale now.
Build Your Startup Dream Team!
Starting and scaling a business is challenging; but the good news is you don't have to do it alone! Looking for a co-founder or advisor to help take your startup to the next level?
Join us for this event where solo founders, technical experts, business leaders, and industry advisors connect in a fast-paced, high-energy networking event.
💡 Fireside Chat Spotlight
In addition to the networking portion of the evening, you’ll hear from all of the startups looking for cofounders, mentors and advisors, and we will also have an exciting Fireside Chat from a dynamic founder duo.
Stay tuned to our social, we will be announcing our Spotlight soon.
🎤 Event Host & Moderator
Coming soon!
Who Should Apply and Attend?
Solo Founders looking for a technical or business co-founder, or key first hire
Advisors & Mentors open to joining an Advisory Board or guiding an early-stage startup
Entrepreneurs and Tech Experts ready to team up or expand their network
Meet the Founders
Founders looking for cofounders, mentors, or advisors should apply here: (link).
Selected companies will be announced in the coming weeks!
How It Works
Here’s what to expect if selected:
Pitch Your Venture – If accepted, you’ll present on stage (100 seconds, PowerPoint format);
Speed-Matchmaking Rounds – Two-minute 1:1s between Group 1 (founders) and Group 2 (advisors/experts) to explore potential partnerships;
Showcase Booths – Presenting companies will have space to share their innovation; and,
Badges & Match Signals – Participants will be identified as:
Looking for a Business Co-founder
Looking for a Technical Co-founder
Looking for an Advisor (with specified expertise)
🎯 The Goal?
Spark conversations, ignite partnerships, and walk away with next steps - and maybe your future co-founder.
How to Apply?
Applications are now closed, thank you to everyone who applied, you will hear back in the week of May 17th.
All applications will be reviewed by VEF’s board members, including seasoned investors and industry experts.
No startup? No problem! Whether you are a founder, a student or new grad, in a career transition looking at new roles, or just a passionate member of Vancouver's startup ecosystem, we hope to see you here!
Limited spaces. Big potential. Don’t miss out.
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Time: 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: UBC Robson Square, Suite 1400 (Innovation UBC)
Agenda
Agenda
5:00–5:45 PM – Networking
5:45–6:00 PM – Welcome & Community Announcements
6:00–6:20 PM – Ecosystem Debrief (Web Summit)
6:20–7:00 PM – Fireside Chat
7:00–7:30 PM – Founder Presentations
7:30–7:35 PM – Closing Remarks & Matchmaking Instructions
7:35–8:00 PM – Co-Founder / Advisor / Founder Matchmaking
Meet Our Speakers - Fireside Chat
Finding a cofounder is one of the most important and most misunderstood decisions a founder will make. In this candid fireside chat, moderator Crystal Lo, former Investment Associate at InBC Investment Corp and current Chief of Staff at Spring, sits down with Barinder Rasode (Cofounder & CEO at Tersa Critical Minerals) and Laura Fortey (Cofounder & COO at Reitium), alongside Edward Chiang (Cofounder & CEO at Moment Energy), to unpack what it really takes to build the right founding team.
Drawing from their own journeys, our speakers will share honest stories of how they found their cofounders, what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they had known earlier. The conversation will explore how cofounders needs evolve at different stages of company growth, how to identify complementary skills and values, and the potential red flags founders should never ignore.
We’ll also dive into how investors evaluate founding teams and why the right cofounder dynamic can significantly impact your company’s ability to raise capital and scale.
Whether you’re a solo founder looking for the right partner, an early-stage team thinking about your next hire, or an advisor supporting founders on their journey, this session will offer practical insights on building a team that can truly go the distance.
Ticket Price:
Early Bird: $40
​​General Admission: $55
​​Founder $25
​​VEF Members: FREE and 2 for 1 until June 2026 (Become a Member)
​ Limited capacity, make sure to get your ticket now! ✨
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